Cosmetic/Plastic Surgery Glossary Plastic Cosmetic Surgery Abroad
aesthetic surgery: type of plastic surgery performed solely to improve appearance.
alpha-hydroxy acid: mild acid derived from certain fruits and other foods that removes surface cells when applied to skin.
ambulatory surgical facility: operating room outside of a hospital setting where patients can spend up to twenty-three hours.
anesthesiologist: medical doctor specializing in the administration of medications that put patients to sleep during surgery and monitoring patients during surgery. aneurysm: bulge that forms in a weakened section of an artery.
areola: pigmented region around the nipple.
autologous fat grafts: wrinkle-filler made from a patient's own fat taken from another body site.
betadine: liquid disinfectant used to sterilize the skin prior to surgery.
blepharoplasty: see eyelid-lift.
body contouring: umbrella term for a variety of procedures that reshape the body by removing or manipulating fat, skin, and muscle.
botulinum toxin: poison derived from bacteria that causes botulism; injected to temporarily paralyze overactive muscles.
bovine collagen: fibrous protein derived from cow hide that is used to fill lines and wrinkles.
breast augmentation: surgery to enlarge the breasts by inserting implants.
breast-lift: surgical procedure that removes excess skin, elevates nipples, and tightens breast tissue to restore a normal contour to sagging breasts; also known as mastopexy. brow-lift: see forehead-lift.
buttock-lift: plasticsurgical procedure to remove excess skin and fat from the buttock region and redrape remaining skin to make sagging buttocks tighter.
cannula: blunt-ended hollow tube used to break up and vacuum fat during liposuction.
canthopexy: cosmeticsurgery to shorten the lower eyelids' length horizontally.
capsular contracture: condition in which a wall of scar tissue that normally grows around breast implants squeezes them, making the breasts hard, and in some cases, distorting their appearance.
cellulite: visible manifestation of fibrous bands that tether skin to underlying muscle; more prevalent in aged, sagging skin.
chemabrasion: a skin-removal method that combines a chemical peel with dermabrasion.
chemical peel: applying chemicals to the face to remove superficial fine lines, multiple wrinkles, and irregular pigmentation; also known as chemosurgery.
chemosurgery: see chemical peel.
chin augmentation: see mentoplasty.
collagen: strong fibrous protein that holds all the body's tissues together.
columella: skin bridge separating the nostrils.
composite face-lift: face-lifting technique in which the skin and fibrous/fatty layer are lifted as one unit.
contour deformity: defect in the skin, such as acne scars or wrinkles.
corrugator muscles: group of muscles in the forehead that when contracted, produce vertical "frown" lines between the eyebrows.
cosmetic contouring: reshaping the teeth with a slowly rotating grinding stone.
cosmetic dentistry: a range of dental procedures that enhance the teeth's appearance without necessarily improving their function.
cosmetic surgery: see aesthetic surgery.
crow's feet: a series of horizontal lines at the outer corners of the eyes that usually appear only when a person smiles; also known as "laugh lines."
cyst: a noncancerous lump that can form in the skin or any other bodily organ or tissue.
dermabrasion: the mechanical removal of the outer layers of skin using a dermabrader, a hand-held tool with a rapidly rotating sander or wire brush.
dermatologist: a medical doctor who specializes in diseases of the skin.
dermis: the innermost layers of skin.
deviated septum: see septum.
dynamic wrinkles: lines or creases in the skin that are only visible when the face is animated.
ectropion: "basset-hound" appearance in which the lower eyelids are pulled down as a result of an eyelid-lift, laser peel, aging, or scarring.
elastin: microscopic fibers in the skin that control the skin's elasticity.
electrocoagulation: controlling bleeding during surgery by heat-sealing blood vessels with a high-frequency electrical current.
endoscope: tube-shaped probe fitted with a miniature video camera and tiny fiber-optic light source.
endoscopy: surgical technique that allows the surgeon to operate remotely through small incisions with the aid of a camera.
epidermis: outermost layers of skin.
epidural anesthesia: spinal block that numbs the lower half of the body.
excise: to surgically cut away tissue from the body.
exfoliate: to remove the outermost layer of skin cells.
eyelid-lift: cosmeticsurgery to tighten sagging, wrinkled, or hooded eyelids; also known as blepharoplasty.
face-lift: cosmetic surgery that removes excess skin and tightens the lower half of the face.
