Glossary Of Terms

A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z

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Aesthetic surgery - surgery to improve a person's appearance

Aesthetician - a skin care specialist trained to enhance beauty

Abdominoplasty - also known as tummy tuck, removes excess fat and skin from the abdomen

Acne - an inflammatory eruption involving the oil-producing sebaceous glands

Age spot - also known as sunspots or liver spots: flat, brown discoloration on the skin that results from overexposure to the sun and aging.

Alopecia – hair loss; can be caused by genetics, disease, malnutrition, or hormone imbalance

Anaesthesia - loss of sensation in the body induced by an anaesthetic

Anaesthetic - a compound that reduces the ability to perceive pain; used in surgery to block pain

Anaesthetist – person who gives you an anaesthetic.

Anatomical implants – Tear-shaped breast implants.

Antibacterial – a product that prevents bacteria.

Antibiotic - a drug that is effective against bacteria

Areola - the pigmented area around the nipple

Asymmetric - uneven

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BAAPS – British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons.

Beauty mark - a mole or nevus

Benign - not containing cancerous cells

Biopsy – removal of tissue from living patients for diagnostic examination

Birthmark - a mole or blemish that is present on the skin at birth

Blemish - any mark or discoloration on the skin.

Blepharoplasty - referred to as an eye lift, eyelid correction or eye bag removal

Botulinum Toxin - a substance derived from the bacterium Clostridium botulinum; used to temporarily paralyze muscles and treat cross-eyed condition, muscle spasm, excessive sweating, and migraine headaches

Brachioplasty – also known as an arm lift: removes excess skin and fat on the arm (bingo wings)

Breast augmentation - breast implant surgery to increase breast size and fullness

Breast implant - a silicone shell filled with either cohesive silicone gel or inflated with a saline solution used to enlarge the breast

Breast lift - surgery to remove excess skin and raise the nipple for perkier, fuller breasts; to counteract gravity, loss of elasticity, and sagging; also called mastopexy

Breast reduction - surgery to remove excess skin, breast, and fatty tissue for smaller, shapely breasts, and to reduce back and neck strain

Breast implant removal – removal of implants with or without replacement; for desired changes in proportions, or due to implant-related complications

Breast implant revision - surgery to enhance the appearance of breasts with surgery on the implant pocket, or replacement of the implant itself

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Canula or cannula - a small, hollow tube used during liposuction surgery to remove fat by suction

Capillary - a tiny blood vessel that connects an artery to a vein

Capsular contracture – a build up of scar tissue around a breast implant, there are different grades, if a high level then implant replacement would be necessary.

Cartilage - a type of connective tissue

Cellulite - an uneven, "cottage cheese", or dimpled texture to the skin overlying fat

Cervicoplasty – also known as a neck lift: removal of excess skin to the neck area.

Cheek augmentation - a procedure to contour and angle the cheeks using injectable fillers, surgical implants, or grafts

Chemical peel - removal of the superficial layers of the skin with a chemical agent to remove wrinkles and age spots and to promote the regrowth of fresh, clearer new skin

Closed rhinoplasty – nose surgery without any visible external incisions

Collagen - the major protein of connective tissue that makes up the foundation of skin and other tissues.

Cosmetic dentistry - dentistry to improve the appearance of the teeth and smile

Cosmetic surgery - procedure performed to reshape normal structures in the body in order to improve appearance

Crow's feet - wrinkles at the outside corners of the eyes, resulting from aging and normal facial expression

Cyst - an abnormal sac containing gas, fluid, or a semisolid material

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Dental implant - an artificial permanent device placed in the jaw bone to anchor a tooth, crown, or bridge

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Ear surgery – also known as Otoplasty, a surgery to pin back prominent ears or reshape ear lobes.

Enamel - the hard covering of a tooth

Eyelid ptosis surgery - procedure to raise one or both droopy upper eyelids to restore an alert appearance and possibly improve visual fields

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Face lift – surgery to refresh the face, removing excess skin and raising droopiness caused by ageing, also called rhytidectomy

Fat transfer – removal of fat from one part of your body through liposuction, is then harvested and reinjected into cheeks, lips or chin.

