Plastic Surgery Glossary

Commonly Used Terms in Cosmetic Surgery

We’ve put together a list of some of the most frequently used terms. This guide is designed to clarify the language often used in plastic surgery so you can feel confident and educated when considering your options.

A

• Abdominoplasty: A surgical body contouring procedure, commonly known as a tummy tuck, designed to remove excess skin and fat from the abdomen and tighten underlying muscles.
• Aesthetic Surgery: Elective surgical procedures performed to enhance one’s appearance, often for self-confidence rather than medical necessity.
• Aesthetician: A trained specialist in non-medical skin care and beauty treatments, offering cosmetic services like facials, exfoliation, and skin rejuvenation.
• Anesthesia: A method of medically blocking sensation to enable painless surgery, available in local, regional, or general forms based on procedure type.
• Anomaly: A physical irregularity or birth defect differing from the standard structure of the body, which may require surgical intervention or correction.
• Antihelical Fold: A natural ridge located just inside the outer rim of the ear, often emphasized or restored in ear reshaping surgeries like otoplasty.
• Arborizing Veins: Small, branching veins that form a web-like or tree-like appearance, typically seen in spider vein conditions on the thighs or legs.
• Apert Syndrome: A genetic condition marked by premature skull bone fusion, facial anomalies, and fused fingers or toes, often corrected through reconstructive surgery.
• Areola: The darker pigmented circular area surrounding the nipple, which may be altered during cosmetic breast procedures for size or symmetry enhancement.
• Asymmetry: A difference in shape, size, or placement between two corresponding parts of the body, often corrected with cosmetic or reconstructive surgery.
• Auditory Canal: A narrow passage within the ear that conducts sound waves from the external ear to the eardrum; important in ear structure and hearing function.
• Augmentation Mammaplasty: A surgical procedure that enlarges the breasts using implants or fat transfer to enhance shape, volume, and symmetry.
• Autologous Tissue Breast Reconstruction: A method of rebuilding the breast using the patient’s own tissue, typically harvested from the abdomen, back, or thighs.

B

• Belly Button Rejuvenation: A cosmetic surgical procedure, also called umbilicoplasty, that reshapes or repositions the navel to improve abdominal appearance.
• Blepharoplasty: A procedure also known as eyelid surgery, performed to remove excess skin and fat from the eyelids for a more youthful, rested look.
• Body Lift: A body contouring surgery that removes excess, sagging skin from areas such as the abdomen, thighs, and buttocks to improve body tone and shape.
• BOTOX®: An injectable treatment derived from botulinum toxin that temporarily reduces the appearance of facial wrinkles by relaxing specific muscles.
• Brachioplasty: A surgical procedure, also known as an arm lift, that removes excess skin and fat from the upper arms to create a toned appearance.
• Breast Augmentation: A surgery that uses implants or fat transfer to increase breast size or restore breast volume lost after weight loss or pregnancy.
• Breast Implants: Prosthetic devices filled with silicone gel or saline used to enhance breast size, shape, or symmetry.
• Breast Lift: A procedure, also called mastopexy, that raises and firms the breasts by removing excess skin and tightening surrounding tissue.
• Breast Reduction: Also known as reduction mammaplasty, a surgery to remove excess breast tissue, fat, and skin to relieve discomfort and create proportionate breast size.
• BroadBand Light (BBL) Therapy: A non-invasive skin treatment that uses pulses of light to improve skin tone, reduce pigmentation, and rejuvenate the skin.
• Buccal Fat Removal: A cosmetic procedure that removes fat from the cheek area to create a more sculpted, contoured facial appearance.
• Buttock Lift: A surgical procedure to remove excess skin and fat from the buttocks, improving shape and firmness.
• Brazilian Butt Lift (BBL): A procedure that uses fat transfer from other areas of the body to enhance the size and contour of the buttocks.
• Bilateral Gynecomastia: A condition where both male breasts become enlarged due to excess glandular tissue, often treated through surgical removal.
• Biocompatible Materials: Substances used in implants that are compatible with living tissue and designed to reduce immune response or rejection.

