Lingo

Aesthetic Flat Closure - Aesthetic flat closure is a type of surgery that is done to rebuild the shape of the chest wall after one or both breasts are removed. During an aesthetic flat closure, extra skin, fat, and other tissue in the breast area are removed.

The remaining tissue is then tightened and smoothed out so that the chest wall appears FLAT

https://rethinkbreastcancer.com/why-i-advocate-for-aesthetic-flat-closure/

found a great facebook group with women who have chosen this route. http://www.facebook.com/groups/FlatANDFabulous

Also called Flat Closure without reconstruction

Prophylactic Mastectomy - is surgery to remove one or both breasts to reduce the risk of developing breast cancer. In the general population, about 12 out of 100 women (12%) will develop breast cancer at some point during their lives. Among women who have inherited a harmful mutation in 60 out of 100 (60%) will develop breast cancer. Women who have at least two close relatives—a mother, sister, or daughter—who have had breast or ovarian cancer are also at much higher risk. (my mom died of breast cancer, but had two different kinds. And my grandmothers mom died of ovarian cancer... however the gene doesn't even run on grandmas side. Grandpa's parents died when he was a teen, mother in an accident, so we will never know if she would have developed breast cancer or if the gene came from her or great gramps, thanks fam) These women are good candidates for prophylactic mastectomy.

DIEP - (DIEP Flap) A type of breast reconstruction in which blood vessels called deep inferior epigastric perforators (DIEP), and the skin and fat connected to them are removed from the lower abdomen and used for reconstruction. Muscle is left in place.

During DIEP flap surgery, an incision is made along your bikini line and a portion of skin, fat, and blood vessels is taken from the lower half of your belly, moved up to your chest, and formed into a breast shape. No muscle should be moved or cut in a DIEP flap. The tiny blood vessels in the flap, which will feed the tissue of your new breast, are matched to blood vessels in your chest and carefully reattached under a microscope. DIEP flap reconstruction surgery takes about 6 to 8 hours. For a DIEP flap, you usually stay in the hospital for about 5 days.

You'll likely have to take care of multiple incisions: on your breast(s), your lower abdomen, and around your belly button, and you'll probably have drains in your reconstructed breast(s) and in your abdominal donor site. If you had axillary nodes removed during this surgery, you could have yet another incision under your arm(s).

Feeling really grumpy about this. I really like the tattoo I got to cover my c-section scar

(thanks Laurie at Nighthawk http://nighthawktattoo.com/ )

Using own Tissue instead of implants - https://prma-enhance.com/before-and-after/breast-reconstruction/diep-flap/

DMX - double mastectomy

SMX- single mastectomy

Nipple-sparing mastectomy- is the latest evolution in mastectomy technique. The procedure preserves the entire skin envelope and nipple areola. Only the underlying breast tissue is removed. When combined with immediate breast reconstruction, nipple-sparing mastectomy provides superior cosmetic results without compromising cancer treatment. It can also improve the return of sensation in some patients.

Immediate Breast Reconstruction - When the mastectomy and reconstruction are performed at the same time, a skin-sparing mastectomy can usually be performed which saves the majority of the natural breast skin envelope. Only the actual breast tissue under the skin is removed. The reconstruction then "fills" this empty skin envelope. In some cases nipple-sparing mastectomy can be performed. This preserves the nipple and areola as well as the breast skin.

Whether the reconstructive process is started at the time of the mastectomy ("immediate") or some time after ("delayed'), it important for patients to realize that in most cases,further surgery is required to complete the reconstructive process.

Foobies - Fake boobies

Flap - A tissue flap procedure (also known as autologous tissue reconstruction) is one way to rebuild the shape of your breast after surgery.

The most common types of tissue flap procedures are:

• TRAM (transverse rectus abdominis muscle) flap, which uses tissue from the abdomen (tummy)

• DIEP (deep inferior epigastric perforator) flap, which uses tissue from the abdomen (tummy)

• Latissimus dorsi flap, which uses tissue from the upper back

• GAP (gluteal artery perforator) flaps (also known as a gluteal free flaps), which uses tissue from the buttocks

• TUG (transverse upper gracilis) flaps, which - uses tissue from the inner thigh

Breast Implant Illness - BII impacts each individual in a unique way. Symptoms can include:

• joint and muscle pain

• chronic fatigue

• memory and concentration problems

• breathing problems

• sleep disturbance

• rashes and skin problems

• dry mouth and dry eyes

• anxiety

• depression

• headaches

• hair loss

• gastrointestinal problems

The symptoms can appear any time after implant surgery — some people develop symptoms immediately, while some develop them years later.

Explanting - is an option for patients who are having problems with their breast implants, or who now simply prefer to be implant-free. The procedure removes the implant, usually along with part or all of the surrounding scar capsule.