Cosmetic Glossary

AAFPRS:  The acronym AAFPRS represents the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.  For details, refer to American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.

 

Abdominal Etching:  A type of liposuction employing smaller cannulas eliminating small pockets of fat to better reveal muscle contours.

Abdominoplasty:  Commonly referred to as a tummy tuck, surgical procedure performed to alter and improve the abdominal area by eliminating excess skin and fat as well as tightening the abdominal wall muscles.

ABFPRS:  This stands for the American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.  For details, refer to American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.

 

ABHRS:  This represents the American Board of Hair Restoration Surgery.  For further details, see American Board of Hair Restoration Surgery.

 

Ablation:  Removal of surface tissue such as use of ablative laser skin resurfacing whereby the laser removes the skin’s epidermis or top layer of skin to stimulate the dermis or second layer of skin to create new cells.

Acne:  A skin condition characterized by the excessive production of oil from the sebaceous glands in which the pores become clogged by skin cells which are dead.

Acne Scar:  These are scars due to severe acne.  The scars can range from deep pits to scars that are wave-like or angular in appearance.

Acne Vulgaris:  Common skin disease with areas of scaly red skin (seborrhea), blackheads and/or whiteheads (comedones), small raised bumps (papules), pimples (pustules), nodules (large papules) and possibly scarring.

Adipose Tissue:  Connective tissue consisting primarily of fat cells.  These tissues are the supporting or framework tissues.

Adrenaline:  This is a synonym for Epinephrine.

Age Spots:  Patches of darker skin coloration and often appear after about the age of 40.  They most often appear on skin areas of the face, hands and arms which have had a large amount of sun exposure.

Ala:  Plural of this term is Alar.  In cosmetic surgery of the nose this pertains to the nostril flare or wing area.

Alarplasty:  Cosmetic surgical procedure to the nose performed to narrow a wide alar and reduce flaring.

Albinism:  An inherited disorder resulting from an abnormality of a deficiency or the absence of pigment in the hair, eyes and skin caused by the absence of melanin, the substance that gives skin its color.

Alopecia:  This term refers to either partial or complete loss of hair.

AMA:  This stands for the American Medical Association.  See American Medical Association for further details.

American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery:  This is also represented as AAFPRS. This organization is the world’s largest specialty association of facial plastic surgeons.  It is recognized in the American Medical Association (AMA) House of Delegates as a National Medical Specialty Society.

American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery:  The acronym for this organization is ABFPRS.  This is a certifying board that covers the specialty of facial plastic and reconstructive surgery.  The objective of the board is to provide qualification standards for facial plastic and reconstructive surgeons through rigorous and stringent oral and written board examinations as well as with documentation of operative experience in the field.

American Board of Hair Restoration Surgery:  Also represented as ABHRS and is a certifying board covering the specialty of hair restoration surgery.  This organization does not purport to be an educational institution or licensing body.  The intent is to provide qualification standards by rigorous and psychometrically validated written and oral board examinations along with the documentation of operative experience in the industry.

American Society of Plastic Surgeons:  This organization is also represented as ASPS and is the largest plastic surgery specialty organization in the world consisting of board-certified plastic surgeons who perform cosmetic and reconstructive surgery.

Anchor Blepharoplasty:  This term refers to an upper eyelid surgical procedure tightening the eyelid skin located between the upper eyelid lashes and the upper eyelid crease as well as deals with a common situation called lash ptosis, where the upper eyelid eyelashes droop down.

Anesthesia:  Using a drug which disallows the neural transmission of pain sensations.  It can be provided as a local being administered in an injection to a specific area or systemically being administered through an intravenous line directly into the bloodstream.

Anesthetic:  A term usually used when pertaining to local anesthesia.

Anomaly:  Medical terminology referring to a condition that diverges from normal.

Anterior Levator Resection Ptosis Surgery:  This surgical procedure corrects an upper eyelid droop by strengthening the muscle that elevates the upper eyelid by shortening the muscle that elevates the eyelid.

Arcus Marginalis:  The medical terminology referring to a localized rim of thickening located where the eyelid’s orbital septum attaches to the orbital bone.

Areola:  The medical term referring to the pigmented skin area around the nipple of the breast.

Arm Lift:  See Brachioplasty.

Arm Contouring:  Recontouring the upper arm through the use of liposuction.

Artefill:  This is a Federal Drug Administration approved injectable filler used for treatment of nasolabial folds and smile lines.

Asian Blepharoplasty:  This surgical eyelid procedure gives a more open look to the eyes by eliminating some of the upper eyelid and creating an eyelid fold.

Aspiration:  Using suction for the elimination of fluid.

ASPS:  This represents the American Society of Plastic Surgeons organization.  For more details, please see The American Society of Plastic Surgeons.

Augmentation Mammaplasty:  For further details, please refer to Breast Augmentation.

Autogenous:  Harvested graft material including fat, dermis, skin or bone from an individual’s own body used for the reconstruction of the eyelids and orbits.

Autologen:  This is a material obtained from one’s own body used to correct or enhance another part of the body.

Autologous Tissue Breast Reconstruction:  See Autologen.

Axillary:  Pertaining to the axilla situated below the shoulder joint in or near the armpit.

 

Azelaic Acid:  Found in skin care products and used to treat mild acne.

Baker Gordon Peel:  The deepest of the chemical peels, the agent can penetrate three times deeper than a CO2 laser.

Beverly Hills Haircut:  This phrase is slang for the old-style open coronal forehead lift whereby the scalp was surgically incised from one ear to another with the forehead elevated and extra scalp removed.

Beverly Hills Melt Down Syndrome:  This phrase refers to over done surgery including forehead lift, eyelid surgery, cheek implants, tightened facelift and over-resected nose job.

Belly Button Surgery:  This surgical treatment is also referred to as an umbilicoplasty and is performed to modify the appearance of the navel or belly button.

Benzoyl Peroxide:  This is an antibacterial medication used to battle acne.

Beta Hydroxy Acid:  This term is also represented as BHA and is an exfoliant used for treating sun damage, wrinkles and blackheads.  An example of this agent is salicylic acid.

BHA:  This is an acronym for Beta Hydroxy Acid.

Bilateral Gynecomastia:  Male breast enlargement formed on both sides.

Binder:  This term refers to an elastic bandage which can be wide used after surgical procedures to compress the treated area and help prevent swelling.

Blepharoplasty:  This term refers to a cosmetic surgical treatment of the upper or lower eyelids involving the removal of excessive skin and can sometimes include eliminating muscle or underlying fatty tissue.

Blepherectomy:  Complete or partial excision of the eyelid.

Board-Certified:  A term for a medical professional who has completed and passed the qualifications as set by the Board governing his or her particular field.

Body Lift:  This is cosmetic surgery optimizing the body shape with the removal of excessive skin resulting from aging, weight loss and/or pregnancy.

Body Recontouring:  Cosmetic surgical treatments designed to reshape the body as per the doctor’s recommendations and the individual’s desires.

