ACETYLSALICYLIC ACID: a white crystalline compound that relieves pain and fever, but also causes thinning of the blood which can encourage bruising and bleeding. It is the generic name for aspirin.

ACNE (pimples): inflammation of the oil glands in the skin due to an oversensitivity to the normal level of hormones in the body.

AEROBICS: exercises, such as jogging, cycling, swimming, dance routines, and brisk walking, which increase the intake of oxygen.

AGE SPOTS the layman's term for lentigos or seborrheic keratoses, benign brown growths on the skin that commonly appear with age.

AIDS: acronym for acquired immune deficiency syndrome, a virus induced illness that reduces the efficiency of the immune system to protect the body from disease.

ALLERGIC REACTIONS: a hypersensitivity to various environmental substances (allergens) that causes the body to respond in adverse ways. Symptoms may include a red, swollen rash on the skin or difficulty in breathing.

ALPHA HYDROXY ACID (AHA) a group of acids that reduce sun induced fine wrinkles and pigment spots by removing the superficial layers of the skin and drawing moisture into the tissue, causing the skin to fill out.

AMPOULES sealed, glass or plastic containers that keep solutions sterile until required for injection,

ANDROGEN HORMONES: hormones that produce masculine characteristics in the body.

ANESTHETIC: a drug used to , eliminate the sensation of pain. general a., the sensation of pain is removed throughout the body (commonly referred to as being put to sleep). local a., the sensation of pain is eliminated only in the area of the body where the anesthetic is administered.

ANTIOXIDANTS substances, such a vitamins E and C, that prevent oxidation at the cellular level. It is surmised that oxidation is the chemical reaction central to the aging process.

AUGMENT to increase or make larger, e.g., breast augmentation (enlargement of the breast).

BIOFEEDBACK a technique used to voluntarily control involuntary movements or bodily processes.

BLEPHAROPILASTY (eyelid lift):a surgical procedure that corrects baggy eyelids by removing excess skin and fat from the upper and lower eyelids and tightens up lax muscles around the eyes.

BRIDGE: a dental device that fills in gaps from missing teeth , fixed bridge, a permanent bridge , removable bridge, a bridge that can be put in and taken out of the mouth.

BRUXISM: grinding of the teeth at times other than chewing, especially when sleeping.

CANNUILA: a hollow rigid or flexible surgical tube, which is rigid or flexible depending on its use.

CAPSULAR CONTRACTURE:

a layer of fibrous tissue that encapsulates a breast implant causing the breast to feel unnaturally hard.

CAPSULOTOMY the process of breaking down the fibrous or scar tissue of a capsular contracture of a breast implant , closed capsulotomy the fibrous tissue is fractured by compressing the breast from the outside open capsulotomy the scar tissue that has enclosed the implant is partially removed through the original surgical incision.

CELLULITE: irregular contours of fat over the buttocks, hips, and thighs, which make the skin look dimpled.

CHEMICAL PEEU a resurfacing technique in which one of a variety of chemical agents is applied to the skin to remove its superficial layers. In so doing, the skin is regenerated and rejuvenated through the removal of wrinkles, the smoothing of irregular pigmentation, and the growth of new skin.

CHERRY ANGIOMAS: bright red, benign blood vessel tumors of the skin that range in size from a pin prick to the size of a drop of water.

CHOLESTEROL: a steroid alcohol found in a variety of foods which, if consumed in excessive amounts, is thought to contribute to the blocking of the arteries (arteriosclerosis) and can leave deposits in the skin in the form of yellow bumps.

COLD SORE: a blister arising from the herpes simplex virus. COLLAGEN: the principal supporting protein of the skin, bones, cartilage, and connective tissue of the body.

COMPOSITE BONDING: the process of adhering a plastic like material to teeth to improve their appearance.

CORTISONE: a hormone used to control inflammation.

COSMETIC SURGEON: a general term referring to a physician with special training, skills, and interest in one or more surgical techniques to improve the cosmetic appearance of an individual, Plastic surgeons and dermatologists are most commonly categorized as cosmetic surgeons, although some ophthalmologists and otolaryngologists may also have training in cosmetic procedures related to their specialties.

CROWS FEET wrinkles that spread out from the comers of the eyes.

CROWN: a porcelain or porcelainbonded to gold covering applied over the entire surface of the tooth.

CRVOTHERAFY: a denriatologic therapy that uses a cooling agent, such as liquid nitrogen or solid carbon dioxide (dry ice), for a variety of treatments.

