Eye Lift Surgery Glossary

Acne: A skin condition characterized by the excess production of oil from sebaceous glands in which the hair follicles become plugged.

Acne scar: Scars due to severe acne. They can range from deep pits to scars that are angular or wavelike in appearance

Aesthetic surgery: any surgery to improve one's appearance

Age spots: Small flat pigmented spots that are most often seen on areas of the body that have been exposed to the sun over a period of years. Age spots usually occur after the age of 40

Anesthesiologist: a physician specializing solely in the management of pain

Blepharoplasty (eyelift surgery): is designed to eliminate excess skin and fat in your upper and lower eyelids. Most commonly, both upper and lower lid corrections are done during the same procedure. The incisions are hidden in the skin creases or on the inside surface of the lower eyelids. After the excess tissues are removed the wound is meticulously closed.

Board Certified: having passed an examination by an administering authority; designed to test the physician's knowledge base and provide proof of having completed a certain level of education.

Botox: A substance derived from botulinum toxin that works by preventing nerve impulses from reaching the muscle, causing the muscle to relax.

Brow lift: A surgical procedure in which the skin of the forehead and eyebrows is tightened to eliminate sagging eyebrows or correct frown lines in the forehead

Cannula: Simply a slender tube that can be inserted into a body cavity or duct. During the insertion of the cannula, its lumen (interior) is usually occupied by a trocar, a solid shaft, to stiffen it. The word "cannula" is the diminutive of the Latin "canna" (reed) = a little reed.

Cervicoplasty: commonly called a neck lift - ; surgery to remove excess skin to improve the neckline, correct "turkey neck", and improve one's profile

Chemical peel: uses a chemical solution in order to improve the skin's appearance. It can reduce or eliminate fine lines under the eyes and around the mouth, correct uneven skin pigmentation, remove pre-cancerous skin growths, and soften acne or treat the scars caused by acne.

Collagen: The major structural proteins in the skin that give the skin its strength and resilience.

Cosmetic plastic surgery (Also called aesthetic 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

Crows Feet: The fine lines found around the eyes. They are often caused by sun exposure; however, smoking also contributes to their formation.

Dermabrasion: A surgical procedure in which a patient’s skin, scarred from acne, pox, or other causes, is frozen and then removed using a high-powered rotating brush

Dermatologist: a physician specializing in the treatment of skin disorders

Dermis: The middle layer of the skin, the dermis is a complex combination of blood vessels, hair follicles, and sebaceous (oil) glands. Here, you’ll find collagen and elastin. The dermis is also where wrinkles occur.

Deviated septum: A condition in which the septum (the wall inside the nose that divides it into two sides) is not located in the middle of the nose where it should be. The condition is commonly treatable with surgery.

Dissection: The process of cutting apart or separating tissue as, for example, in the study of anatomy or in the course of a surgical procedure.

Dorsal hump: a bump on the bridge of the nose

Dynamic wrinkles: creases in the skin caused by muscle contraction and facial expression

Elastin: A protein found with collagen in the dermis that is responsible for giving structure to your skin and organs.

Endoscopic surgery: minimal-incision surgery can be performed using tiny cameras and long instruments; typically results in a quicker recovery than surgeries performed with larger incisions

Epidermis: The outer layer of the skin. The epidermis is also the thinnest layer, responsible for protecting you from the harsh environment.

Epithelialization: formation of skin over a wound

Exfoliate: To remove the top layer of skin. Chemical peels and dermabrasion are examples of methods in which the skin is exfoliated.

Eyelid ptosis surgery: procedure to raise one or both droopy upper eyelids to restore an alert appearance and possibly improve visual fields

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.

Facial Sculpturing/Liposuction: This is a method of removing fat from the neck to redefine the jawline. Sculpturing is performed either by direct fat removal, with liposuction, or the newer form of liposhaving and is most often done together with facelift surgery. In some patients, liposhaving may be done by itself without a facelift. 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.

Fibroblast: A cell ubiquitous in connective tissue that makes and secretes collagen.

Freckle: A light or moderately brown spot that appears on the skin as a result of exposure to sunlight. Freckles are most common in people with fair complexions.

General anesthetic: an anesthetic administered to induce sleep; sometimes referred to as a "general"

Glabella: 1. The area between the eyebrows, just above the nose. 2. The corresponding area on the frontal bone between the eyebrow ridges.