Botox:  This is a material, Federal Drug Administration approved, derived from botulinum toxin and works by preventing nerve impulses from reaching the muscle, causing the muscle to relax.

Botox Day:  The botulinum toxin Botox, once reconstituted, has a short shelf life.  This term refers to cluster treatments to avoid spoilage.

Botox Party:  Botox treatments performed in an informal party atmosphere with the concern that this creates a situation where people can potentially be over treated and the treating individual is not properly licensed with no follow-up provided.

Botulinum Toxin A:  Botox produced generically.

Botulinum Toxin B:  One of the strongest strains of botulinum toxin, the other being Toxin A, used for muscle blocking contractions.

Brachioplasty:  A surgical treatment, also known as an Arm Lift, used for the correction of sagging upper arms.

Breast Augmentation:  A treatment also referred to as an Augmentation Mammaplasty and Breast Enhancement.  This is surgical breast enlargement by use of a breast implant.

Breast Enhancement:  See Breast Augmentation.

Breast Implant:  This term is used to refer to the surgical placement of a prosthesis used to modify the shape and size of a woman’s breast that can be placed beneath the breast tissue or beneath the chest muscle.

Breast Implant Revision:  An additional surgical procedure performed for the correction of an undesired feature or complication after a breast implant procedure.

Breast Lift:  Also called a mastopexy is surgery performed to position the breast higher with the nipple higher on the breast.  This cosmetic surgery does not change the breast size; however, often the breasts will appear larger.

Breast Reconstruction:  Rebuilding the breast surgically after a mastectomy.

Breast Reduction:  A cosmetic surgical procedure eliminating unwanted breast skin and tissue, reshaping the breast with repositioning of the nipple to correspond with the newly created appearance.  This cosmetic treatment is also referred to as a Reduction Mammaplasty.

Broad Spectrum Sunscreen:  A cream or lotion that blocks both UVA and UVB sun rays.

Brow Furrows:  See Glabella Rhytids for further details.

Brow Lift:  This surgical treatment also referred to as a Forehead Lift or Temporal Lift raises the eyebrows, smoothes horizontal furrows on the forehead and smoothes vertical frown lines.  The eyebrow encompasses not only the hairy eyebrow but the soft tissue complex as well that merges with the upper eyelid.

Brow Ptosis:  Looseness in the forehead allowing the eyebrows to droop.  With this laxity, the skin beneath the eyebrow also droops making the upper eyelid fold heavy.

Buccal:  This terminology pertains to the area adjacent to or in the direction of the cheek that is situated below the cheek bone and is also referred to as the sub-malar or malar region.

Buccal Fat Pad:  Adipose or fatty cheek tissue located above the jaw line next to the corners of the mouth.

Bulbar Conjunctiva:  Medical terminology referring to the white of the eye.

Buttock Augmentation:  This is a fat grafting cosmetic treatment to enhance the buttock contour using fat from another area of the body.

Buttock Lift:  A cosmetic surgical treatment removing excessive fat and skin from the buttock and can be in conjunction with liposuction.

Calf Augmentation:  This is a surgical cosmetic procedure to increase the fullness of the calves with silicone implants  inserted behind the knee and positioned beneath the calf muscle.

Camouflage Makeup:  Temporary consequences such as bruising, redness or scabs after treatment to the skin can be altered with this product.

Cannula:  A supple tube, blunted end and with a small side hole.

Canthopexy:  Tightening performed on the lateral canthal tendon with eyelid surgery.

Canthoplasty:  A surgical procedure correcting sagging or flaccid lower eyelids using a transcutaneous technique of reorientation of the outer canthus of the eyelid.

 

Canthus:  Merging angle of the upper and lower lids.

Capsular Contracture:  Tightening of adjacent membrane following breast implantation resulting in compressing the implant, hardening it and distorting the breast shape; one of the most common complication of Breast Augmentation surgery.

Capsule:  Connective tissue formed around any unfamiliar object in the body.

Capsulectomy:  Removal surgically of fibrous tissue developed surrounding a breast implantation.

Cellulite:  Collections of fibrous tissue and fat resulting in overlying skin dimpling.

Cheek Augmentation:  A surgical procedure to enlarge and reshape the cheekbones wherein a cheek implant is positioned near the existing cheekbone.

Cheek Bags:  See Festoons for further details.

Cheek Implant:  A solid implant positioned over the prominence of the cheek bone to enhance the projection of this area principally of silicone, however, available in other materials.

Cheek Lift:   See Mid-Face Lift.

Chemexfoliation:  A technique treating chronic skin changes or used to remove acne scars.

Chemical Peel:  Chemical solution to remove the top skin cells, stimulating the lower layer of skin cells called the dermis to produce new, tighter cells.  This makes the skin smoother reducing fine lines, uneven pigmentation, acne scars, and skin growths.  Done to different skin depths the recovery time varies.

Chemodenervation:  Using a neuroparalytic substance to weaken muscle contraction both with cosmetic and functional applications.

Chemosis:  Type of specific swelling possibly following surgery effecting the conjunctiva, lining behind the eyelids (palpebral) and on the surface of the white of the eye (bulbar conjunctiva).

 

Chemosurgical:  Tissue destruction utilizing chemical means for therapeutic purposes.

Chin Augmentation:  Surgical technique increasing the prominence of the chin performed by moving the chin bone and fixating it into a new position or with the use of a chin implant, which is also called mentoplasty.

Chin Implant:  Solid implant positioned over the chin prominence projecting of the chin.  Available in a variation of shapes and sizes.

Chinese Botox:  Not Federal Drug Administration approved for human use in the United States but smuggled into this country.  This is done based on a profit motive as it is less costly than Botox.

Cholasma:  Skin discoloration common during pregnancy (mask of pregnancy) with blotches of pale brown facial skin usually caused by hormonal changes.  This could be permanent or possibly recur with subsequent pregnancies.

Cilia:  Medical terminology for eyelashes.

Ciliary Margin:  Eyelid edge from which the eyelashes emanate.

Circumareola:  Position surrounding the nipple of the breast.

Cleft Lip:  Split top lip not fully developed in utero with the capability of being surgically repaired.

Closed Rhinoplasty:  No external nasal surgical incisions with small incisions inside the nostrils only.  Used with revisional rhinoplasty procedures.

CO2 Laser:  Infrared gas laser, coherent and directional, very precisely focusing on a target.  Targets water in cells and between with the water absorbing the light energy thus vaporizing the targeted area and sealing the remaining tissue.  The pulsed laser never touches the skin for more than one millisecond at a time thus preventing burning.

 

Collagen:  Fibrous, major structural protein found throughout the body in connective tissue such as tendons and ligaments as well as in the bones and skin providing strength and flexibility.

Collagen Injections:  Performed to smooth out wrinkled skin.  Injectable collagen can be bovine or collected from a patient’s body donor site.

Columella:  Skin and soft tissue uniting the nostrils located at the end of the septum separating the left and right airways dividing the two nostrils.

Composite Face Lift:  A lift technique that is deeper and incorporates lower eyelid lifting as well.