C

• Capsular Contracture: A complication of breast implant surgery where the scar tissue that naturally forms around the implant tightens, causing the breast to feel firm or hard and potentially altering its appearance.
• Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: A condition resulting from pressure on the median nerve within the wrist, leading to pain, tingling, and numbness in the hand and fingers.
• Cheiloplasty: Surgical repair or reconstruction of the lip, commonly performed to correct cleft lip deformities.
• Cheiloschisis: The medical term for a cleft lip, a congenital split or opening in the upper lip.
• Chemical Peel: A cosmetic procedure that applies a chemical solution to the skin, causing it to exfoliate and eventually peel off, revealing smoother and less wrinkled skin underneath.
• Chin Augmentation (Mentoplasty): A surgical procedure to reshape or enhance the size of the chin, often using implants or by moving or reshaping bones.
• Clitoral Hood Reduction: A cosmetic surgical procedure that reduces the size of the clitoral hood to increase clitoral exposure, often performed for aesthetic reasons or to enhance sexual satisfaction.
• Cleft Lip: A congenital deformity where there is an opening or split in the upper lip, which can vary in severity and may require surgical correction.
• Cleft Palate: A congenital condition characterized by an opening in the roof of the mouth due to incomplete fusion during fetal development, often corrected through surgery.
• Craniofacial Surgery: A specialized field of surgery focusing on correcting congenital and acquired deformities of the skull, face, and jaw, often involving multidisciplinary teams.

D

• Dermabrasion: Mechanical polishing of the skin to improve texture, reduce scars, and rejuvenate the surface.
• Dermal Fillers: Injectable substances used to restore volume, smooth wrinkles, and enhance facial contours. Common types include hyaluronic acid, calcium hydroxylapatite, and poly-L-lactic acid.
• Dermaplaning: A manual exfoliation technique using a sterile blade to remove dead skin cells and fine facial hair for smoother, brighter skin.
• Desquamation: The natural process of skin shedding, which may be accelerated through treatments like chemical peels or dermabrasion.
• DIEP Flap: Deep inferior epigastric perforator flap, a type of breast reconstruction that uses skin and fat from the abdomen without sacrificing muscle.
• Diastasis Recti Repair: A surgical procedure to correct the separation of abdominal muscles, often included in tummy tuck surgeries post-pregnancy.
• Donor Site: An area of the body—commonly the back, abdomen, or buttocks—where tissue is taken for reconstructive procedures like breast reconstruction.
• Double Chin Reduction: A cosmetic procedure, surgical or non-surgical (e.g., liposuction or Kybella®), aimed at reducing submental fat under the chin.
• Drainless Tummy Tuck: A technique in abdominoplasty that uses internal sutures to eliminate the need for post-surgical drains.
• Dupuytren’s Contracture: A hand condition in which thickened tissue in the palm causes the fingers to bend inward, potentially requiring surgical correction.
• Dysport®: An injectable botulinum toxin treatment similar to BOTOX®, used to reduce the appearance of facial lines by temporarily paralyzing muscles.

E

• Ear Axis: The central growth orientation of the ear that influences overall ear shape and alignment during development or reconstruction.
• Ear Pinning (Otoplasty): A cosmetic surgical procedure that reshapes or repositions protruding ears to improve facial balance and symmetry.
• Ear Reconstruction: A complex procedure to rebuild the ear structure, often after trauma, congenital deformities like microtia, or cancer resection.
• Endermologie®: A non-invasive mechanical massage treatment designed to reduce the appearance of cellulite and improve lymphatic drainage.
• Endocrine Function: Refers to the system of hormone-producing glands that regulate key body processes like metabolism, growth, and reproduction; often evaluated in patients for underlying health issues such as thyroid imbalance or hormonal weight gain.
• Endoscopic Brow Lift: A minimally invasive technique that lifts the forehead and eyebrows using small incisions and a tiny camera to guide the procedure.
• Enzyme Peel: A gentle skin exfoliation treatment that uses natural enzymes from fruits to dissolve dead skin cells, revealing smoother skin.
• Epidermal Layer: The outermost section of the skin, acting as a protective barrier and often targeted in resurfacing or exfoliation treatments.
• Excisional Technique: A surgical approach involving the cutting and removal of tissue, commonly used for mole removal, lesion excision, or scar revision.
• Extensor Tendon: A fibrous connective tissue responsible for straightening joints and extending limbs, occasionally involved in hand or facial reconstructive surgery.

