Medical Dictionary: Cosmetic Surgery

Look beyond the hype about popular cosmetic procedures to get the facts based on solid medical science. This medical dictionary covers the terms used in the report, Cosmetic Surgery A to Z, and includes details on the benefits, risks, costs, and success rates for many cosmetic surgeries, such as laser procedures, botox, liposuction, breast augmentation, and others.

abdominoplasty (tummy tuck): A procedure to remove excess skin on the abdomen and tighten the underlying muscle and inner girdle. Often combined with liposuction.

ablative: Describes skin-resurfacing procedures that remove surface skin layers, in contrast to non-ablative procedures.

blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery): Surgical removal of fat, excess skin, bags, pouches, and wrinkles in the upper or lower eyelids.

Botox: Brand name for a substance made of botulinum toxin type A that eases the appearance of some facial wrinkles by relaxing the underlying muscles.

breast augmentation: Insertion of implants to enlarge the size of the breasts.

chemical peel: Use of mild to strong chemical solutions to wound the outer layer of the epidermis and encourage new collagen growth.

collagen: A fibrous protein that’s the main component of connective tissue.

corrugator muscle: One of the muscles that forms frown lines on the mid-forehead.

dermis: Middle layer of skin that contains collagen, elastin, blood and lymph vessels, nerves, hair follicles, and glands that produce sweat and oil, all of which is cushioned in a gelatinous matrix consisting primarily of hyaluronic acid.

elastin: The protein that gives skin its elasticity.

epidermis: The outermost layer of skin.

fibroblasts: Cells in the skin that secrete collagen.

forehead lift: Surgical removal of loose skin between the brow and the hairline to reduce horizontal forehead lines and frown lines between the eyes and to correct drooping brows.

hyaluronic acid: A hydrating sugar secreted by cells; it’s the predominant substance in the dermis. Hyaluronic acids used as injectable fillers include Restylane, Hylaform, Perlane, Juvaderm, and Captique.

injectable fillers: Materials derived from non-animal sources, purified animal or human tissue, fat, or other substances that are injected to fill in wrinkles or scars and add plumpness to the face or lips.

intense pulsed light (IPL): A nonlaser device emitting broadband light used in photorejuvenation to improve skin.

laser: A word derived from the acronym of “light amplification by the stimulated emission of radiation.” Lasers produce intense beams of light energy that generate localized heat used in surgery, removal of vascular and pigmented lesions, and skin rejuvenation.

LED photomodulation: Nonthermal technique for enhancing skin tone and texture using a panel of bright light–emitting diodes (LEDs).

liposuction: A technique for suctioning fat from areas that resist fat loss by exercise and diet.

mastopexy (breast lift): A procedure to reduce breast droop by removing excess skin and elevating the position of the breasts.

microdermabrasion: A procedure to reduce fine lines and wrinkles and to even skin tone by applying aluminum hydroxide crystals to the skin under high pressure.

nasolabial folds: Lines or grooves leading from the nose to the outer corners of the mouth.

necrosis: Tissue death.

non-ablative: Used to describe skin procedures that leave the surface of the skin intact.

photorejuvenation: The use of intense pulsed light to improve skin tone and texture.

radiofrequency: A technique for tightening lax skin on the face, using an electromagnetic current to penetrate deep within the skin’s dermis.

rhinoplasty (nose reshaping): Reshaping the cartilage and bone of the nose to achieve the desired profile.

rhytidectomy (facelift): A surgical procedure that involves removing excess skin and tightening the underlying muscle to correct sagging around the jaws, jowls, and neck. Does not include work on the eyes or forehead.

rosacea: A skin condition that enlarges vessels, causing redness of the nose and other parts of the face.