Glabellar lines: vertical forehead creases between the eyebrows

Hyaluronic acid (also called Hyaluronan): a component of connective tissue whose function is to cushion and lubricate. Hyaluronan occurs throughout the body in abundant amounts in many of the places people with hereditary connective tissue disorders have problems such as joints, heart valves and eyes.

Intense Pulsed light: a beam of light emitted in a short burst of energy

Jowl: lax skin and pockets of fat that hang below the lower edge of the jaw

Keratin: This dominant protein is your skin’s main material, as well as in hair and nails. Keratin is what forms the rigidity of your skin.

L-ascorbic acid: L-ascorbic acid is the only form of Vitamin C that the body or skin can use as far as topical treatments are concerned. Vitamin C is the only antioxidant that has been proven to stimulate the synthesis of collagen.

Labial: pertaining to the lips

Laser resurfacing (laser peel): use of laser to vaporize damaged skin while leaving surrounding tissues undamaged; used to eliminate or modify unsightly skin defects

Lip augmentation: A procedure done to improve deflated, drooping or sagging lips, correct their symmetry or to reduce fine lines and wrinkles around them. This is often done through injections or implants.

Lip lift: any surgery using a variety of methods to raise the edges of the lips and enhance its appearance

Lip reduction: any surgery that reduces the size of the upper and / or lower lip by removing a thin strip of tissue

Liposuction: A cosmetic procedure in which a special instrument called a canula is used remove localized collections of fatty tissue from the legs, buttocks, abdomen, back, arms, face and neck using a high vacuum device.

Local anesthetic: an anesthetic injected to numb the area being treated
Local with sedation: medication administered thorugh a vein to cause sleep in conjunction with local anesthesia, also called twilight anesthesia

Mentoplasty: chin augmentation. An implant is placed underneath the soft tissue at the point of the chin to enhance the chin's projection

Mini lift: a limited incision facelfit for patients with minor sagging.

Marionette lines: vertical creases extending from the corners of the mouth to the jaw

Microdermabrasion: a technique using sand crystals and a vacuum to remove superficial skin cells and improve minor skin imperfections

Nasolabial fold: the crease extending from the side of the nostril to the corner of the mouth; smile or laugh lines

Neck lift: surgery to remove excess skin to raise the neckline, correct "turkey neck", and improve one's profile; also called cervicoplasty

Otoplasty (Also called ear surgery): a type of cosmetic plastic surgery procedure aimed at setting prominent ears closer to the head, or reducing the size of larger ears.

Otorhinolaryngology: the combined specialites of the ear, nose, and throat
Outpatient surgical facility: (1) established, operated, or maintained by an entity, individual, firm, partnership, corporation, limited liability company, or association, other than a hospital (hospital-based outpatient surgical facilities are already subject to DPH and OHCA requirements) and (2) providing surgical services that include the use of moderate or deep sedation or analgesia or general anesthesia, as these levels are defined by the American Society of Anesthesiologists or other entity recognized by DPH.

Perioral: Around the mouth.

Periorbital: Around the eyes

Photoaging: The changes that occur to the skin due to exposure to the sun. This includes wrinkles and age spots

Plastic surgery: the branch of surgery dealing with the repair or enhancement of malformed, injured, or lost organs or tissues

Postoperative: refers to a period of recovery and healing that takes place after a surgical procedure

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.

Rejuvenate: to make youthful

Retinol: A derivative of Vitamin A commonly found in many skin care creams.

Rosacea: A skin disease of unknown causes that causes an array of symptoms, including redness and puffiness on several areas of the face, including cheeks and nose. Rosacea cannot be cured, but treatment should be sought since the condition can worsen over time if not treated correctly or promptly.

Rhytidectomy: Commonly called a facelift, this surgical procedure is done to eliminate the sagging, drooping, and wrinkled skin of the face and neck.
Septoplasty: the surgical correction of defects and deformities of the nasal septum (the partition between the nostrils).

Skin resurfacing: a surgical procedure that removes upper skin layers to produce new skin

S-lift: a modified facelift procedure that works well onfaces withonly slight signs of aging

SOOF lift: surgery to raise the fat pad (sub-orbicularis oculi fat) at the top of the cheeks to improve cheek and under eye contour

Spider vein: A widened vein that can be seen through the surface of the skin.

Static wrinkles: wrinkles that are present when the muscle is at rest

Stratum corneum: The outer most layer of the epidermis

Submental: beneath the chin

Suture: The stitches used to hold tissue together or to close a wound.

Turkey neck: excess skin and fat under the chin

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.