Compression:  Placing grafts into slits when the existing tissue compresses the follicle and can cause poor growth and/or improper direction of hair growth.

Computer Tomography Scan:  See Ultrasound for further details.

Conform Silicone Implant:  Designed for chin and cheek augmentation featuring a flexible grid pattern permitting a smoother and more form-fitting result to the underlying bone structure.

Congenital:  For further information, see Hereditary.

Congenital Eyelid Ptosis:  A birth disorder consisting of drooping of one or both of the upper eyelids.  In many cases, the muscle elevating the upper eyelid (levator muscle) did not form normally and is incapable of generating the force needed to elevate the upper eyelid.

Conjunctiva:  Mucosal lining behind the eyelids (palpebral conjunctiva) and on the surface of the whites of the eye (bulbar conjunctiva).  With pink eye, the tissue becoming red and irritated.

Connective Tissue:  Natural fibrous and strong body tissue consisting largely of collagen.  Connective tissue can be loose or dense being found, for example in, tendons, ligaments and cartilage.

Contour Threads:  Used in some facelift surgical procedures, small polypropylene sutures to fixate facial tissue in a higher position.

Contracture:  Distortion and scarring created by permanent tightening of skin.  May also affect muscles and tendons in the area and sometimes the nerves and can impair the person’s mobility.  See also Capsular Contracture.

Contracture Scar:  Permanent tightening of skin that may limit mobility of the underlying muscles and tendons and possibly damaging nerves.

Cool Laser:  A marketing strategy not an actual device whereby the instrument in question is an ablative laser (CO2 or erbium) with the energy setting so low that the treatment can be tolerated with minimal drugs or topical anesthetic.  There is only a minor degree of improvement with this strategy and nothing comparable to what can be accomplished with an appropriate chemical peel or energy setting.

Copper Peptide:  Commonly found in skin care products to promote and produce collagen and elastin in the skin.

Coronal Forehead Lift:  See Open Forehead lift for further details.

Coronal Canthoplasty:  Tightening the lateral canthal angle through an upper eyelid blepharoplasty incision producing complicated canthal angle post-surgical injuries.

Cosmetic Eyelid Surgery:  Surgical procedure performed to improve appearance and can include forehead, upper and lower eyelids as well as mid-face surgery.

Cosmetic Surgery:  Surgery done to enhance appearance in contrast to reconstructive surgery done for repair or to correct an inherited defect.

Cranial:  Pertaining to the skull, which is the cranium.

Craniofacial:  Medical terminology pertaining to the skull and face.

Craniofacial Surgery:  Reconstructive surgery moving the facial skeletal bones to alter and improve appearance tending to be major facial surgeries that are performed to correct developmental issues or skull asymmetries.  Occasionally employed to address facial skeletal abnormities after trauma and less commonly to address cosmetic issues.

Crows Feet:  Fine lines appearing around the eyes as we age.  Unprotected sun exposure and smoking contribute to the formation of crows feet.

Cryosurgery:  The use of liquid nitrogen to freeze tissue before removing from the body.

Dacryocystorhinostomy:  Surgery repairing and restoring the drainage from the eye into the nose.

Debridement:  The removal of necrosed or dead tissue.

Debriding:  The process by which dead or devitalized tissue is eliminated prior to reconstructive or cosmetic surgery.

Deep-Fill Restylane:  Placed under the eye at the level of the orbital rim, a location deep enough to reduce the occurrence of surface irregularities though the under eye hollow area has very little fat to hide this material.

Deep-Plane Face Lift:  Medical terminology pertaining to a type of facelift that lifts deeper tissues through a more invasive method.  A variation of the Composite Facelift that typically does not involve the lower eyelid region.

Depilation:  Hair removal by mechanical or chemical means.

Depressor Anguli Oris Muscle:  Present on both sides of the mouth responsible for pulling the corners of the mouth down.

Depressor Supercilli Muscle:  On the side of the nose assisting with pulling down the central eyebrow.

Dermabrasion:  Removal of the epidermis (top layer of skin) to treat raised scars.   Traditionally performed by mechanical means with a sterilized wire brush or small electric sander using general anesthesia or twilight anesthesia.  Currently performed using a CO2 laser or Erbium YAG laser making it less traumatic and painful as well as limiting bleeding.  See also Microdermabrasion.

Dermalogen:  Derived from human donor tissue and is used in lip augmentation to produce a look of fuller lips.

Dermaplaning:  Surgical cosmetic technique removing deep acne scars using a hand-held instrument called a dermatome.

Dermatitis:  Skin inflammation resulting from an allergic reaction or physical contact with an irritating substance that causes itching and redness.

Dermatologist:  A doctor having received specialized education in the diagnosis and treatment of skin problems.

Dermatome:  Surgical instrument utilized to produce thin slices of skin.

Dermis:  Skin layer beneath the epidermis containing structures including hair follicles, sweat glands, oil glands, blood vessels and nerves consisting of a matrix of collagen and elastin fibers which forms a support for the skin, keeping it smooth and wrinkle free.

Denaturation:  Modification of a protein’s natural configuration through a biochemical process.

Deviated Septum:  Tissue wall dividing the nose internally is called the septum.  Not positioned centrally can cause breathing problems and repositioning is commonly treated surgically.

Diode Laser:  Lasers used to resurface the skin in cosmetic procedures.

Diplomate:  Term referring to an individual who is board certified and should not be confused with diplomat who is a person who is one employed or skilled in diplomacy.  When used in reference to a physician it is usually followed by a description of the board through which the physician is board certified.   This individual is qualified to practice through advanced training, expertise and experience in a specialty having qualified by passing an intensive examination by a national board of senior specialists.

Donor Area:  Area where hair is removed for transplantation, most often from the back of the scalp that usually does not bald.

Dorsum:  Medical terminology pertaining to the back of a structure.

Double Fold Surgery:  Surgical procedure of the upper eyelid performed in the Asian eyelid to create a distinct break in the upper eyelid.

Ear Pinning:  See Otoplasty for further details.

 

Earlobe Reduction:  Surgical procedure correcting the size of the earlobe.

Ecchymosis:  Medical terminology referring to bruising.

Ectropion:  Abnormality (usually of the lower eyelid) whereby the edge of the lid rotates away from the eye.  Laxity and looseness of tissue is usually the cause but occasionally deficiency of lower eyelid skin contributes to the problem.

Eczema:  Recurring dermatitis with symptoms including itching, dryness, redness, swelling, flaking, blistering, oozing, crusting and bleeding.  This condition can be caused by allergies or genetics and can be mild or severe.   Often this first appears in early childhood.

Edema:  The medical terminology pertaining to an accumulation of excessive fluid in cells, tissues or serous cavities.

 

Elastin:  Protein in the dermis or second layer of skin interacting with the skin’s collagen to form a supporting matrix of fibers keeping the skin smooth and elastic.

Electrolysis:  A small electric current used to destroy the hair follicle in a hair removal procedure.