F

• Facelift (Rhytidectomy): A surgical procedure that lifts and tightens facial tissues to reduce sagging and smooth deep wrinkles for a more youthful appearance.
• Facial Fat Grafting: A procedure that transfers fat from other parts of the body to the face to restore lost volume and improve contour.
• Facial Implants: Solid materials surgically placed to enhance the structure of the face, commonly used for chin, cheek, or jaw augmentation.
• Fat Transfer: A technique where fat is harvested from one area of the body and injected into another to add volume or correct contour deformities.
• Flap Techniques: Surgical methods that move skin, fat, and sometimes muscle from one part of the body to another for reconstruction, commonly used in breast and facial surgeries.
• Flexor Tendon: A connective tissue structure that enables bending of joints, particularly in the hands and fingers, often repaired in hand surgery.
• Forehead Lift: Also called a brow lift, this surgery elevates the eyebrows and reduces lines on the forehead to rejuvenate the upper face.
• Frozen Section: An intraoperative pathology technique where removed tissue is quickly frozen and examined microscopically to confirm complete excision of abnormal or cancerous cells before closing the surgical site.

G

• General Anesthesia: A medically induced state using drugs or gases to render a patient fully unconscious and pain-free during surgical procedures.
• Grafting: The process of transplanting tissue—such as skin, fat, or cartilage—from one area of the body to another to repair or reconstruct defects.
• Gynecomastia Surgery: A procedure to reduce excess male breast tissue, often involving liposuction, excision, or a combination of techniques to achieve a flatter chest contour.
• Genioplasty: A chin surgery performed to reshape, enhance, or reposition the chin to improve facial balance and profile harmony.
• Genital Surgery: Reconstructive or cosmetic procedures involving the genital area, including labiaplasty, vaginoplasty, phalloplasty, and scrotoplasty.
• Gender-Affirming Surgery: Surgical procedures that help individuals align their physical appearance with their gender identity, including top surgery, facial feminization, and genital reconstruction.
• Glanuloplasty: A surgical procedure to repair or enhance the glans (head) of the penis or clitoris, often performed during gender-affirming or reconstructive surgeries.
• Gingival Grafting: Also known as gum grafting, this technique restores receding gums by transferring healthy gum tissue to areas of gum loss, often for dental or cosmetic reasons.
• Gluteal Augmentation: A procedure designed to enhance the size and shape of the buttocks using implants or fat grafting (commonly known as a Brazilian Butt Lift).
• Granuloma: A localized nodular inflammation that may occur as a reaction to dermal fillers or other substances introduced during cosmetic procedures.

H

• Hematoma: A localized collection of blood outside blood vessels, typically pooling beneath the skin, often as a complication following surgical procedures. It may cause swelling, discoloration, and discomfort, and sometimes requires drainage.
• Hemoglobin: A protein in red blood cells responsible for transporting oxygen throughout the body. Adequate hemoglobin levels are crucial before undergoing plastic surgery to ensure proper healing and reduce the risk of complications.
• Human Fat: Autologous fat harvested from one’s own body, commonly via liposuction, and used as an injectable filler to restore volume in areas such as the face, hands, or buttocks. This technique is known as fat grafting or fat transfer.
• Hyfrecation: A treatment method for spider veins involving the use of electrical currents to cauterize and eliminate small, superficial blood vessels, improving skin appearance.
• Hyperpigmented Scar: A scar that appears darker than the surrounding skin due to increased melanin production during the healing process. Such discoloration may fade over time or be treated with topical agents or laser therapy.
• Hypertrophic Scar: A raised, thickened scar that develops directly at the site of a wound, resulting from excessive collagen production during healing. Unlike keloids, hypertrophic scars do not extend beyond the original wound boundaries.
• Hypopigmented Scar: A scar that is lighter in color than the surrounding skin due to a reduction or absence of melanin. These scars may be challenging to treat, but options include laser therapy and microdermal grafting.