DANDRUFF: a dry, scaly condition of the skin on the scalp and, less often, on the face and the torso.

DEHYDRATE: the removal of water or moisture.

DEPILATORIES: hair removal agents that dissolve unwanted hair.

DERMABRASION: a resurfacing technique that removes the superficial layers of the skin enabling new, rejuvenated skin to replace scarred, wrinkled, and irregularly pigmented skin utilizing a whirling bit to remove the superficial layers of skin.

DERMATOLOGIST. a medical doctor who specializes in diseases and disorders of the skin. DERMIS: the second layer of the skin, which contains elastins (elastic protein) to provide skin tone and suppleness; collagen (architectural protein) for strength and structure; blood vessels for the delivery of essential nutrients and the removal of wastes; nerves, making the skin one of the most sensitive organs: in the body; oil glands to lubricate the skin; and sweat glands to regulate fluctuations in body temperature.

DIHYDROXVACETONE (DHA): the active agent in tanning creams which reacts with the top layer of the skin through oxidation to produce a natural golden hue.

DILATE: to increase in size beyond normal dimensions.

EDEMA: abnormally large amounts of fluid between the cells of body tissue.

ELASTIN: elastic tissue in the second layer of the skin that provides skin tone and suppleness.

ELECTRODESICCATION: the process of removing small skin problems such as milia, cherry angiomas, and minute veins with an electric current transferred through a needle.

ENKEPHALINES: natural opiates released by the brain during prolonged exercise and thought to be responsible for a self induced feelings of well being.

ELECTROLYSIS: a procedure to remove unwanted hair by passing an electric current into a hair follicle, rendering it inactive, and causing the hair to fall out.

ENDORPHINS: natural opiates released by the brain during prolonged exercise and thought to be responsible for a self induced feelings of well being EPIDERMIS: the protective top layer of the skin where pigment cells, which give color to the skin, are found.

ESTHETIC: pertaining to beauty; artistic; pleasing to the eye.

FACE LIFT a surgical procedure designed to correct three problems in the lower half of the face: poor muscle tone, causing laxity in the neck and cheek areas , too much fat in the jowl, chin, and neck regions; and excess amounts of skin in the lower half of the face, causing wrinkles.

FIBROCYSTIC DISEASE:

a condition where a cystic space develops in the glandular tissue of the breast and is overgrown with fibrous tissue.

FIBROUS: composed of fibers.

FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION (FDA): a regulatory body of the United States government responsible for the quality and safety of foods and drugs. FREE RADICALS: chemical agents that contribute to the wear and tear on cells through a chemical reaction known as oxidation and thought to be central to the aging process.

GRANULOMA: a hard bump caused by the body's cells walling off foreign material.

HAIR FOLLICLE: part of a strand of hair that is alive and below the surface of the skin.

HAIR SHAFT. the dead, yet visible, portion of a strand of hair.

HAIR TRANSPLANT. a surgical procedure to remove hair from a donor site, usually on the back of the head, and transfer it to a recipient site, usually on the crown or top of the head.

HEALTH PROTECTION BRANCH (HPB): a regulatory body of Health and Welfare Canada that is responsible for the safety and quality of foods and drugs.

HEMATOMA: a tumor like collection of blood in a localized area.

HEMOGLOBIN: red cells of the blood that carry oxygen.

HEPATITIS: inflammation of the liver, commonly caused by a viral infection.

HERPES SIMPLEX: an acute viral infection that causes watery blisters, frequently refer red to as cold sores, on the skin and mucus membranes.

HUMAN ADJUVANT DISEASE (HAD): a broad term encompassing a variety of autoimmune disease states including rheumatoid arthritis, dermatomyositis and lupus erythematosus.

HYPERPIGMENTATION: a condition where one area of the skin produces more melanin making it darker than the surrounding skin.

HYPOPIGMENTATION: a condition where the pigment cells produce inadequate amounts of melanin resulting in a localized area of skin being lighter than normal.

IMMUNE SYSTEM: a system within the body that protects it from disease and infection.

IMPLANTS: organic or inorganic material inserted or grafted into a predetermined part of the body.

INFLAMMATION a condition where the body tissue reacts to injury with. swelling, redness, pain, and heat.

INFRAMAMMARY FOLD: the fold under the breast where the skin of the breast meets the skin of the chest wall.

