ABLATE
In medicine this term can be used to refer generally to a surgeon going in to excise, amputate, or otherwise destroy the biological function of a portion of the body such as an area of body tissue. It is frequently used to refer to the vaporization of tissue by a laser.
ABLATION
Ablation is the removal of material from the surface of an object by vaporization, chipping, or some other erosive process. Ablation of tissue by a laser is the most common meaning in the oculoplastic and non-surgical rejuvenation context.
ABRASIVES
These are substances that can be carefully chosen and blended into medical cosmetic products to smooth or polish the surface of the skin essentially by wearing away imperfections.
ACTIVEFX
ActiveFX is a single-treatment solution for younger-looking skin performed with a fractional laser procedure with minimal patient downtime. During the procedure, a high-energy beam of laser light is used to smooth out lines, wrinkles, and scars, remove brown spots and other irregularities, and tighten the skin. It also stimulates formation of new underlying collagen to continue improvement over time. Only a fraction of the skin's surface is treated by the laser, leaving small "bridges" of untouched skin. This technique makes the healing process much faster and enables you to get back to normal activities sooner. Patient benefits of this treatment include: immediate skin tightening, reduced wrinkles and fine lines, softening of deeper frown lines, improved skin tone and texture, and a “plumping” of the skin.
AESTHETIC
This is an adjective referring to anything of, relating to, or dealing with the beautiful, artistic, or pleasing in appearance. It can also be a noun referring to a person that is particularly appreciative of, responsive to, or zealous about the beautiful and what is pleasurable to the senses.
AGE SPOTS
Age spots can also be referred to as liver spots or solar lentigines. They are typically flat and brown or gray-black in color and vary in size. Age spots most often appear on the face, hands, shoulders, and arms because these areas most exposed to sun, and are more common over the age of 40. These spots can be cosmetically lightened or removed, and often prevented by using sunscreen.
ALLERGAN
Allergan, Inc. is a multi-specialty health care company focused on discovering, developing and commercializing innovative pharmaceuticals, biologics, medical devices and over-the-counter consumer products that enable people to live life to its greatest potential. It focuses on fostering deep engagement with medical specialists to advance patient care.
ANTIOXIDANT
These are substances that slow the rate of oxidation reactions. Some antioxidants act as chelating agents to sequester the metal ions that catalyse oxidation reactions. Others inhibit the oxidation reaction by removing oxygen free radicals. Naturally occurring antioxidants include vitamin E and β-carotene which can limit the cell and tissue damage caused by foreign substances, such as toxins and pollutants, in the body.
BIOCOMPATIBLE
A biocompatible material is a synthetic or natural material used to replace part of a living system or to function in intimate contact with living tissue. Biocompatible materials are intended to interface with biological systems to evaluate, treat, augment or replace tissues, organs or functions of the body.
BLEPHAROPLASTY
Blepharoplasty is surgery to repair droopy eyelids by removing excess skin, muscle and fat. Aging causes eyelids to stretch and the muscles supporting them to weaken. As a result, excess fat may gather above and below a patient’s eyelids, causing sagging eyebrows, drooping upper lids and bags under the eyes. Besides making you look older, severely sagging skin around your eyes can impair your vision. Blepharoplasty is typically performed on an outpatient basis.
BOTANICALLY BASED
Most skins specialists will recommend botanically based (more natural formulations made from plants) cleansers and products when the skin is in any fragile or exposed condition. The reason is that when skin has been exposed to harsh chemical substances, injury, or a rough environment; it begins to be restructured from its foundation. In such condition herbal products facilitate gentle reconditioning of the skin that helps create and reinforce a protective layer in a natural way. Botanically based cleansers include botanicals, vitamins and naturally based surfactants that deep clean the skin without removing natural moisture. Immediately after heavy therapy, skin needs to be nourished gently so that it develops strength to protect itself from impurities. Strong chemically based cleansers, toners or moisturizers can disrupt these mechanisms.