I

• Implants: Medical devices placed inside the body to augment or reconstruct anatomical structures, commonly used in breast, chin, or buttock surgeries.
• Incision: A surgical cut made in the skin or tissue to access underlying structures during a procedure.
• Injectable Fillers: Gel-like substances injected beneath the skin to enhance facial contours, smooth wrinkles, and restore lost volume.
• Inframammary Fold: The natural lower boundary of the breast where it meets the chest wall, often used as a landmark for surgical incisions in breast procedures.
• Inframammary Incision: A surgical cut made in the inframammary fold, commonly used in breast augmentation surgeries to place implants.
• Informed Consent: The process by which a patient is educated about the risks, benefits, and alternatives of a procedure, ensuring they understand and agree to the treatment plan.
• Intraoperative: Pertaining to the period during the actual surgical procedure.
• Intraoral: Refers to anything located or occurring within the interior of the mouth.
• Intraoral Incisions: Cuts made inside the mouth to allow access for procedures such as jaw surgery or facial implants, leaving no visible external scars.
• Intravenous Sedation: A method of administering calming medication through a vein to reduce anxiety and discomfort during a procedure without full unconsciousness.
• Ischemia: A condition characterized by insufficient blood flow to a part of the body, which can lead to tissue damage; a potential risk during surgical procedures.
• Isotretinoin: A powerful oral medication used to treat severe acne, which may be considered before or after certain cosmetic procedures to improve skin condition.

J

• Jacques Joseph: Known as the “father of modern aesthetic surgery,” Jacques Joseph was a pioneering German surgeon who developed advanced rhinoplasty techniques in the early 20th century.
• Jawline Contouring: Aesthetic procedures aimed at enhancing the definition of the jawline, which may include surgical methods like implants or non-surgical options such as fillers and liposuction.
• Jawline Liposuction: A minimally invasive procedure that removes excess fat beneath the chin and along the jawline to create a more defined facial profile.
• J-Plasma: A skin-tightening technology that uses cold helium plasma and radiofrequency energy to rejuvenate and tighten skin, often used in facial and body contouring procedures.
• Juvederm®: A brand of dermal fillers made from hyaluronic acid, used to smooth wrinkles and add volume to areas like the lips and cheeks.

K

• Keloids: Thick, raised scars that extend beyond the original wound site, often appearing itchy or painful. They are more likely to form in areas with minimal fat beneath the skin, such as the chest or shoulders, and can cause cosmetic or physical discomfort.
• Keloid Scar Revision: A surgical or non-surgical procedure aimed at reducing the size and appearance of keloid scars, which may involve excision, steroid injections, or laser therapy.
• Keloid Excision: A surgical procedure to remove keloid scars, often followed by adjunct therapies like corticosteroid injections or radiation to prevent recurrence.
• Keratoprosthesis: A surgical procedure where a diseased cornea is replaced with an artificial one, typically used in cases where traditional corneal transplants have failed.
• Kybella®: An injectable treatment that destroys fat cells under the chin to improve the appearance of a double chin without surgery.
• Keloid Scar: Visible exaggerated scars that can develop after surgery, injury, or even after very minor skin damage like acne scars. This type of scar is caused by excessive collagen formation during the skin’s repair process.
• K-Face: Aesthetic ideal popularized in South Korea, characterized by features such as wide eyes with double eyelids, a high-bridged nose, a V-shaped jawline, and flawless skin. This look has influenced global beauty standards and increased demand for specific cosmetic procedures.
• Ketamine-Assisted Sedation: An anesthetic approach utilizing ketamine to manage pain and reduce post-operative discomfort in cosmetic surgeries, offering benefits like preserved respiratory function and reduced opioid requirements.