Endoscope:  Surgical instrument of a narrow tube with a light and a lens at the tip that transmits images to an attached computer monitor and a second channel allowing the surgeon to insert medical instruments.  This surgical technique requires only a small incision.

Endoscopic Facelift:  A less invasive method of facelift that is scarless and effective in minimizing aging signs, has a shorter recovery period and involves less post-surgical difficulties associated with a surgical facelift.  Effective in the removal of fatty tissue that is excessive and in reshaping loose facial muscles and tissues.

Endoscopic Forehead Lift:  Surgical treatment using a rigid fiber-optic telescope that allows visualization of the surgery through small incisions in the scalp.

Ephelides:  The plural form for freckles, yellowish or brown spots found on the skin of light complexion individuals.

Epicanthal Fold:  Skin fold extending from the root of the nose to the middle eyebrow, overlapping the middle angle of the eye present in Oriental and Asian Ancestry.

Epidermis:  Topmost skin layer consisting of five sub-layers protecting the body against the environment, continually sloughing off dead skin cells.

Epinephrine:  A “fight or flight” hormone also known as adrenaline that is released from the adrenal glands when the body feels threatened or stressed.  One function is to tighten blood vessels and reduce bleeding.

Epithelium:  Layers of cells lining the body cavities which also covers the surfaces of body structures.

Erbium Laser:  Solid-state laser as opposed to a gas laser such as the CO2 laser used in plastic surgery for skin resurfacing, acne scar treatment and melasma.

Excimer Laser:  Ultraviolet laser well absorbed by body tissue used in a Lasik vision correction.  Rather than cutting this laser weakens the molecular bonds on the tissue surface allowing the tissue to disintegrate and evaporate.

Exfoliate:  Removal of topmost layer of skin, examples of which are chemical peels and dermabrasion.

Exfoliation:  Removal of dead skin cells on the topmost layer of the epidermis refreshing the skin’s appearance.  This procedure can be performed mechanically with scrubs, loofahs, and pumice stones or it can be done chemically as with mild chemical peels such as those using glycolic acid or salicylic acid.

Extended Anatomic Chin Implant:  Type of chin implant extending further across the lower jaw line.

Eye Lift:  Commonly used term for Blepharoplasty.  See Blepharoplasty for further details.

Eye Tack:  Commonly used term for cosmetic eyelid surgery.

Eyelid Ptosis:  Medical terminology for drooping eyelids.  See Ptosis for further details.

Eyelid Surgery:  General term for any surgical procedure involving the eyelid including both cosmetic and reconstructive procedures.  See Blepharoplasty for further details.

Facelift:  Cosmetic surgical procedure also known as a rhytidectomy removing sagging and wrinkles from the lower two thirds of the face and the neck.

Facial Implants:  Implants made of silicone or other materials implanted into the chin or cheeks designed to enhance facial contours and give the face better definition.

Fascia:  Connective tissue membrane enveloping body structures such as muscles, organs and bones.

Fat Grafting:  Surgical procedure using harvesting fat from an individual’s body such as the thighs, hips, abdomen to be used to augment depleted areas.

Fat Injections:  A procedure whereby fat is withdrawn from one part of the body and injected into another part to create more fullness.  Performed for lip augmentation or to smooth facial lines; however, the procedure has to be repeated periodically as the body absorbs the fat.

Fat Transfer:  See Fat Grafting for further details.

Festoons:  Waves of fullness also known as cheek bags at the top of the cheek but below the eyelid caused by slippage of tissue at various layers of the mid face.  Options to address this condition include filling around them, tightening the overlying skin with surgery or chemical peeling.

Flap Surgery:  Surgical creation of a pocket of transplanted skin as used in breast reconstruction to contain a breast implant.

Follicular Unit Extraction:  Surgical procedure with the acronym of FUE used to extract follicular units from the donor area on the scalp individually removed rather than being removed in a strip.  A less painful technique having less complications and healing quickly with minimal scarring.

Follicular Units:  Natural bundles of hair consisting of one to five hairs that grow out of the scalp and share the same underlying anatomy.

Forehead Lift: See Brow Lift for further lift.

Fraxel:  A variation on the CO2 laser with modified output allowing for treatment of pinpoint areas with rapid recovery, improvement of healing issues, typically requiring several treatments to cover all of the face.

Freckle:  Medical terminology is ephelides.  See Ephelides.

Free Flap:  Type of surgical scalp flap whereby one or more large flaps of hair-bearing scalp is detached, used to replace hair loss where the scalp has been reduced.

FUE:  Follicular Unit Extraction acronym.

 

General Anesthesia:  Producing unconsciousness with the patient having no awareness of the surgical procedure, feeling no pain, and has no memory of the procedure afterward.  This can only be performed by a fully-qualified anesthesiologist or nurse anesthetist, who calibrates the dosage and monitors the patient’s vital signs until normal consciousness returns.

Glabella:  Top of the nose at the forehead and between the eyebrows.

Glabella Rhytids:  Typically two vertical lines between the eyebrows (also known as brow furrows) made by the muscles of facial expression.

Graft:  A bundle of hairs removed from a donor area of the scalp for transplantation into the recipient area.

Grafting:  Procedure whereby healthy skin and/or muscle is removed from one area of the body to another area damaged by disease or injury

Gynecomastia:  Medical terminology for the enlarged male breast.

 

Hair Follicle:  Root of the hair located in the skin’s dermal layer beneath the epidermis comprising the enlarged basal (base) part of a hair where it receives nourishment from a tiny blood vessel.

Hair Grafting:  Hair transplantation with follicle and attached skin to another part of the body.

Harvest:  Unique process whereby material is removed from the patient’s thighs, hips, abdomen, etc. to be used to augment other areas of the body.

Hemangioma:  Most common type of vascular anomaly or birthmark also referred to as Strawberry Marks.  A benign (non-cancerous) tumor of cells, called endothelial cells, that normally line the blood vessels concentrated together and often disappear after a few months or years.

Hematoma:  Collection of blood in an organ of the body or beneath the skin.

Hereditary:  Passed from parent to child through genes (genetically inherited); also referred to an Congenital.

High Definition Liposuction:  Liposuction performed with a smaller cannula for the purpose of delineating the muscle contours.

High Profile Implants:  A more forward projection and less diameter implant giving more breast cleavage.

Hyaluronic Acid:  A substance in the body’s connective tissue assisting with cushioning and lubrication.  It plumps up the skin when used for cosmetic skin enhancement based on its ability to attract and retain water.

Hydroxyapatite:  A granular substance used in facial enhancement to give more delineation to the bone structure such as to the chin and cheek bones.

Hylaform:  Injectable filler produced from a purified form of hyaluronic acid.

Hyperpigmentation:  Excess pigmentation on areas of the skin with an example being age spots.  This condition can be treated with chemical peels, dermabrasion or microdermabrasion.

Hypertrophic Scar:  Raised, red excess scar tissue.  Although similar to keloid scarring, it does not spread beyond the original boundaries of the injury site.

Hypodermis:  Fatty layer of skin consisting of sweat glands, fat and collagen cells responsible for conserving body heat and protecting organs.