Flexzan: a sophisticated biomembrane that retains moisture, decreases pain, and hastens healing of surgical wounds.
forehead-lift: a facial rejuvenation cosmetic surgery procedure that smooths forehead furrows, lifts sagging eyebrows, and minimizes frown lines between the eyebrows.
general anesthesia: a state of drug-induced unconsciousness designed to prevent pain and discomfort during surgery.
glycolic acid: the most popular of the alpha-hydroxy acids. An ingredient in many skin-care products, glycolic acid is also used for ultralight chemical peels, also known as "lunch-time peels," to rejuvenate facial skin.
graft: living tissue that is transplanted from one part of the body to another, from one person to another person, or from an animal to a human.
gynecomastia: an often transient condition in which one or both male breasts swell, usually due to a hormonal imbalance.
hematoma: localized bleeding or blood clot under the skin herpes: one of various conditions that produces small, often painful skin blisters.
high lateral tension abdominoplasty: tummy tuck done through an incision across the lower belly angling sharply, upward at the sides.
hydroquinones: a class of chemicals used in skin bleaches. injectable fillers: material that is implanted or injected beneath the skin's surface to plump up lines, wrinkles. creases, and depressions, or to make the lips fuller.
jowls: loose skin and excess fat that hang off the sides of the lower jaw.
laser peel: a facial rejuvenation technique that uses a pulsed carbon dioxide laser to vaporize outer skin layers and tighten the underlying collagen.
lidocaine: the most commonly used local anesthetic.
lip augmentation: an autologous fat transplant or implant into the lips to make them more plump.
liposuction: cosmetic surgery procedure that removes excess fat by suctioning it out of the body; also known as "lipectomy," "liposculpture," and "lipoplasty."
liquid silicone: an injectable filling agent that was used in the past but is now illegal due to serious safety concerns.
local anesthesia: medicinally induced numbness of a limited area of the body to prevent pain and discomfort during surgery or other medical procedures.
malar bones: cheekbones.
mammography: a low-dose x-ray of the breasts designed to detect breast cancer.
mastectomy: surgery to remove all the breast tissue.
mastopexy: see breast-lift.
melanin: a pigment in the skin that protects the body from ultraviolet light.
melanoma: a potentially fatal form of skin cancer.
mentoplasty: cosmetic surgery to implant a piece of solid silicone to enlarge a chin that is too small; also known as chin augmentation.
microabrasion: removal of superficial stains from tooth enamel using a low-speed polishing tool. micropigmentation: cosmetic tattooing, such as permanent eyeliner.
mole: a noncancerous tumor of the pigment-producing cells of skin; also known as a nevus.
nasolabial folds: deep vertical creases that run between the nostrils and the corners of the mouth.
neurologist: a medical doctor specializing in diseases of the brain and nervous system.
nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs: a class of drugs including ibuprofen, diflunisal, fenoprofen, and meclofenamate, which kills pain and reduces inflammation.
ophthalmologist: a medical doctor who specializes in diseases of the eye.
orbital septum: a membrane within the eye socket that holds in place a series of protective fat pads.
orthopedist: a medical doctor who specializes in disorders of the bones, joints, ligaments, and tendons. otolaryngologist: a surgeon who specializes in structures of the head and neck.
otoplasty: a cosmetic surgical procedure to tack protruding ears back into a normal position.
outpatient surgery: any operation that allows the patientto go home in twenty-three hours or less; also known as "day surgery" and "ambulatory surgery."
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