L

• Labiaplasty: A surgical procedure that reshapes or reduces the size of the labia minora or majora, often performed to alleviate discomfort or for aesthetic reasons.
• Laser Resurfacing: A technique that uses concentrated light beams to remove damaged skin layers, promoting the growth of new, healthier skin and improving the appearance of scars and wrinkles.
• Laser Therapy: A non-invasive treatment that employs focused light energy to target and diminish spider veins, leading to their gradual disappearance without harming surrounding tissue.
• Laser Treatment: A method utilizing intense light to collapse and fade spider veins by delivering heat through the skin, effectively reducing their visibility over time.
• Latissimus Dorsi Flap Technique: A reconstructive surgical method where muscle, fat, and skin from the upper back are tunneled to the chest area to rebuild the breast, maintaining their original blood supply for optimal healing.
• Light Therapy: A skin treatment that uses pulses of broad-spectrum light, such as Intense Pulsed Light (IPL), to address pigmentation issues and improve skin texture by stimulating collagen production.
• Lip Lift: A surgical procedure that shortens the space between the nose and the upper lip, enhancing the prominence of the vermilion border and creating a more youthful appearance.
• Lipoplasty: Also known as liposuction, this procedure involves the removal of excess fat deposits to contour and reshape specific areas of the body, enhancing overall body proportion.
• Liposuction: A surgical technique that suctions out fat from targeted areas like the abdomen, thighs, and arms to refine body contours and eliminate stubborn fat pockets unresponsive to diet and exercise.
• Lipotuck: A trademarked procedure combining abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) with liposuction to remove excess fat and skin while contouring the abdomen, hips, and thighs for a more sculpted appearance.
• Local Anesthesia: An anesthetic method where medication is injected directly into the surgical site to numb a specific area, allowing procedures to be performed without general anesthesia and with quicker recovery times.
• Local Flap: A reconstructive approach that involves repositioning adjacent healthy tissue to cover a nearby wound or surgical defect, preserving its original blood supply for effective healing.
• Lower Body Lift: A comprehensive surgical procedure that removes excess skin and fat from the lower torso, including the abdomen, buttocks, and thighs, often following significant weight loss to improve body contour.

M

• Macrotia: A rare condition in which the ears are abnormally large, often prompting individuals to seek cosmetic ear reshaping to achieve better facial balance.
• Mammogram: A diagnostic imaging technique that uses low-dose X-rays to detect abnormalities or changes in breast tissue, commonly for early cancer detection.
• Mastectomy: A surgical operation that involves removing one or both breasts, usually performed to treat or prevent breast cancer.
• Medial Thigh Lift: A cosmetic procedure that removes excess skin and fat from the inner thigh, resulting in a more toned and contoured appearance.
• Melanoma: A dangerous form of skin cancer that originates in pigment-producing cells, often identified by dark, irregular patches on the skin with undefined borders; known for its high potential to metastasize.
• Microsurgery: A surgical technique that utilizes a microscope and specialized instruments to perform intricate reconnections of nerves, vessels, or tissues, often used in limb reattachment or reconstructive surgeries.
• Microtia: A congenital deformity where the outer ear is underdeveloped or malformed, sometimes lacking an ear canal, and typically associated with hearing impairment.
• Mohs Surgery: A highly precise surgical method for removing skin cancer layer by layer while preserving as much healthy tissue as possible, ideal for cancers with ill-defined or extensive subdermal growth.
• MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging): A non-invasive imaging procedure that uses magnetic fields and radio waves to produce detailed views of soft tissues, often used to evaluate structures before or after surgery.
• Mammaplasty: A category of breast surgery that includes procedures like augmentation, reduction, or reconstruction to alter the breast’s size, shape, or symmetry.
• Mastopexy: Commonly referred to as a breast lift, this surgery elevates sagging breasts by tightening skin and repositioning tissue for a more youthful contour.
• Medical Tourism: The practice of traveling across countries to receive medical procedures, including cosmetic surgery, often for cost advantages or access to specialized techniques.
• Maxillofacial Surgery: A surgical specialty focused on treating diseases, injuries, and defects in the head, face, jaw, and mouth regions.

