Understanding medical terminology helps you make informed decisions about your aesthetic journey. This comprehensive glossary defines common plastic surgery terms, procedure names, and medical concepts you may encounter during consultation, surgery, and recovery. Dr. David N. Sayah and our team at Chrisalys serving Los Angeles and Beverly Hills encourage you to reference this resource as you explore your options.
Common Plastic Surgery Terms
Abdominoplasty: Commonly called a “tummy tuck,” this surgical procedure removes excess skin and fat from the abdomen while tightening underlying muscles. Creates flatter, more toned midsection appearance. May be combined with liposuction for optimal body contouring results.
Anesthesia: Medication that prevents pain during surgery. General anesthesia induces sleep, while local anesthesia numbs specific areas. IV sedation provides relaxation while maintaining some consciousness. Dr. Sayah uses advanced light general anesthesia techniques for patient comfort and safety.
Augmentation: Surgical enhancement to increase size or improve contours, most commonly referring to breast augmentation with implants or fat grafting to enhance body areas.
Blepharoplasty: Eyelid surgery addressing excess skin, fat deposits, and muscle laxity in upper and/or lower eyelids. Creates more alert, youthful eye appearance and may improve vision when upper lid skin impairs sight.
Board Certification: Professional certification from the American Board of Plastic Surgery indicating surgeon has completed required training, passed comprehensive examinations, and maintains continuing education. Dr. Sayah is board-certified, ensuring you receive care from a qualified expert.
Botox: Injectable neuromodulator temporarily relaxing facial muscles that cause dynamic wrinkles. Commonly treats forehead lines, crow’s feet, and frown lines between eyebrows. Results typically last 3-4 months.
Brow Lift: Also called forehead lift, this procedure elevates descended eyebrows, smooths forehead lines, and reduces frown lines. Dr. Sayah often uses endoscopic techniques with minimal incisions hidden in the hairline.
Cannula: Thin, hollow tube used during liposuction to remove fat or during fat grafting to inject fat. Various sizes and designs allow precision contouring.
Capsular Contracture: Complication where scar tissue around breast implants tightens excessively, causing firmness, distortion, or discomfort. May require surgical correction.
Chemical Peel: Non-surgical treatment using chemical solution to remove damaged outer skin layers, improving texture, tone, and reducing fine lines and pigmentation irregularities.
Columella: Tissue strip separating nostrils beneath the nose tip. Visible from profile view and important consideration in rhinoplasty.
Contouring: Sculpting body or facial areas through fat removal, repositioning, or enhancement to create desired shape and proportions.
Dermal Fillers: Injectable substances adding volume to soften wrinkles, enhance lips, restore facial fullness, or improve contours. Common types include hyaluronic acid fillers like Restylane and Juvéderm.
Endoscopic Surgery: Minimally invasive surgical technique using small camera (endoscope) and specialized instruments through tiny incisions. Allows procedures with less scarring and faster recovery. Dr. Sayah specializes in endoscopic approaches for facelift, brow lift, and other procedures.
Facelift (Rhytidectomy): Surgical procedure lifting and tightening facial tissues, removing excess skin, and repositioning deeper structures to create more youthful appearance. Addresses jowls, deep folds, and neck laxity.
Fat Grafting: Also called fat transfer, this technique harvests fat via liposuction from one body area and injects it into another for volume enhancement or contouring. Used for facial rejuvenation, breast augmentation, and body sculpting.
Fellow of the American College of Surgeons (FACS): Prestigious designation indicating surgeon has met rigorous educational, ethical, and professional standards. Dr. Sayah holds this distinction, demonstrating his commitment to surgical excellence.
FUE (Follicular Unit Extraction): Hair transplant technique harvesting individual hair follicles without linear incision, allowing patients to wear short hairstyles without visible scarring.
Gynecomastia: Enlarged male breasts from excess glandular tissue, fat, or both. Surgical correction removes tissue and sculpts masculine chest contours.
Hematoma: Collection of blood outside blood vessels, appearing as bruising. Large hematomas may require drainage. Risk minimized through careful surgical technique and post-operative care.