Female genital surgery - surgery to reshape the labia for increased confidence and enhanced sexual experiences; also called "labiaplasty"

Filler (filling agent) - a substance such as collagen, silicone, or one's own fat that is injected beneath the skin to contour, or fill in wrinkles or scars

FRCS - Fellowship of the Royal College of Surgeons. A professional qualification to practice as a surgeon in the UK and Republic of Ireland

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General anaesthetic - anaesthetics to induce sleep.

Glabella - the smooth area between the eyebrows

Glycolic acid - a fruit acid (AHA) used in superficial chemical peels

GMC – General Medical Council

Graft - any free living tissue moved from one part of the body to another

Gynecomastia - male breast reduction or removal; treated with excision or liposuction

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Hair graft - a thin strip of hair-bearing scalp is removed, separated into pieces of 1 to 5 hair follicles, and then implanted into hairless areas

Hyperhidrosis - profuse sweating

Hyperpigmentation - darkening of the skin through overproduction of melanin

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Implant ripplin – Occurs if the filling material inside a breast implant shifts around and allows a wrinkle or fold to appear in the outer shell..

Implant rupture – A rupture involves a hole or split forming in the shell of a breast implant. Modern implants are made with stronger shells and the cohesive silicone gel is designed to eliminate leaking in the event of a rupture.

Incision - a cut or surgical wound

Inflammation - redness, swelling, and pain as a result of irritation, injury or infection

Inverted nipples – nipples which are permanently in or which retract or go in occasionally.

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Labiaplasty - surgery to reshape the labia

Laser-assisted liposuction - technology using light energy to break up fat

Lip augmentation – a procedure to enhance the lips in any way.

Lip reduction - reduces the size of the upper and / or lower lip by removing a thin strip of tissue

Liposuction - removal of fat lying under the skin through the use of a cannula and vacuum

Liposculpture - liposuction through very small cannulas to more precisely contour the site

Lipstick bleed lines - deep, vertical lines that radiate around the mouth as one ages, especially in smokers

Local anaesthetic - an anaesthetic injected to numb the area being treated

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Mastectomy - breast removal

Mastopexy - breast uplift that removes extra skin and repositions the nipple in a higher position

Mole - a benign growth on the skin that is usually pigmented; also called a nevus

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Nasolabial fold - the crease extending from the side of the nostril to the corner of the mouth; smile or laugh lines

Neck lift – removal of excess skin to raise the neckline, correct "turkey neck", and improve one's profile; also called cervicoplasty

Nipple and/or areola reduction - surgery to remove excess skin and tissue of the nipple and / or areola to provide a more aesthetic appearance

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Open rhinoplasty – nose surgery involving an incision at the base of the nose between the nostrils

Otoplasty - surgery of the ear to pin back prominent ears or reduce and reshape overly large or malformed ears

Overbite - when the top teeth extend forward more than the bottom teeth when the jaw is closed

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Plastic surgery - the branch of surgery dealing with the repair or enhancement of malformed, injured, or lost organs or tissues

Porcelain veneer - a thin covering attached to the surface of the tooth to improve it's appearance

Postoperative - period of recovery and healing that takes place after a surgical procedure

Psoriasis - a chronic skin disease characterized by inflammation and pink or silvery scaly patches

Ptosis - drooping or sagging, commonly referring to eyebrows, eyelids, and breasts

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Rejuvenate - to make youthful

Rhinoplasty - reshaping the nose for a more aesthetically desirable appearance

Rosacea - a condition causing flusing, dilated blood vessels, and sometimes acne on the nose and cheeks

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Saline - salt water; used as replacement fluid during surgery.

Scar - a permanent mark containing connective tissue that results from the body's response to injury

Sebaceous gland - oil producing gland of the skin

Septoplasty - reconstructive surgery of the nasal septum, used to repair a deviated septum; can improve breathing ability

Septum - a thin wall dividing two cavities, such as between the nose

Spider vein - non-essential superficial dilated veins that lie just beneath the skin

Suture - the stitch that joins together the edges of an incision

Symmetric - equal and balanced.

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Tummy tuck – known as abdominoplasty, repairs abdominal muscles and removes excess fat and skin to flatten the abdomen, especially beneficial after pregnancy or weight loss.

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Varicose veins - abnormally dilated or enlarged veins

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Wart - a benign lump on the skin caused by the human papilloma virus (HPV)

Wrinkle - a ridge, line, or crease in the skin; also called a rhytid