Hypopigmentation:  Condition denoting deficient or below normal pigmentation.

 

Implant:  Surgically placed device to alter and enhance the appearance of part of the body such as breast implants as well as the implants used in Chin Augmentation and Cheek Augmentation.

Incision:  Deliberate surgical cut in the skin and body tissue beneath it with a residual scar.  Cosmetic surgeons attempt to place incisions such that the scar will be hidden or barely visible.

Infra-Areola:  Medical terminology for below the breast nipple.

Inframammary:  Medical terminology for beneath the breast.

Inframammary Fold:  Medical terminology for the crease under or near the bottom of the breast.

Injectable Filler:  Injected into the facial areas providing fullness and smoothing out lines and wrinkles.  Effective  approximately a few months up to about two years, at which time the treatments are then required to be repeated.

Inside Fold:  Upper eyelid crease tucking under the epicanthal fold.

Jowl:  Pocket of soft loose skin and fat hanging below the jaw line on either side of the mouth.

Juvederm:  Anti-wrinkle injectable filler based on hyaluronic acid.

 

Keloid Scar:  Excess scar tissue spreading beyond the original wound or incision line that becomes raised, red and is irregularly shaped.  This condition is the result of too much collagen production in the dermis and is a genetic tendency.  This tendency is genetic.  See also Hypertrophic Scar.

Keratin:  Fibrous structural protein in hair, nails and the top layer of skin called the epidermis adding hardness and strength to those structures.

Keratosis Pilaris:  Very common skin disorder seen in individuals of all ages and is represented as KP.  This condition is benign, presents as numerous small, rough, red, or tan bumps primarily around hair follicles on the upper arms, legs, buttocks and sometimes cheeks.  The majority of the individuals with this condition may be unaware of its presence, that the condition has a designated medical term or that it is treatable.

Klingon Forehead:  Abnormal horizontal wrinkle lines that appear above the lateral aspect or tail of the eyebrows on the forehead that tend to stack or heap and can extend from the eyebrow itself all the way to the hairline resulting from over aggressive Botox treatments.

Kojic Acid:  Skin lightening or bleaching agent effective in prohibiting production of melanin.

KP:  Medical acronym for Keratosis Pilaris.  See Keratosis Pilaris for further details.

 

L-Ascorbic Acid:  Vitamin C used for skin treatment, an antioxidant proven to stimulate creation of collagen.

Labiomandibular Fold:  The line that extends downward from the corner of the mouth toward the jaw line and is also known more commonly as marionette lines.

Laser:  A laser set at specific vibration or light waves that travel in a parallel formation thus can be very finely focused and targeted making them useful in cosmetic surgery to stimulate tissue rejuvenation, disable hair follicles or cauterize veins.

Laser Hair Removal:  Destroying hair follicles permanently with use of a soft-tissue laser.

Laser Resurfacing:  Laser treatment creating limited injury of the skin thereby stimulating healing with CO2 and erbium lasers typically used for this purpose.

Lash Ptosis:  Downward rotation of the upper eyelashes that can cause the face to appear fatigued and when severe can interfere with vision.  This condition is corrected using Anchor Blepharoplasty.

Lateral:  Referring to the location on the side.

Lateral Canthus:  Outer angle of the eye where the upper and lower eyelids meet.

Lentigo:  Pleural being lentigines.  Benign lesions requiring no intervention resembling freckles or pigmented spots on the skin commonly referred to as liver spots.

Lentigines:  See lentigo for further details.

Levator Aponeurosis:  Tendon of the levator palpebrae superioris muscle performing the action of raising the upper eyelid.

Levator Muscle:  Originating in the back of the socket is the main opening muscle of the upper eyelid extending forward through the orbit above the eyeball becoming a tendon (levator aponeurosis).

Levator Palpebrae Superioris Muscle:  With upper eyelid drooping the action of this muscle is strengthened by shortening the tendon of this muscle, the levator aponeurosis.

Lid Lift:  Common term for cosmetic eyelid surgery.

Lidocaine:  Anesthetic causing numbness or loss of feeling in a specific area of your body.

Lifestyle Facelift:  Proprietary mini facelift variant performed by board certified plastic surgeons who are essentially franchisees who pay for the privilege of obtaining referrals.  A one-hour procedure with little pain; however, this “cookie cutter” approach is not tailored to specific individual needs and might not be the correct approach to addressing those issues.

Ligamentous:  Fibrous tissue in the form of a band or sheet connecting bones or cartilages at a joint or supporting an organ.

Linea Nigra:  Dark vertical on the abdomen resulting from pregnancy due to stretching of ligaments that fades slowly after birth but may never disappear completely; sun exposure may cause it to recur.

Lip Augmentation:  Treatment that correct sagging lips, plumps up fine lines or wrinkles around the lips, or increases the fullness of the lips and may include an implant or be performed with injectable fillers.

Lipoplasty:  Also referred to as Liposuction; see Liposuction for further details.

Liposculpture:  This treatment focuses on revealing the body’s muscle contours rather than just removing a certain amount of fat and is also referred to as High-Definition Liposuction.

Liposuction:  Treatment to remove excess fat from selected areas of the body using a cannula to suction out the fat and is also referred to as Lipoplasty.  The procedure may also include the use of ultrasound to first emulsify the fat, which is referred to as Tumescent Liposuction.

Liquid Facelift:  Non-surgical treatment designed to alter and fill areas where volume has been depleted such as those procedures performed with fillers or Botox.

Liver Spots:  Common reference term for the medical terminology for lentigines.  See Lentigines for further details.

Local Anesthesia:  Administered to the area surrounding the procedure with injections causing numbness and loss of pain.

Loofahs:  Natural cosmetic care products for exfoliation treatments that removes dead skin cells and induces smooth skin including scrubs and sponges.

Lower Eyelid Crease:  First line or crease under the eye lower eyelid.

Lunch-Time Facelift:  This thread lift procedure is a barbed thread through a hollow guide into the skin and deeper soft tissue that are permanent sutures designed to alter the appearance of the face with the implication that you can immediately return to your daily activities.

Macular Stain:  Small birthmark often nothing more than a small, mild, red blemish on the skin, many of which will disappear by age two.

Mala:  Synonym for cheek or zygomatic bone.

Malar:  Region commonly known as the cheek consisting of the bony component (known as the zygoma) and the overlying soft-tissue mound.

Malar Fat Pad:  Also referred to as the cheek fat pad and accounts for the cheek fullness.  This section tends to descend from the top of the cheek over time contributing to the lower eyelid hollow and the relative fullness of the nasolabial fold and the jowl.

Malar Septum:  Ligamentous attachment running from the inner corner of the eye down toward the outer jaw line across the anterior cheek.

Male Pattern Baldness:  Hereditary thinning of hair in men, usually from the top of the head, leaving hair around the sides.

Mammoplasty:  Surgical reshaping of the breast done for reconstructive or cosmetic purposes.

Mandible:  Medical terminology pertaining to the lower jaw.