INGEST the act of taking food or medicine into the body by mouth.

INTRAVENOUS: within a vein or veins.

IRRITATION: a state of undue sensitivity.

LANGERHANS CELLS:star shaped cells found deep in the epidermis which recognize disease and other threats to the body and which subsequently mobilize the white blood cells to protect against intruders.

LASABRASION: resurfacing of the epidermis and dermis so new skin, free of fine wrinkles and pigment changes, will grow.

LASER. an acronym for light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation. Laser frequently refers to a group of instruments that produce a pure monochromatic light. The purpose of the instrument varies depending on the type of light emitted.

LENTIGO: a benign, brown spot on the skin caused by a localized increase in the production of melanin. It is usually associated with aging.

LIPOSUCTION: a procedure where fat is suctioned from localized areas of the body.

LUPUS ERYTHEMATOSUS: a condition which can affect the skin and the internal organs where the body makes an error in recognizing its own tissue and falsely perceives it as foreign thereby attacking itself with an immunologic reaction.

MALAR BAGS: baggy skin that appears at the junction of the lower eyelids and upper part of the cheek bones.

MALE PATTERN HAIR LOSS: a hereditary predisposition for the loss of hair on the head.

MAMMOGRAPHY an x ray of the soft tissue of the breast.

MELANIN: a dark pigment found in the skin, hair, choroid coat of the eye, and part of brain.

METABOLIC RATE: the speed at which metabolism takes place.

METABOLISM: the process of transforming food to supply energy to the body.

MICROLIPID, small amounts of fat; microlipid transfer, a procedure whereby small amounts of fat are taken from one part of the body and injected into another.

MILIA: tiny, oil gland cysts in the skin.

MINOXIDIL: a medication that helps to control high blood pressure when taken in tablet form and encourages hair growth when applied to the skin. NAIL PLATE: the hard, flat, translucent, and visible surface of the nail.

NECROSIS: pertaining to the death of tissue, usually in small, localized areas.

OPHTHALMOLOGIST. a medical doctor who is an eye specialist.

ORTHODONTIST: a dentist who specializes in the realignment of the teeth so that the bite is functional and esthetically pleasing.

ORTHOGNATHIC SURGERY: surgery which corrects the jaw bones when they are positioned in such a way as to cause facial disharmony and dental dysfunction.

OTOLARYNGOLOGIST: a medical doctor who is an ear, nose, and throat specialist.

OXIDATION: a chemical change that occurs in tissue when it combines with oxygen.

PERI AREOILAR: around the nipple of the breast.

PERIODONTAL DISEASE: disease of the gums caused by bacteria growing on the teeth.

PIGMENT natural coloring of the skin.

PLASTIC SURGEON: a medical doctor who specializes in reconstructive and cosmetic surgery.

PRECANCERS: benign spots on the skin which tend to develop into cancers.

PROFILOPLASTY: a common medical term for the alteration of the structural proportions that determine the profile, for example, the nose and the chin.

PSORALEN: a chemical agent that stimulates pigment cells to produce more melanin when exposed to the sun. It is found in tan accelerators.

PULSE DYE LASER. a laser system that produces a target specific light causing selective destruction of small blood vessels with accompanying bruising. This laser removes portwine hemangionas and cutaseous vascular lesions from the skin.

PUNCH TRANSPLANT a procedure that transfers a circular piece of skin from a donor area, usually behind the ear, to a recipient area, usually on the face, to replace damaged or scarred skin.

RADIATION: light rays emitted from the sun in the form of ultraviolet A, ultraviolet B, and ultraviolet C spectrums.

RESURFACING a procedure to alter the top layer of the skin through chemical or mechanical means. RHINOPLASTY surgery that alters the shape or structure of the nose. ROOT CANAL: a procedure that removes the blood vessels and nerves in the root of the tooth.

SCLERA: the white portion of the eye; scleral show, when the white portion of the eye below the iris is visible.

SCLEROTHERAPY a technique whereby a solution of concentrated salt, sugar, and alcohol or other agents is injected into veins, This irritates the lining of the veins causing them to adhere together and to subsequently shrink and disappear.

SEBORRHEA (seborrheic dermatitis): dandruff that has caused inflammation.

SEBORRHEIC KERATOSIS (age spots, liver spots): benign, brown spots on the skin that occur with aging.

SEDATION the Process of creating calm, especially through medication.

SEROMA: a tumor like collection of fluid in a localized area.

