A B C D E F G H L M O P R S T V
Plastic Surgery Terms and Definitions
Abdominoplasty
a procedure that minimizes the abdominal area. In abdominoplasty, the surgeon makes a long incision from one side of the hipbone to the other. Excess fat and skin are surgically removed from the middle and lower abdomen and the muscles of the abdomen wall are tightened.
Anesthesia
lack of a normal sensation brought on by an anesthetic drug
Anomaly
a health problem or feature not normally present in a healthy individual; a deviation from the normal.
Apert syndrome
A craniofacial abnormality characterized by an abnormal head shape, small upper jaw, and fusion of the fingers and toes.
Areola
dark area of skin that surrounds the nipple of the breast.
Asymmetry
lacking symmetry; parts of the body are unequal in shape or size.
Augmentation mammaplasty
a procedure to reshape the breast in order to make it larger. The procedure can also be performed to reconstruct the breast following breast surgery.
Autologous tissue breast reconstruction
the use of the patient?s own tissues to reconstruct a new breast mound. The common technique is the TRAM (transverse rectus abdominous muscle) flap. A TRAM flap involves removing an area of fat, skin, and muscle from the abdomen and stitching it in place to the mastectomy wound.
Blepharoplasty
Surgery of the eyelids where fat and excess skin, bags, pouches, wrinkles in the eye area are removed
Botox
See Botulinum Toxin
Botulinum Toxin
Injected to temporarily relax facial muscles to eliminate wrinkles for three to six months
Breast augmentation
a procedure to reshape the breast in order to make it larger. The procedure can also be performed to reconstruct the breast following breast surgery.
Capsular contracture
the most common complication of breast reconstruction surgery; occurs if the scar or capsule around the implant begins to tighten.
Carpenter syndrome
A birth defect that typically includes traits such as abnormally short fingers, webbed toes, extra toes, underdeveloped jaw, highly arched palate, widely spaced eyes, and/or low-set, deformed ears. Half of patients with Carpenter syndrome also have heart defects.
CAT scan
a diagnostic imaging procedure that uses a combination of x-rays and computer technology to produce cross-sectional images (often called slices), both horizontally and vertically, of the body. A CT scan shows detailed images of any part of the body, including the bones, muscles, fat, and organs. CT scans are more detailed than general x-rays.
Cheek / Chin Augmentation
Surgery where implants are placed in the cheeks or chin to improve bone structure and support sagging, soft tissues
Chemical Peels
Resurfacing of the skin with an acid solution that peels the top layers and allows smoother, regenerated skin to emerge; an effective treatment for wrinkles caused by sun damage, mild scarring, and certain types of acne
Cleft lip
an abnormality in which the lip does not completely form. The degree of the cleft lip can vary greatly, from mild (notching of the lip) to severe (large opening from the lip up through the nose).
Cleft palate
occurs when the roof of the mouth does not completely close, leaving an opening that can extend into the nasal cavity. The cleft may involve either side of the palate. It can extend from the front of the mouth (hard palate) to the throat (soft palate). The cleft may also include the lip.
Collagen
a plastic surgery technique used to correct wrinkles, depressions in the skin, and/or scarring.
Collagen Implant
An injection of natural protein which raises skin tissue to smooth skin and make wrinkles and scars appear less visible
Congenital
present at birth.
Congenital anomaly
a health problem present at birth (not necessarily genetic).
Contractures
an abnormal condition of a joint caused by a loss of muscle fibers or a loss of the normal flexibility of the skin.
Coronal suture
the joining line (suture) between the frontal and parietal bones of the skull that crosses the top of the skull from temple to temple.
Cosmetic plastic surgery
one type of plastic surgery performed to repair or reshape otherwise normal structures of the body, primarily to improve the patient's appearance and self-esteem.
Craniofacial
pertaining to the head (skull) and face.
Craniosynostosis
a condition in which the sutures (soft spots) in the skull of an infant close too early, causing problems with normal brain and skull growth. Premature closure of the sutures may also cause the pressure inside of the head to increase and the skull or facial bones to change from a normal, symmetrical appearance.
Crouzon's syndrome
A birth defect characterized by abnormalities in the skull and facial bones, this syndrome often causes the skull to be short in the front and the back. Flat cheek bones and a flat nose are also typical of this disorder.
Dermaplaning
a plastic surgery technique used to treat deep acne scars with a hand-held instrument called a dermatome.
Dermatome
an instrument that resembles an electric razor and has an oscillating blade that moves back and forth to evenly "skim" off the surface layers of skin that surround the craters or other facial defects.
Dermabrasion
A facial sanding technique used to treat deep scars and wrinkles, raised scar tissue, and some severe cases of cystic acne; top layers of skin are sanded off with a high-speed rotating brush or a diamond-coated wheel
Ectropion
turning outward of an edge; generally refers to a rare condition of the eyelid in which the lining of the eyelid is exposed.
Endoscope
small, flexible tube with a light and a lens on the end used to look inside an organ or cavity such as the esophagus, stomach, duodenum, colon, or rectum.
Endoscopy
procedure in which a lighted viewing instrument (endoscope) is used to look inside a body cavity or organ to diagnose or treat disorders.
Expander/implant breast reconstruction
the use of an expander to create a breast mound, followed by the placement with a permanently filled breast implant.
Facial implant
cosmetic plastic surgery to change the shape of the chin, check, or jaw. This procedure is typically done to enhance certain facial features, or to bring a certain aspect of the face into proportion with the rest of the facial structures.