Marionette Lines:  See Labiomandibular Fold for further details.

Mask of Pregnancy:  Medical terminology for this phrase is cholasma.  See cholasma for further details.

Mastectomy:  Surgical removal procedure of all or part of the breast.

Mastopexy:  Procedure removing excess skin, also referred to as a breast lift, to alter sagging or drooping breasts.

Maxilla:  Medical terminology pertaining to the upper jawbone that extends up around the nose and partly under the eyes.

Maxillary Hypoplasia:  Maxillary referring to the upper jawbone and hypoplasia referring to under development.  The cheek bone under the eye should project as far forward as the brow forming a prominent orbital rim supporting the lower eyelid and cheek.  This phrase refers to the lack of the aforementioned and is a contributing factor to mid-face ptosis.

Maxillofacial:  Medical terminology relating to the jaw and face areas.

Median Reduction:  A type of scalp reduction whereby the scalp is reduced in an oval shape at the center of the bald area of the scalp.

Megasession:  Terminology describing a hair transplantation procedure in which a large number of grafts (usually mini-grafts and micrographs) is performed in one operation.  This technique consists of 1,000 to 3,000 grafts and prevents multiple operations while still providing good results.

Melanin:  A pigment found in melanocyte cells that primarily determines skin, hair and eye color.

Melanocyte:  This is a synonym for pigment cell of the skin.  It is a pigment-producing cell located in the epidermis basal layer responsible for determining skin, hair and eye color.  The pigment that melanocyteproduces is called melanin.

Melanoma:  A type of skin cancer that can spread quickly if not treated early.

Melasma:  Darkened skin discoloration often occurring in pregnant women represented as patches, usually on the face.  Also found to be caused by hormones such as those taken for hormone replacement therapy or are in oral contraception that stimulate melanocytes to produce more pigment.  Melasma is darkened further by sun exposure.

Melolabial Fold:  Medical terminology also known as the nasolabial fold which is the heavy fold of tissue that develops at the junction between the mouth and the cheek and extends to the base of the nose.

Meloplication:  Minimally invasive technique of threading sutures to attempt to lift the nasolabial fold and the malar fat pad toward the temple.  The cheek is lifted but typically, over a period of months, the volume returns to its original position.

Mentoplasty:  Also referred to as chin augmentation.  See Chin Augmentation for further details.

Microdermabrasion:  Skin resurfacing technique using small crystals to remove the epidermis and stimulate the dermis below to produce new skin cells that appear refreshed and younger.  Microdermabrasion is a more gentle version of Dermabrasion.

Micrograft:  One or two fine hairs used in hair transplantation surgery to soften the appearance of the frontal hairline giving it a more natural appearance.

Micropigmentation:  Type of tattooing used to apply permanent makeup.

Mid-Cheek Fold:  A depression between the edge of the nose and the prominence of the cheek bone that develops under the lower eyelid area.

Mid-Face Lift:  Cosmetic lifting surgery raising the malar fat pad altering facial appearance.

Mid-Face Ptosis:  Downward sagging of the malar fat pad caused by the ligaments loosing tightness.

Mini Tummy Tuck:  The medical terminology for this commonly used phrase is Partial Abdominoplasty.  See Partial Abdominoplasty for further details.

Minigraft:  Thicker hair grafts consisting of two to six follicles used in transplantation procedures to fill in the hairline and provide density with a more natural look.

Moderate Profile Implant:  Implants with less projection and wider diameter than High Profile Implants giving more upper pole (top of breast) fullness and less cleavage.

Mohs Cancer Surgery:  Specialized surgical technique completely excising skin cancers while preserving much of the surrounding normal tissue.

Molluscum Contagiosum:  Common skin disorder caused by a superficial skin infection with a virus.  This condition appears as numerous, scattered, small tan or pink bumps on the skin on any part of the body.  Most individuals with this condition have no other symptoms, however, itching can occur.

Morphing:  Terminology referring to changing shape.  In cosmetic treatment this terms pertains to digital photographic programs that create a projected image of a proposed change in facial shape.

Muellerectomy:  This medical term refers to Muller’s muscle-conjunctival resection ptosis (drooping) surgery that is a means of elevating a mildly heavy eyelid 1-2 millimeters.

Myobloc:  Federal Drug Administration approved injectable solution for treatment of abnormal head position and neck pain.

ND:YAG laser:  Representative of Neodymium-Doped Yttrium Aluminium Garnet laser, referring to the materials from which it is generated.  A solid-state, pulsed, infrared laser used for hair removal and treatment of minor vascular defects such as spider veins.

Nasal:  Terminology pertaining to the nose.

Nasal Bridge Augmentation:  Surgical procedure placing a bone graft, cartilage graft or silicone implant to increase the height of the nasal bridge.

Nasal Tip Augmentation:  Surgical procedure performed to alter the nose producing a higher and more pointed nasal tip.

Nasolabial Folds:  Deep wrinkles between the nose and corners of the mouth that develop as we age.

Neck Lift:  Cosmetic surgical procedure to remove excess skin in the neck to treat horizontal bands or what is commonly called “turkey neck” often done with liposuction to remove the excess fat.

Neoplasm:  Any new or abnormal growth (tumor) in which cell multiplication is uncontrolled and progressive.

Nevus Flammeus:  Also referred to as a port-wine stain or naevus flammeus is a vascular birthmark consisting of superficial and deep dilated capillaries in the skin.  This condition produces a reddish to purplish discoloration of the skin.

New-Fill:  Now marketed as Sculptra is a facial filler.

No Scar Eyelid Surgery:  An oxymoron as no surgical procedure can be performed without creating a scar.  The key factor is hiding the scar.  Lower eyelid surgery can be done behind the eyelid thus there is no visible scarring.  Upper eyelid surgery places the incision in the fold so that when the eye opens the scar is not visible.

Nose Job:  The commonly used term for rhinoplasty.

Non-Ablative Laser:  Laser treatment directed to the second skin layer to stimulate creation of new skin cells, not removing the skin surface or causing peeling.

Open Forehead Lift:  Forehead lift performed using an incision extending over the top of the head from one ear to the other, also referred to as a coronal forehead lift.

Open Rhinoplasty:   Nose surgery using an external incision in the columella (the section between the nostrils) at the end of the septum that divides the nostrils.  This surgical procedure also uses internal incisions as done in closed rhinoplasty.

Otoplasty:  Surgical repair performed to alter misshapen or protruding ears.

Outpatient:  An individual who does not stay overnight after a surgical procedure and does not receive general anesthesia.

Palate:  Medical terminology for roof of the mouth.

Palpebral:  Medical terminology for lining behind the eyelids.

Papule:  Medical term for small, circumscribed solid elevation of the skin.

Paramedian Reduction:  A surgical scalp reduction away from the center of the balding scalp.

Partial Abdominoplasty:  This phrase is also referred to as a mini tummy tuck and is a surgical procedure to remove excess fat and skin from below the navel, rather than from the entire abdomen.

PATE:  Acronym for Prolonged Acute Tissue Expansion.