SERUM: the clear component of blood.

SILASTIC: a plastic like material used in certain types of implants.

SILICONE: an inorganic material, made up of a compound containing the element silicon and used for a variety of implants. SKIN CANCER: a cellular tumor of the skin that is defined according to the cells of the skin involved. Squamous cell cancer, basal cell cancer, and melanomas are three of the most common skin cancers.

SKIN TAGS:superfluous stubs of skin that develop when the skin is confused as to which direction to grow, so it simply grows outward: They may occur anywhere on the body.

SOFT LASER cool beam, nonsurgical laser lights that are thought to cause mild inflammation and edema of the superficial layers of the skin to temporarily puff up fine wrinkles, Other photochemical skin reactions may occur but have not been scientifically proven.

SPIDER VEINS: dilated blood vessels, in particular, small, superficial, dilated veins on the legs.

STRETCH MARKS: lines of stretched skin which develop when the skin's building blocks (collagen and elastin) cannot keep up with its need for growth. Medically referred to as striae.

STRIAE see stretch marks.

SUBCUTANEOUS: below the first two layers of skin.

SUBGLANDULAP: below glandular tissue; for example, of the breast.

SUBMUSCULAR: below underlying muscle; for example, of the breast.

SUCTION LIPOLYSIS: see liposuction

SUN PROTECTION FACTOR (SPF) the factor for the amount of time greater than normal that it takes ultraviolet light to bum the skin.

SWEAT RASH: layman's term for miliaria, which are small, red bumps on the skin caused by sweat retention.

TAN ACCELERATORS: an agent that speeds up the natural tanning process or production of melanin in the skin, lowering the sun exposure time needed for a desired tan.

TANNING BEDS: beds of light bulbs that usually emit ultraviolet A rays to artificially induce a sun tan.

TANNING CREAMS: creams containing dihydroxyacetone (DHA) that react with the top layer of the skin through oxidation to produce a natural, golden hue.

TEIANGIECTASIA: small, superficial, dilated veins on the face, neck, and chest.

TEMPOROMANDIBULAR JOINT. the point at which the jaw bone or mandible comes into contact with the skull or temporal bone.

TOPICAL: on the skin.

TOXIC: caused by or acting as a poison.

TOXIN: a poisonous agent.

TRANSAXILLARY: through the armpit.

TRETINOIN: a topical agent that has proven to be effective in the treatment of acne, fine wrinkles, irregular pigment, and texture changes of the skin. Also known generically as retinoic acid and by the trade names Stieva A, Retin A, Vitamin A Acid, Rejuva A, Renova and Retisol A.

TUMMY TUCK: a surgical procedure that improves the esthetic appearance of an abdomen which has an excess amount of skin with stretch marks, too much fat, and a loss of muscle tone in the abdominal region.

TUMESCENT LIPOSUCTION: a type of suction lipolysis in which the fat compartment is initially expanded with a dilute local anesthetic solution. TYROSINE: an amino acid (protein component) that contributes to the production of melanin.

ULTRASONIC LIPOSUCTION: a method of liposuction where sound waves are passed along a cannula causing emulsification of the fat prior to aspiration.

ULTRAVIOLET. invisible light rays emitted by the sun that are just beyond the visible spectrum.

ULTRAVIOLET A RAYS MA rays): the longest ultraviolet tight rays emitted by the sun, causing damage to the epidermis and the dermis of the skin and to the eyes over long periods of exposure.

ULTRAVIOLET B RAYS (UVB rays): the mid length ultraviolet light rays emitted by the sun, causing damage to the epidermis and the dermis of the skin and which may also be harmful to the eyes.

ULTRAVIOLET C RAYS (UVC rays): the shortest ultraviolet light rays emitted by the sun, If these rays were not absorbed by the ozone, layer they would cause severe bodily harm.

UREA: a chemical that draws moisture into tissues of the skin.

VARIABLE PULSE WIDTH LASER. a laser system with the capacity to alter the time application of light impact on blood vessels. It is used to remove red vascular lesions from the skin without bruising.

VARICOSE VEINS large, dilated veins of the legs.

VENEER: a resin or porcelain facing that is placed over the surface of the tooth to improve the appearance of the teeth.

XANTHINES: a group of stimulants, including theobromine and caffeine, that may be found in chocolate, coffee and tea causing dilation of blood vessels and stimulation of the muscles, especially the heart.