Hyaluronic Acid: Naturally occurring substance used in dermal fillers. Attracts and retains moisture, adding volume and hydration to treated areas.
Implant: Medical device surgically placed to restore, enhance, or create desired contours. Common types include breast implants, pectoral implants, and calf implants made from silicone or saline.
Incision: Surgical cut made to access underlying tissues. Dr. Sayah places incisions strategically in natural creases or hidden areas to minimize visible scarring.
Inframammary Fold: Natural crease beneath the breast where breast meets chest wall. Common location for breast augmentation incisions.
Keloid: Raised, thickened scar extending beyond original wound borders. Some individuals are genetically predisposed to keloid formation.
Labiaplasty: Surgical reshaping of labial tissues for aesthetic appearance, comfort, or functional concerns.
Liposuction: Surgical fat removal through small incisions using suction cannulas. Sculpts body contours by eliminating stubborn fat deposits resistant to diet and exercise.
Mastopexy: Breast lift procedure repositioning breast tissue and nipples to higher, more youthful position. May be combined with breast augmentation or reduction.
Microneedling: Minimally invasive treatment using fine needles creating controlled micro-injuries, stimulating collagen production and improving skin texture, scars, and tone.
SMAS (Superficial Musculoaponeurotic System): Layer of tissue beneath facial skin containing muscle and connective tissue. Addressing SMAS during facelift creates longer-lasting, more natural results than skin-only techniques.
Neuromodulator: Injectable substance temporarily relaxing muscles by blocking nerve signals. Botox is the most well-known neuromodulator used in aesthetic medicine.
Otoplasty: Ear surgery reshaping prominent or misshapen ears, typically positioning them closer to the head for improved proportion and appearance.
Platysma: Neck muscle that can develop vertical bands with aging. Facelift and neck lift procedures tighten this muscle to eliminate bands and improve neck contours.
Ptosis: Drooping or sagging of tissues. Breast ptosis refers to sagging breasts, while eyelid ptosis describes drooping upper eyelids.
Radiofrequency (RF): Energy-based technology heating deeper skin layers to stimulate collagen production, tighten skin, and improve texture non-surgically.
Rhinoplasty: Nose surgery reshaping nasal structure for aesthetic improvement or functional correction. Addresses size, shape, profile, and breathing concerns.
Revision Surgery: Secondary surgery correcting complications, unsatisfactory results, or changes from previous procedure. Requires advanced expertise like Dr. Sayah’s specialized revision experience.
Septoplasty: Surgical straightening of nasal septum (internal wall dividing nostrils) to improve breathing. Often combined with rhinoplasty.
Seroma: Fluid accumulation beneath skin after surgery. Usually resolves naturally but may require drainage.
Silicone: Medical-grade material used in breast implants and other implants. Modern cohesive gel silicone maintains form even if implant shell ruptures.
Suture: Medical thread used to close incisions or secure tissues during surgery. May be absorbable (dissolves naturally) or permanent (requires removal).
Swelling (Edema): Normal post-surgical fluid accumulation in tissues. Subsides progressively over weeks to months depending on procedure.
Tissue Expander: Temporary device placed beneath skin and gradually inflated to stretch tissue, commonly used in breast reconstruction before permanent implant placement.
Tumescent Technique: Liposuction method injecting large volumes of
diluted anesthetic solution into fat before removal, reducing bleeding and discomfort.
Ultrasound-Assisted Liposuction (UAL): Liposuction technique using ultrasonic energy to liquefy fat before removal, particularly effective for fibrous areas and male body contouring.
Undermining: Surgical separation of skin from underlying tissues, allowing repositioning or removal of excess tissue during procedures like facelift or abdominoplasty.
Questions About Terminology?
If you encounter unfamiliar terms during your consultation or research, please ask Dr. Sayah or our staff for clarification. We want you to fully understand every aspect of your procedure, from medical terminology to what to expect throughout your journey.
Contact Chrisalys to schedule your consultation at our Beverly Hills practice serving patients throughout Los Angeles. Dr. Sayah will explain all relevant terminology, procedures, and recommendations in clear, understandable language.
