Cosmetic Surgery Glossary and Definition of Terms

Abdominoplasty - Tummy Tuck - Apronectomy

To remove excess skin and sometimes fat around the tummy usually following child birth or weight loss. These include a mini tummy tuck and more commonly a full tummy tuck. In patients with a large amount of skin to remove a complex or fleur-de-lys abdominoplasty may be used which takes in the sides the back and the loins. If the skin needs removing completely around the whole circumference of the torso following major weight loss then this is known as a body lift.

Aesthetic Surgery

Surgery to improve the personal appearance.

Aesthetician

Skin care specialist trained in methods to enhance beauty.

Anesthesia

A type of medication used to relieve pain or feeling during surgery, forms of anaesthesia are either general or local.

Anesthetic

A compound that is used in surgery to block pain.

Anesthetist

The professional which adminsters an anesthetic.

Antibiotic

Drug that is effective against bacteria.

Areola

The pigmented or coloured area around the nipple.

Arm Lift - Arm reduction - Brachioplasty

The removal of excess skin or bingo wings from the under the arms often following weight loss.

Asymmetric

Uneven in appearance.

Augmentation mammoplasty

The surgical enlargement of the breasts using an artificial implant.

Blepharoplasty - Eye Bag Removal - Eyelid Reduction

Procedure to remove puffy or fatty bags from under the eyes or excess skin from over the top of the eye.

Breast Enlargement - Breast Augmentation - Breast Implants - Boob Job

Operation to increase the size of the natural breast by the introduction of breast implants.

Breast Reduction - Reduction Mammoplasty

To surgically reduce the size of a woman's breasts that are generally too large.

Breast Uplift - Mastopexy

To lift and reshape breast tissue that has drooped following child birth, breast feeding or weight loss. Patients looking for breast uplift surgery often want their breasts putting back to where they were prior to child birth.

Cosmetic Surgery - Plastic Surgery - Aesthetic Surgery

Surgical techniques to reshape and remould the skin and underlying tissue of the face and body to improve the appearance. The operations may involve the removal of or tightening of loose skin, extraction of fat cells, reshaping of bone or cartilage or the introduction of implants.

Ear Correction Surgery - Otoplasty - Pinnaplasty - Bat Ears

The simple process of pinning back the ears on a person whose ears protrude or stick out too much. Usually performed under local anaesthetic although a patient can be put to sleep if they prefer.

Facelift - Face Lift - Rhytidectomy

Operation to lighten loose or sagging skin around the face and neck as a result of ageing. A facelift does not stop the ageing process but can appear to make a patient appear younger by tightening the skin which naturally loses it's elasticity as we age. Muscles in the face can also be tightened during a facelift if necessary to enhance the final result.

Liposuction - Liposculpture - Lipectomy - Fat Removal

A procedure to remove stubborn fatty deposits that will not respond to diet or exercise on a patient whose weight is otherwise correct for their height. Liposuction is often carried out to the tummy, legs, arms, back and chin.

Otoplasty

The surgical procedure performed to correct misshaped or protruding ears.

Rhinoplasty - Nose Job

Surgery to reshape the nose, including the nose tip and the bridge or for noses that are generally too large for the face. A nose that has been broken by previous trauma can have it's shape improved by rhinoplasty nose surgery.

Suture

Stitches used to hold together tissue on an open wound.

Thigh Lift

To remove loose and excess skin from around the thighs usually following weight loss.

Weight Loss Surgery - Gastric Band - Lap Band - Laparoscopic band - Adjustable Gastric Band - Gastric Bypass

Operations performed via keyhole surgery to assist with weight loss in patients who are obese who have a body mass index (BMI) of 34 or over.