Fat injectable fillers
a plastic surgery technique used to correct wrinkles, depressions in the skin, and/or scarring.
Flap surgery
one type of surgery that involves transporting healthy, live tissue from one location of the body to another - often to areas that have lost skin, fat, muscle movement, and/or skeletal support. There are several different types of flap surgery methods that may be utilized, depending upon the location of the flap and the structures that need to be repaired.
Forehead lift
the surgical removal of excess fat and skin, as well as a tightening of the muscles in the forehead area. It can correct sagging brows or deep furrows between the eyes. It is often done in conjunction with a facelift in order to create a smoother facial appearance overall.
Forehead Lift
Surgery to minimize forehead lines and wrinkles, and to elevate brows to reduce lid drooping
Filler Injections
Most commonly collagen - a gel like substance derived from purified animal tissue, and fat which is harvested from the patients thigh or abdomen and then injected to plump up facial areas or fill wrinkled areas (see also Botox)
Facial Reconstruction
Surgery to repair or reconstruct facial features in victims of cancer, facial trauma and birth defects
Gynecomastia
a condition in which the male's breast tissue enlarges. Gynecomastia literally means "woman breast." This increase in tissue usually occurs at times when the male is having hormonal changes, such as during infancy, adolescence, and old age.
Hair Replacement
Surgery to redistribute hair to hide the appearance of hair loss
Hematoma
blood that collects under the skin or in an organ.
Mastectomy
surgery to remove portions of or all of the breast.
Maxillofacial
pertaining to the jaws and face.
Mentoplasty
Mentoplasty (chin surgery) is a term used to describe the restructuring and reformation of the "mentum" region of the face. This is the most anterior portion of the jaw or mandible. Sometimes, the jaw region can be quite prominent, called macrogenia or quite deficient and receded, which is called microgenia. By sculpting the chin through mentoplasty plastic surgery, a more aesthetically pleasing profile can be achieved."
Mini-Or-Micro-Grafting
A hair replacement technique where transplanted pieces of hair-bearing skin that are placed between the original plugs to refine the overall appearance
Orthognathic Surgery
To alleviate problems with a patient's bite or jaw alignment (performed in cooperation with a patient's dentist, orthodontist or oral maxillofacial surgeon)
Otoplasty
Surgery of the ear where protruding or deformed ears can be pinned back by reshaping the cartilage
Partial Abdominoplasty
a "mini tummy tuck." This procedure is ideal for individuals who have fat deposits limited to the area below the navel.
Pfeiffer syndrome
A birth defect characterized by abnormalities of the skull, hands, and feet.
Plastic surgery
the surgical specialty that deals with the reconstruction of facial and body tissue that requires a reshaping or remolding due to disease, a defect, or disorder - in order to approximate a normal appearance or to repair working ability.
Polydactyly
a congenital problem characterized by an increase in the number of fingers or toes.
Reconstructive plastic surgery
one type of plastic surgery that is performed on abnormal structures of the body that may be caused by trauma, infection, developmental abnormalities, congenital defects, disease, and/or tumors. This type of surgery is usually performed to improve function, but may also be performed to approximate a normal appearance.
Rhytidectomy
Facelift surgery where excess skin is removed and muscles are tightened
Rhytidectomy (Also called facelift.)
a surgical procedure that involves the removal of excess facial fat, the tightening of facial muscles, and the stretching of facial skin - to approximate a smoother, firmer appearance. The procedure takes place on either the face, neck, or both.
Saethe-Chotzen
A birth defect characterized by an unusually short or broad head. In addition, the eyes may be spaced wide apart and have droopy eyelids, and fingers may be abnormally short and webbed.
Scalp Flap Surgery
A hair replacement method that involves rotating strips of hair-bearing scalp from the side and back of the head to the front and top; restores the hairline while maintaining normal hair density
Scalp Reduction Surgery
Surgery to reduce the size of the bald area
Scar
the body's natural way of healing and replacing lost or damaged skin. A scar is usually composed of fibrous tissue. Scars may be formed for many different reasons, including as a result of infections, surgery, injuries, or inflammation of tissue.
Scar Revision Surgery
Procedures to help minimize visible facial scars
Septoplasty
the surgical correction of defects and deformities of the nasal septum (the partition between the nostrils).
Septorhinoplasty
A form of rhinoplasty that is performed to reconstruct the nasal passage or to relieve obstructions inside the nose to correct breathing problems; the obstruction is removed through internal incisions and the interior of the nose is restructured
Skin grafts
a skin graft may be used to cover skin that has been damaged and/or is missing. This surgical procedure involves removing healthy portions of skin from one part of the body to restore normal appearance and/or function to another portion of the same body. The location where the skin is removed is called the donor site. There are various types of skin grafts that may be utilized, depending upon the size and location of needed skin.
Skin Resurfacing
Removal of the outer layer of the skin using abrasion, chemicals or a laser, resulting in smoother and less wrinkled skin
Syndactyly
a congenital problem characterized by a union of fingers or toes.
Tissue expansion
a surgical procedure that involves inserting a balloon-like device (called an expander) under the skin. The expander then slowly secretes liquid into the area to be repaired to actually stretch and expand the skin. This serves the function of "growing" extra skin to repair nearby lost or damaged skin.
Varicose veins
twisted, widened veins caused by swollen or enlarged blood vessels. The blood vessels have enlarged due a weakening in the vein's wall or valves.