Periareolar:  Refers to the area around the nipple of the breast.

Perlane®:  An injectable filler that restores fullness and smoothes out deep wrinkles to the skin with results lasting approximately six months to a year.

Phenol Peel:  Strongest of the chemical skin peels used to treat deep wrinkles from sun damage and the wrinkles around lips and chin removing the skin’s epidermis or outer layer of skin, thus stimulating the dermis or inner layers of cells to produce new, tighter cells.

Photo-Aging:  Aging changes to the skin from sun exposure as well as wrinkles and age spots.

Plastic Surgery:  The surgical specialty reconstructing and repairing damaged or altered areas of the body due to disease, congenital defects or disorders including cosmetic surgery performed for enhancement of the physical appearance rather than restore normality.

Platysmaplasty:  Cosmetic surgical procedure tightening the neck muscles and removing excess skin performed on the platysma which is the wide, flat muscle just beneath the skin on each side of the neck.

Plication:  Surgical procedure of taking tucks in the structure to short it.

Port Wine Stain:  A birthmark or type of hemangioma caused by abnormal concentration of capillaries the color of port wine.  This type of birthmark is also referred to as nevus flammeus.

Pre-Jowl Sulcus:  The grooves or furrows that develop on the side of the chin as a result of the descent of the malar fat pad that accentuates the appearance of the jowl along the jaw line.

Pretrichal Incision:  Surgical incision above the forehead  along of the hairline when performing a forehead lift that shortens a high forehead.

Prolonged Acute Tissue Expansion:  The acronym for this phrase is PATE and it is a scalp expansion procedure used intra-operatively as opposed to pre-operatively or post-operatively  with the process of inflating and deflating a scalp extension balloon multiple times over a several hour period to stretch the available scalp.

Ptosis:  Medical terminology for drooping especially used referring to sagging eyelids or breasts.

Pustules:  Medical terminology referring to pimples, small elevations on the skin containing purulent (consisting of or forming pus) material.

Radiesse®:  An injectable Federal Drug Administration approved filler containing tiny calcium-based microspheres in a water-based gel gradually absorbed by the body, leaving the microspheres in place as temporary volume that plumps up the skin.  Gradually the skin produces more collagen fibers around the microspheres with the effectiveness of the treatment approximately two years at which time treatment must then be repeated.

Random Skin Flap:  Surgical flap of hair-bearing skin created to correct remaining bald areas after hair transplantation procedures.

Red Lip:  This term refers to the vermillion (red) portions of the lip with the lower lip potentially double the size of the upper lip.

Reduction Mammoplasty:  See Breast Reduction for further details.

Restylane®:  Injectable filler that plumps up the skin adding fullness thus smoothing out facial wrinkles and fine lines, based on hyaluronic acid that is a substance found naturally in the body.

Retin-A:  Also known as Tretinoin, this is a derivative of Vitamin A that is used to treat acne, whiteheads and blackheads and also helps with wrinkles.

Retinol:  Substance derived from Vitamin A which is found in skin care products.

Retro-Orbicularis Oculi Fat Pad:  This phrase pertains to sub-eyebrow fat.

Rhinoplasty:  Commonly referred to as nose surgery, it is a surgical procedure performed to alter, reshape or resize the nose and involves re-sculpting of the bone and cartilage in the nose.

Rhytidectomy:  Surgical procedure performed on the face and neck for the elimination of sagging, drooping and wrinkles.  See Facelift for further details.

S-Lift:  A form of mini facelift to improve mild to moderate sagging in the lower face and neck using small incisions in front of the ear providing a refreshed and more youthful appearance and having a shorter recovery time compared to a full facelift.

Salicylic Acid:  See beta hydroxy acid for further details.

Sallowness:  A term used to describe a yellowish hue of the complexion.

Saline:  Used to refer to the saline solution used in medical procedures and is a solution of water and salt.

Saline Implants:  Breast implants filled with saline solution with silicone shells usually inserted empty and then filled to the desired fullness.  The solution is harmless and absorbed by the body should the shell rupture.

Scalp Expansion:  Scalp reduction surgery whereby balloons implanted below the scalp expand the hair-bearing area and are used to cover the reduced scalp area.

Scalp Extension:  Scalp reduction surgery whereby a medical device applies force to the scalp, stretching the hair-bearing areas allowing it to cover the reduced section of the scalp.

Scalp Flap:  Scalp reduction surgery whereby surgically removed flaps of hair-bearing skin are used to cover reduced areas of the scalp and hair line.

Scalp Lift:  Surgical procedure involving removing a flap of hair-bearing scalp and repositioning it used primarily for reconstructive purposes such as replenishing hair-free areas of the scalp.

Scalp Reduction:  Surgery in which small areas of balding scalp are removed in a series of several small surgical procedures to reduce the area of the balding scalp.

Scar:  A build-up of fibrous connective tissue as the body’s way of healing an incision or cut.

Scar Revision:  Surgical procedure to reduce the size of a scar.

Sclerotherapy:  Reduction or elimination of spider veins or varicose veins whereby the veins are injected with a solution that closes them off from the circulatory system.

Sculptra:  Injectable filler used to treat skin folds and hollow areas on the face with results lasting approximately two years.

Sebaceous Glands:  Microscopic glands in the second skin layer, the dermis, usually found in hair-bearing areas that secretes oil to lubricate the skin as well as are connected to the hair follicles.

Seborrhea:  Medical terminology for scaly red skin.

Septoplasty:  Surgery to modify or reconstruct the nasal septum improving the flow of air to the nose by repairing malformed cartilage and/or the bony portion.

Septum:  A thin wall dividing the two nostrils.

Silicone: Stable synthetic compound with a wide variety of forms commonly used in breast implants as well as chin augmentation and cheek augmentation.

Silicone Gel Implants:  Breast implants filled with silicone gel with a strong silicone shell.

Skin Graft:  Skin removed from the body or from a donor and transplanted to another part of the body, used in burn treatments and hair transplantation procedures.

Skin Resurfacing:  Cosmetic enhancement of aging skin by removal of the epidermis stimulating the dermis to produce new, tighter skin cells.  This treatment can be performed with lasers, chemical peels, dermabrasion, or microdermabrasion.

Slit Graft:  A graft inserted into a slit rather than a circular hole in the recipient area during a hair transplant procedure.

Slot Correction:  A random flap procedure to correct remaining bald areas after procedures such as scalp extensions or median scalp reductions.

Slot Punch:  A variant between the sharp and blunt punch devices incorporating a fixed cutter blade and a sliding cutter blade enabling blunt dissection as well as aligning the graft.  This technique prevents compression.

SMAS:  This stands for Superficial Musculoaponeurotic System.  See Superficial Musculoaponeurotic System for further details.

SMAS Plication Facelift:  A facelift (rhytidectomy) involving the full muscular system of the face performed on the deepest or third layer.

SOOF:  Acronym for Sub-Orbicularis Oculi Fat pad.