N

• Neck Lift: A surgical procedure designed to tighten sagging skin and reduce fat accumulation in the neck area, enhancing jawline definition and contour.
• Nasal Surgery: Also known as rhinoplasty, this operation alters the shape, size, or structure of the nose for functional or aesthetic improvements.
• Nasolabial Fold: The prominent skin crease running from the side of the nose to the corners of the mouth, which can be softened with dermal fillers or surgical procedures to restore youthful facial volume.
• Neuroplastic Surgery: A subspecialty integrating neurological and reconstructive surgery to repair cranial and facial defects often following brain surgery or trauma.
• Nevi: Commonly known as moles, these pigmented skin growths can be congenital or acquired, and may be removed for cosmetic or medical reasons.
• Nipple Reconstruction: A surgical technique used to rebuild the nipple and areola, typically performed after mastectomy to complete breast reconstruction.
• Nipple-Sparing Mastectomy: A form of breast tissue removal that retains the nipple-areola complex for improved cosmetic outcomes during reconstruction.
• Non-Surgical Rhinoplasty: A procedure that uses injectable fillers to reshape the nose without invasive surgery, ideal for minor contour adjustments.
• Nose Prosthesis: A custom-made artificial nose created to replace missing nasal structures, often used after trauma or cancer resection.
• Nymphoplasty: Also known as labiaplasty, this cosmetic genital surgery modifies the size or shape of the labia minora to enhance comfort or appearance.

M

• Macrotia: A rare condition in which the ears are abnormally large, often prompting individuals to seek cosmetic ear reshaping to achieve better facial balance.
• Mammogram: A diagnostic imaging technique that uses low-dose X-rays to detect abnormalities or changes in breast tissue, commonly for early cancer detection.
• Mastectomy: A surgical operation that involves removing one or both breasts, usually performed to treat or prevent breast cancer.
• Medial Thigh Lift: A cosmetic procedure that removes excess skin and fat from the inner thigh, resulting in a more toned and contoured appearance.
• Melanoma: A dangerous form of skin cancer that originates in pigment-producing cells, often identified by dark, irregular patches on the skin with undefined borders; known for its high potential to metastasize.
• Microsurgery: A surgical technique that utilizes a microscope and specialized instruments to perform intricate reconnections of nerves, vessels, or tissues, often used in limb reattachment or reconstructive surgeries.
• Microtia: A congenital deformity where the outer ear is underdeveloped or malformed, sometimes lacking an ear canal, and typically associated with hearing impairment.
• Mohs Surgery: A highly precise surgical method for removing skin cancer layer by layer while preserving as much healthy tissue as possible, ideal for cancers with ill-defined or extensive subdermal growth.
• MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging): A non-invasive imaging procedure that uses magnetic fields and radio waves to produce detailed views of soft tissues, often used to evaluate structures before or after surgery.
• Mammaplasty: A category of breast surgery that includes procedures like augmentation, reduction, or reconstruction to alter the breast’s size, shape, or symmetry.
• Mastopexy: Commonly referred to as a breast lift, this surgery elevates sagging breasts by tightening skin and repositioning tissue for a more youthful contour.
• Medical Tourism: The practice of traveling across countries to receive medical procedures, including cosmetic surgery, often for cost advantages or access to specialized techniques.
• Maxillofacial Surgery: A surgical specialty focused on treating diseases, injuries, and defects in the head, face, jaw, and mouth regions.

N

• Neck Lift: A surgical procedure designed to tighten sagging skin and reduce fat accumulation in the neck area, enhancing jawline definition and contour.
• Nasal Surgery: Also known as rhinoplasty, this operation alters the shape, size, or structure of the nose for functional or aesthetic improvements.
• Nasolabial Fold: The prominent skin crease running from the side of the nose to the corners of the mouth, which can be softened with dermal fillers or surgical procedures to restore youthful facial volume.
• Neuroplastic Surgery: A subspecialty integrating neurological and reconstructive surgery to repair cranial and facial defects often following brain surgery or trauma.
• Nevi: Commonly known as moles, these pigmented skin growths can be congenital or acquired, and may be removed for cosmetic or medical reasons.
• Nipple Reconstruction: A surgical technique used to rebuild the nipple and areola, typically performed after mastectomy to complete breast reconstruction.
• Nipple-Sparing Mastectomy: A form of breast tissue removal that retains the nipple-areola complex for improved cosmetic outcomes during reconstruction.
• Non-Surgical Rhinoplasty: A procedure that uses injectable fillers to reshape the nose without invasive surgery, ideal for minor contour adjustments.
• Nose Prosthesis: A custom-made artificial nose created to replace missing nasal structures, often used after trauma or cancer resection.
• Nymphoplasty: Also known as labiaplasty, this cosmetic genital surgery modifies the size or shape of the labia minora to enhance comfort or appearance.