GLOSSARY OF PLASTIC SURGERY TERMS

Abdominoplasty Also known as a tummy tuck, this procedure is for women and men who have loose abdominal skin and fat concentrated in the abdominal area. Specifically for women, an abdominoplasty removes flaccid skin and tightens muscles that have been separated and weakened by pregnancy or weight gain.

Allergan® A multi-specialty healthcare company focused on discovering, developing and commercializing innovative pharmaceuticals, biologics, medical devices and over-the-counter consumer products, including the market-leading injectables Botox® and Juvederm®, as well as breast implants.

American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS) ASPS is one of 24 medical specialty boards that make up the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS). Through ABMS, the boards work together to establish common standards for physicians to achieve and maintain board certification. The surgeons of Charlotte Plastic Surgery are either certified or are in the process of being certified by the ABPS.

American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) Founded in 1967, ASAPS is the leading professional organization of plastic surgeons certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery who specialize in cosmetic plastic surgery. There are over 2,600 members in the U.S., Canada, and many other countries, including the surgeons of Charlotte Plastic Surgery.

American Society of Plastic Surgery (ASPS) ASPS is the largest plastic surgery specialty organization in the world. The Society is composed of more than 7,000 physician members and represents more than 94 percent of all board-certified plastic surgeons in the United States who perform cosmetic and reconstructive surgery. The surgeons of Charlotte Plastic Surgery are members and fellows of the ASPS.

Areola The darker ring of skin surrounding the nipple.

Arm Lift See Brachioplasty

Augmentation Mammaplasty Also known as “breast augmentation,” this surgical procedure uses breast implants to increase the size of breasts or to restore breast volume that may have been reduced because of pregnancy or weight loss. Incisions are made in inconspicuous areas to hide scarring.

Capsular Contracture A complication arising from breast implant surgery, in which the capsule around the implant shrinks and the scar tissue of the breast tightens, causing discomfort and making the breast feel hard and occasionally appear misshapen.

Chemical Peel A substance used to penetrate the skin’s surface, softening irregularities in texture and color by removing dead skin cells and stimulating the production of new, younger cells.

Ear Surgery See Otoplasty

Eyelid Surgery See Blepharoplasty

Facelift See Rhytidectomy

Fat Injections Also known as fat grafting, this procedure involves moving fat from one area of the body and injecting it into another area in order to add fullness and replace lost volume.

Forehead Lift Also known as a brow lift, this procedure can be performed with or without an endoscope, and involves removing excess tissue, altering the underlying muscles and tightening the skin of the forehead.

Gynecomastia The condition in which a male’s breast tissue enlarges. It can start in adolescence and may persist throughout adulthood, and can be the result of steroid abuse, weight gain, hormonal imbalance or as a side effect of certain medications. Male breast reduction is a very common procedure to correct gynecomastia. It involves liposuction and limited incisions for minimal scarring when removing the breast tissue.

Hyaluronic Acid A natural complex sugar which is one of the major components of the dermal connective tissue matrix, and is used in injectable products such as Juvederm® to help reduce and correct wrinkles.

Inframammary Incision During breast surgery, this is the incision point made at the crease at the bottom of the breast.

IPL (Intense Pulse Light) Also known as Broad Band Light (BBL), this technology utilizes the power of pulsed light to help restore skin to its natural state. The light energy targets and eliminates many of the fine vessels that cause redness and the unwanted melanin responsible for pigmented lesions such as freckles, sun spots, melasma or hyperpigmented areas. This technique can also be used to tighten the skin.

Juvederm® Allergan’s Juvederm is a smooth gel filler, made with naturally occurring hyaluronic acid, used to reduce wrinkles around the mouth and nose.

Laser A laser uses the technology of light and heat for skin resurfacing, helping to remove brown spots, visible blood vessels and fine lines caused by prolonged sun exposure, as well as other skin conditions such as acne scars and wrinkles.

Latisse® The first FDA-approved, science-based prescription treatment to help grow longer, fuller and darker eyelashes.

Latissimus Dorsi The surgical technique used in breast reconstruction in which muscle, fat and skin are tunneled under the skin and tissue of the patient’s back and through the armpit to the reconstructed breast. This creates a flap that is attached to form a pocket to hold a breast implant.

Liposuction Technically known as a lipoplasty, this procedure removes localized collections of fatty tissue from the body, most commonly in the neck, upper arms, abdomen, hips and thighs, while creating minimal scarring. Liposuction is an effective procedure to remove fat, although it is not used to eliminate dimpling such as cellulite, nor can it tighten loose skin.