SOOF Lift:  Facial cosmetic surgical treatment of mid-face suspension (cheek lift) with the goal of elevating and tightening soft tissues of the cheek by repositioning the fat pads below the eyes.

SPF:  Acronym representative of Sun Protection Factor.

Spider Vein:  Enlarged vein that can be seen through the surface of the skin, generally smaller and closer to the skin than varicose veins.

Stratum Corneum:  Outer layer of the epidermis, consisting of several layers of dead cells that will slough off naturally.  The full name is stratum corneum epidermis; however, this shortened version is commonly used

Strawberry Mark:  See Hemangioma for further details.

Subcutaneous:  Medical terminology for below the skin.

Submalar Implant:  Mid-face implant placed below the malar (cheek bone) increasing the fullness of the cheek.

Suction Lipectomy:  Another name for Liposuction.  See Liposuction for further details.

Sun Protection Factor:  Also represented as SPF is a measure of the effectiveness of sunscreens with the higher the number the greater the protection.

Superficial Musculoaponeurotic System:  Represented as SMAS with the nasal SMAS consisting of a unique layer dividing at the level of the nasal valve into deep and superficial layers with each layer having medial and lateral components.  The dermocartilaginous (prefix derma pertaining to skin and cartilaginous pertaining to cartilage) ligament corresponds to the deep medial expansion and the deep and superficial medial expansions corresponding to the lowering ligaments of the nasal tip.

Super-Wet Liposuction:  Form of liposuction devised to improve Wet Liposuction minimizing the amount of bleeding with the procedure.

SMAS:  This acronym is representative of Superficial Muscular Aponeurotic System.  See Superficial Muscular Aponeurotic System for further details.

Suture:  Medical term to unite two surfaces.

Tear Trough:  Another name for under-eye hollowness.  A trough is a long, narrow, shallow channel or depression.

Temple Lift:  Surgical incision performed in the temple area above the ear typically with a small amount of hair-bearing scalp also removed to permanently elevate the temple.

Temporal Lift:  Used as a synonym for a Brow Lift. See Brow Lift for further details.

Thermage®:  Cosmetic procedure for tightening the skin using a heating and cooling process making the skin thicken and contract providing a smoother appearance.

Thigh Lift:  Cosmetic surgical procedure removing fat and excess skin from the thighs.

Thyroid Eye Disorder:  Usually associated with Graves’ disease is an autoimmune condition stimulating inflammation of the thyroid as well as the orbit of the eye.  This disorder can also be associated with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis which is an underactive thyroid.

Titan™:  Skin tightening treatment using infrared light to stimulate collagen contraction heating and can be used on any part of the body with no downtime.

Transaxillary:  In cosmetic surgery this is the location of a breast implant incision in the armpit.

Transconjunctival Blepharoplasty:  Lower eyelid surgery to contour the herniated orbital fat creating the fullness under the eyes where the fat is removed by an incision behind the lower eyelid.

Transcutaneous:  Medical terminology denoting through unbroken skin as with a surgical incision.

Transcutaneous Blepharoplasty:  Lower eyelid surgery contouring orbital fat performed through an incision made just below the lower eyelid lashes.

Transection:  Division by cutting transversely (crosswise) and can occur during harvesting of the donor hair or dissection of the grafts when follicles are accidently cut by the blade transversely as opposed to vertically.

Transpositional Flap:  Procedure, also known as a flap rotation, uses strips of surgically removed hair-bearing scalp to form a new hairline and/or cover balding areas.

Trans-Umbilical Breast Augmentation:  This phrase is also represented as TUBA and refers to the location of an incision through the belly button for breast augmentation, a technique not currently frequently used.

Tretinoin:  A prescription drug used to treat acne and other skin conditions and disorders that is related to vitamin A

Trichal Incision:  Surgical cut along the hair line.  See pretrichal incision for further details.

Trichloroacetic (TCA) Acid:  Light to medium depth chemical skin peeling agent.

TUBA:  Acronym representative of Trans-Umbilical Breast Augmentation.  See Trans-Umbilical Breast Augmentation for further details.

Tumescent Liposuction:  Performed after a saline solution containing lidocaine as a local anesthetic and epinephrine to prevent bleeding is injected to the treatment area prior to the suctioning for removal of fat.

Tummy Tuck:  Commonly used term for an abdominoplasty.  See Abdominoplasty for further details.

Twilight Anesthesia:  Type of intravenous sedation where the patient is not unconscious but is sedated during medical procedures able to follow simple commands, is responsive and afterward does not recall the procedure

UAL:  Acronym for Ultrasound-Assisted Liposuction.

Ultrasound:  Also known as Computer Tomography Scan is an energy scanning process that is safe and widely performed in medical imaging.  In Ultrasound-Assisted Liposuction this technology is used to break up the fatty tissue to make it easier to suction out.

Ultrasound-Assisted Liposuction:  Also represented as UAL, this is a liposuction technique utilizing ultrasound energy to break down the fat cell membranes, making the fat more liquid and easier to remove.

Ultraviolet:  Vibration of energy that produces colors invisible to the human eye.  The Excimer laser utilized in Lasik vision correction uses this technique.

Umbilicoplasty: – See Belly Button Surgery for further details.

Unilateral Gynecomastia:  Unilateral (on one side only) male breast enlargement.

Upper Arm Lift:  Cosmetic surgical procedure removing excess fat and skin on the upper arms.

Upper Eyelid Crease:  Crease under the upper eyelid fold at the top of the eyelid platform.

Varicose Vein:  Enlarged veins found near the surface of the skin that often look like cords and appear twisted and bulging.

Vitiligo:  Smooth white patches appear on the skin with this condition due to a loss of pigment-producing cells.

W-Plasty:  Method of reconstructive tissue rearrangement commonly used to for scar revision with excision of the old scar tissue outlined with multiple W-Plasty lined up and sutured closed.  The zigzag pattern produced with closure of helps hide the new scar, making the reconstruction less conspicuous than the original scar.

Wet Liposuction:  Earlier method of performing liposuction whereby a small amount of saline solution was first injected.  Improved techniques are now to inject more saline solution containing epinephrine having the effect of locally shrinking blood vessels, thus dramatically reducing bleeding.

White Roll:  Upper lip skin that meets the vermillion or red part of the lip observed to be less pigmented than adjacent skin.

Winter Itch:  A condition where the skin becomes irritated due to a loss of moisture, common in the winter when the air is drier, thus the name.

Wrinkle:  Furrow or fold in the skin having several causes such as sun damage, skin dryness and/or reduced amounts of collagen in the dermis (skin) which supports the skin, giving it a smooth, youthful appearance.

Z-Plasty:  A reconstructive tissue rearrangement method of scar revision done to help hide a scar as it uses a Z-shaped incision also referred to as a Zigzagplasty.  This procedure minimizes the visual impact by breaking up the scar and is also performed to alter a contracted scar, change the tension to a scar and/or reduce the dimension of a scar.

Zygomatic Bone:  Quadrilateral bone forming the prominence of the cheek articulating with the frontal, sphenoid, temporal, and maxillary bones.