Publication, Part of [MI] Breast and Cosmetic Implant Registry
Breast and Cosmetic Implant Registry - January to December 2024, Management Information
Other reports and statistics
BCIR: Stakeholders & Glossary
BCIR: Stakeholders
Association of Breast Surgery
British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons
British Association of Plastic Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons
Department of Health in Northern Ireland
Independent Healthcare Providers Network
Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency
NEC Software Solutions
NHS England Outcomes and Registries Programme
Patient Representatives
Plastic and Reconstructive Aesthetic Surgery Expert Advisory Group
Private Healthcare Information Network
Scottish Government
BCIR: Glossary
| Term | Definition |
| American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) Classification | A way of measuring patient fitness before surgery. |
| Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma (ALCL) | An uncommon type of cancer that is associated with breast implants. |
| Augmentation | Surgery to increase breast size. |
| Capsular contracture | Scar tissue around the implant tightening and squeezing the implant. This can cause distortion of the implant and may cause pain or discomfort. |
| Capsulectomy | Surgery to remove scar tissue that has formed around the implant. |
| Community Health Index (CHI) Number | Unique patient identifier, used in Scotland. |
| Dehiscence | A complication where a surgical incision reopens. |
| Device deflation | A change in the size or shape of the implant, usually with saline-filled implants. |
| Device malposition | When the implants are not in the correct position. |
| Device rupture | A split in the exterior casing of an implant. |
| Device(s) | A breast implant or tissue expander regulated by the MHRA. |
| Double capsule | A complication where there are 2 distinct capsular layers separated by an intercapsular space around an implant. |
| Explant | Surgery to remove a breast implant and not replacing it. |
| Extrusion | A complication where the surface of the implant or tissue expander comes through the skin and is exposed. |
| Flap cover | The use of skin and sometimes fat or muscle to cover a breast implant, following mastectomy. |
| General Medical Council (GMC) | The GMC is a public body that maintains the official register of medical practitioners within the United Kingdom. |
| Haematoma | A blood clot in the breast implant cavity. This usually happens soon after surgery. |
| Health and Care (H&C) Number | Unique patient identifier, used in Northern Ireland. |
| Incisional negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) device | A device that applies sub-atmospheric pressure to a wound to help the healing process. |
| Laterality | Right or left breast, or both. |
| Mastopexy - Concurrent | Surgery to correct drooping of the nipple - also known as a breast lift. Concurrent means the mastopexy took place at the same time as the implant surgery. |
| Medical tourist | A patient who has travelled from outside the United Kingdom for medical treatment. |
| Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) | The MHRA is an agency of the Department of Health and Social Care responsible for ensuring that medicines and medical devices are safe. |
| Mesh or Dermal Sheet | Can be used to support, strengthen and repair tissue in breast implant surgery. This is also a medical device. |
| Moribund | Near death. |
| National Health Service (NHS) Number | Unique patient identifier, used in England. |
| Operating (Provider) organisation | The site or clinic responsible for a patient's treatment. Also called 'Provider organisation'. |
| Operating site (location) | The place (e.g. address) where the operation was undertaken. A provider may have more than one operating site, and may use another provider's operating sites. |
| Peri-operative antibiotics | Antibiotics given before, during or after surgery. |
| Plane - Pre-pectoral | Implant placed on top of the pectoral muscle, directly under the skin. |
| Plane - Sub-flap | Implant placed under flap of muscle taken from patient's back following mastectomy. |
| Plane - Sub-glandular/fascial | Implant placed on top of the pectoral muscle/fascia, under the breast gland. |
| Plane - Sub-pectoral/dual plane | Implant placed partly under the pectoral muscle and partly under the breast tissue. |
| Provider organisation (Provider) | The clinic or site responsible for the patient’s operation. Also called operating organisation. |
| Reconstruction | Surgery to reconstruct the breast shape, often following mastectomy. It may be carried out at the same time as a mastectomy (immediate reconstruction) or some time later (delayed reconstruction). |
| Replacement | Replacement of an implant or tissue expander for another implant. |
| Seroma | A collection of clear body fluid in the breast implant cavity. This usually happens weeks or months after surgery. |
| Silicone extravasation | The leaking of silicone from the inside of a breast implant. |
| Submitting organisation | The organisation which submitted the data to the registry. Submitting organisations may input data about operations taking place at other provider sites. |
| Tissue expander | An empty implant that is gradually filled with salt water over time. |
| Unique Device Identifier (UDI) | Unique number that identifies an implant, tissue expander or mesh. |
Last edited: 21 October 2025 1:49 pm