Mastopexy Also known as a breast lift, this surgical procedure elevates and reshapes sagging breasts and reposition the nipples to a more desirable location. This procedure can also reduce the size of the areola, the darker skin surrounding the nipple.

Mentor® A leading pharmaceutical company specializing in saline and silicone breast implants for use in both breast augmentation and breast reconstruction surgery, made under strict standards of design and testing.

Microdermabrasion Facial rejuvenation technique utilizing the application of small rough grains to buff away the surface layer of skin and improve the appearance of acne scars, sun damage, pockmarks and other skin conditions.

Mini-Facelift Surgical procedure to lift the skin of the mid-face and neck. A mini-facelift is less invasive, causes fewer incisions and often looks more natural than a traditional facelift.

Mommy Makeover A combination of surgical procedures to help bring back a patient’s pre-baby body by rejuvenating both the breasts and the body. The Mommy Makeover typically includes breast rejuvenation to restore volume and shape (with a breast lift, a breast implant placement or both) and tummy rejuvenation to tighten muscles and remove loose skin (with an abdominoplasty, also known as a tummy tuck). The Mommy Makeover is recommended for women who have made the decision not to have any more children.

Medical Tourism Also known as Health Tourism, Medical Tourism is the practice of traveling to a tourist destination with the main purpose of receiving some therapeutic treatment. Learn more about the Dangers of Medical Tourism from Dr. Nyame.

Neck Lift Surgical procedure to reduce or eliminate “platysmal bands,” or folds in the center of the neck, by removing excess fatty accumulations, sometimes through liposuction.

Nipple-Sparing Reconstruction A type of mastectomy (removal of all of the breast tissue) that does not involve removing the nipple or the areola. In a traditional mastectomy, the nipple and areola are removed along with some of the surrounding skin. The advantage of this procedure is that the breast looks virtually unchanged and intact, with only a small incision scar. However, not all women are candidates for this procedure.

Otoplasty Also known as ear surgery, this procedure reduces the size of ears by reshaping the cartilage, placing incisions so that scars can be inconspicuously concealed in natural skin creases.

Peri-areolar Incision During breast surgery, this is the incision made into the skin of the breast immediately below the lower half of the areola surrounding the nipple.

Radiesse® RADIESSE® Volumizing Filler is designed to stimulate the production of natural collagen in the skin, adding volume and reducing wrinkles. Once injected, it provides immediate volume and correction but continues to work by stimulating the body to produce its own natural collagen.

Reduction Mammaplasty Also known as breast reduction, this surgical procedure is for patients with overly large or disproportionately sized breasts. Reduction mammaplasty involves the removal of excess breast tissue (including repositioning the nipple and areola) to reshape and lift the breasts.

Rhytidectomy Also known as a facelift, this surgical procedure tightens sagging skin and underlying soft tissues of the face and neck. Incisions are made in inconspicuous areas to hide scarring.

Sciton BBL® For facial rejuvenation, the light energy delivered by the Sciton BBL (Broad Band Light) targets and eliminates many of the fine vessels that cause redness and the unwanted melanin responsible for pigmented lesions such as freckles, sun spots, melasma or hyperpigmented areas. With this technology, there is little to no down time after treatment.

Silicone Among the products used in breast implants, the semi-solid silicone gel is the most popular and most common breast implant and is now in its fifth generation of design and technology.

SkinTyte® SkinTyte utilizes infrared energy to heat up and cause a thermal wound to the dermis. This process initiates the body’s natural healing process, producing new collagen production to help smooth and tighten aging and sagging skin.

Thigh Lift Surgical procedure to reshape the thighs by reducing excess skin and in some cases fat, improving the contours of the thighs and lower body.

Tissue Expansion Breast Reconstruction A common breast reconstruction technique following a mastectomy. This technique involves the expansion of the breast skin and muscle using a temporary tissue expander, or an inflatable device. The expander is placed under the skin near the site of the incision in order to stretch the additional skin. In a subsequent surgery, the tissue expander is removed and replaced with a permanent breast implant, and the area around the nipple and areola is reconstructed.

TRAM-Flap Breast Reconstruction Surgical procedure for breast reconstruction following a mastectomy. With this procedure, a section of abdominal muscle, fat and skin remains attached to its original site and retains its blood supply. The flap that is created from this section of tissue is tunneled beneath the skin to the chest, creating a pocket for a breast implant.

Transaxillary Incision During breast surgery, this incision site is in the armpit, in the natural folds of skin, making it less conspicuous than other incisions.