Home Patients & Public Information Glossary Glossary Please find the glossary below: A B C D E F G H I K L M N P R S V Back to topA Acne and acne scarring A skin condition caused by blocked pores, characterised by red, pus-filled bumps that can leave scars when healed. Aesthetic medicine The use of non-surgical procedures to improve appearance and treat the overall wellbeing of the patient. Alopecia The loss of hair, either complete or partial. Anaesthetic A pain-relieving drug given to patients while treatments are carried out. An anaesthetic can be local, enabling the patient to remain awake while a small area is treated, or general which puts the patient to sleep for more complex procedures. Back to topB Body contouring (body sculpting) A general term for a variety of treatments and procedures designed to reshape, redefine, tighten and tone the shape of the body. Boob job Also known as breast augmentation or enlargement, implants are inserted to increase breast size, improve their shape or correct irregularity. Botulinum toxin A toxin produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum that acts as a neurotoxin and its use results in weakness of the muscle. The toxin is injected into the skin to temporarily weaken muscles lasting three to four months, softening or eliminating wrinkles and helping to address dynamic lines. Brow lift A surgical procedure to alter the position of a low or sagging brow. The procedure also smooths lines on the forehead. Butt lift Cosmetic surgery to change the shape of the buttocks, creating a fuller appearance. Back to topC Chemical Peel A procedure in which a chemical solution is applied to the skin to exfoliate the top layers. The skin that grows back is smoother. With a light or medium peel, patients may need to undergo the procedure more than once to get the desired results. Chemical peels are used to treat wrinkles, skin pigmentation and scars, usually on the face. They can be done alone or combined with other cosmetic procedures and can be done at different depths, from light to deep. Deeper chemical peels offer more-dramatic results but also take longer to recover from. Back to topD Dermabrasion Mechanical exfoliation of the skin which removes the uppermost layer (epidermis) to reveal new skin below. Dermal fillers Fillers placed below the skin at various depths - dermis, subcutaneous (fat layer) under the muscle, just above the bone . It helps to correct and contour the signs of facial ageing. Also see Injectable Fillers. Dermis The layer of skin below the visible outer layer (epidermis) and above the fat layer (subcutaneous layer). Made up of collagen, elastin, hyaluronic acid and has blood capillaries, nerve endings, hair follicles and glands. It provides strength and flexibility to the skin. Back to topE Elastin A protein forming the main constituent of elastic connective tissue, found especially in the dermis of the skin. Epidermis The uppermost layer of the skin. Excessive sweating Also known as hyperhidrosis, this is a condition whereby abnormally excessive sweating occurs even when the body does not need to cool down. Back to topF Fat injections Fat is harvested from the patient’s body and re-injected to enhance facial fullness, fill creases or build up shallow contours. Fat can also be injected to other parts of the body. Back to topG Gynaecomastia Also known as ‘man boobs’, this is a condition whereby males develop breast tissue because of an imbalance between oestrogen and androgen hormonal activity. Back to topH Hyaluronic acid Also called hyaluronan, this is naturally present in the body and distributed widely throughout connective, epithelial, and neural tissues. It is injected in gel form to restore lost volume to the face, smooth lines or add fullness to lips. Hyperhidrosis See excessive sweating. Hyperpigmentation Patches of skin that become darker than surrounding areas. Types of hyperpigmentation include age spots, melasma, and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. Hypopigmentation The absence of normal amounts of melanin (the chemical that gives skin its colour) caused by disease, injury, burns or other trauma to the skin. Back to topI Injectable Filler A soft tissue filler injected into the skin at different depths to help fill facial wrinkles, provide facial volume and augment facial features, restoring a smoother appearance. Most of these wrinkle fillers are temporary because they are eventually absorbed by the body. Back to topK Keloids Raised overgrowths of scar tissue that occur at the site of a skin injury where trauma, surgery, blisters, vaccinations, acne or body piercing have injured the skin. Back to topL Laser hair removal A medical procedure that uses a concentrated beam of light (laser) to remove unwanted hair. During laser hair removal, a laser emits a light that is absorbed by the pigment (melanin) in the hair. Laser hair removal can result in permanent hair reduction typically after three to seven treatment sessions. Laser Resurfacing A skin treatment involving the use of a laser on the surface skin which, when healed, allows healthy new skin to form. Laser tattoo removal A high-intensity light beam is used to break down the colour pigment in tattoos. Laser Therapy A special beam of light used on the skin to treat conditions such as spider veins, acne scarring, hyperpigmentation and other skin conditions. Laser-assisted liposuction Fat removal using laser along with suction. Laser heat softens/liquefies the fat, making it easier to remove with the cannula, typically resulting in less bruising for the patient. The addition of laser heat provides an added benefit of tightening the skin. LED light therapy A skincare treatment using light-emitting diodes that that uses varying wavelengths of light, including red and blue. Red is primarily used for anti-aging, while blue is used for acne treatment. Light therapy Intense pulsed light is used to change texture or discoloration of the skin or to improve skin texture, pigmentation, vascular lesions, and reduce redness in patients with rosacea. Unlike laser, intense pulsed light releases light of many different wavelengths (broad-spectrum). Lip augmentation Injection of fillers to create fuller lips, balance asymmetry or rejuvenate lips. Lip fillers See lip augmentation. Liposuction Also called lipoplasty, a procedure to suck fat from below the skin using a vacuum to create a smoother appearance. Lump or bump removal Removal of excess or unwanted warts, moles and skin tags. Back to topM Malar augmentation Also known as cheek augmentation, temporary dermal fillers or permanent surgical implants are inserted to the cheek area to create definition. Melanoma A skin cancer deep in the epidermis that is characterised by its irregular shape and pigmented black or brown colour. This cancer originates from pigment-producing cells known as melanocytes. Mole removal Surgical or laser removal of a skin growth, most commonly a brown mole. Back to topN Nasolabial Fold The fold from the nose to the corner of the mouth. Nevus A birthmark or a mole on the skin, especially a birthmark in the form of a raised red patch. Nose job Also known as rhinoplasty, this can be a surgical or non-surgical procedure to alter the shape of the nose. Back to topP PMMA Micro spheres of polymethylmethacrylate used as a filler. Prescription skincare Any skin care which is a prescription-only medication (POM). Examples include Hydroquinone and Tretinoin. Back to topR Rhinoplasty See nose job. Back to topS Scar A permanent mark on the skin as a result of injury, surgery or skin condition such as acne. Sclerotherapy A treatment for varicose or spider veins involving injections to make them collapse and appear less obvious. Skin Resurfacing Treatment to improve the appearance and texture of the skin. Skin tags Pieces of soft, hanging skin that may have a peduncle or stalk. Spider veins Superficial leg veins that appear just below the skin surface causing red, blue or purple discoloration. Stretch marks Also called striae, these are streaks of red, thinned skin that can appear when there is rapid stretching such as during growth spurts or pregnancy. Over time they become glossy and scar-like in appearance. Back to topV Varicose vein Enlarged, swollen veins due to malfunction of their valves causing blood flow to be impaired. Varicose vein removal (see also sclerotherapy) The removal of swollen veins in the leg using treatments including stripping and laser surgery.