BOTOX
Botox is a highly purified preparation of botulinum toxin A, a natural toxin produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum. When Botox is injected in very small amounts into specific muscles, it blocks the transmission of nerve impulses to muscles and so paralyzes them. Botox is a brand name that has passed into popular usage as a synonym for Botulinum toxin, as Xerox has for the copy machine.
CALCIUM-BASED FILLERS
There are three basic types of dermal fillers. The first are composed with Hyaluronic Acids (HA), a natural complex sugar found in all living organisms. The second are based on collagen, a fibrous protein, which typically are used in conjunction with an HA. The third are based on calcium, a soft silvery white element that is an alkaline earth metal. Radiesse is the most common calcium-based filler and is unique as it has been shown to cause collagenesis – additional collagen production – in patients after treatment.
CALCIUM-BASED MICROSPHERES also CALCIUM HYDROXYLAPATITE (CAHA) MICROSPHERES
These are tiny spheres of calcium-based material suspended in water that form the Radiesse® dermal filler. These very small, smooth calcium hydroxylapatite (CaHA) microspheres are suspended in a water-based gel carrier that over time allows the patient’s own soft tissue to replace it to form a new collagen matrix.
CAPILLARIES
These are the smallest of the human body's blood vessels. They are only 1 cell thick, measuring 5-10 μm in diameter, and connect arterioles and venules to enable the exchange of water, oxygen, carbon dioxide, and many other nutrient and waste chemical substances between blood and surrounding tissues.
CE MARK CERTIFICATION
This is the mandatory conformance mark on many products placed on the single market in the European Economic Area (EEA) that certifies a product has met European Directives regarding consumer safety, health and/or environmental requirements.
CHRONIC
This term describes an illness or medical condition that lasts over a long period of time and sometimes causes a long-term change in the body.
CLARISONIC
Pacific Bioscience Laboratories’ mission is to develop technically advanced and clinically proven products that make a clear difference in skin care. With the Clarisonic line, they revolutionize skin care in the same way sonic technology forever changed how millions care for their teeth and gums. Pacific Bioscience Laboratories was established by scientists, engineers, and the primary inventor of the Sonicare toothbrush, one of the best received sonic-based consumer products of all time.
CLARISONIC SKIN CLEANING BRUSH
This brush oscillates back and forth at a sonic frequency of more than 300 movements per second with two dynamic zones that work with the skin, not against it. Zone 1 is for deep cleansing with a flexing action between the outer and inner brushes that works deep within the pores to loosen dirt and oil. Zone 2 is for clarifying with a back and forth oscillating motion of the inner brush to clean, clarify and stimulate the skin. The Clarisonic brush actually flexes the pores as it cleans and clarifies the skin.
CLEANSERS
A cleanser is a detergent, powder, or other chemical agent that removes dirt, oils, and/or stains. In our context, they are typically delivered as a skin lotion or cream used to clean the face.
COLLAGEN
This is a natural protein used as injectable filler for soft tissue augmentation. It is the principal protein of the skin, tendons, cartilage, bone and connective tissue.
COLLAGEN CONTRACTION
Getting collagen to contract can produce a cosmetic enhancement to a patient for a period of time.
COLLAGEN REMODELING
This term refers to the alteration of the structure of the collagen within the patient that can provide a much longer lasting cosmetic improvement.
COLLAGENESIS also COLLAGEN STIMULATION
This is the process of stimulating a patient’s own collagen to grow. This is often perceived as “plumping” the skin as new collagen is produced.
WOOLFSON COSMETIC CONSULTATION
This is your consultation with your Woolfson doctor where your medical condition and history and current aesthetic case and desires are reviewed to begin to craft a customized treatment plan for you.
CONTOURS
Contours are a common method used to denote elevation or altitude and depth on maps of surfaces. From these contours, a sense of the general terrain can be determined. In this context, it refers to the map of one’s facial features including furrows and creases that can be smoothed or reconfigured at Woolfson Cosmetic.
COSMETIC SURGERY
This is surgery to modify or improve the aesthetic appearance of a physical feature or irregularity. (Sometimes this term is more broadly applied to include reconstructive surgery after an injury or trauma as well.)
CUSTOMIZED LASER TREATMENT
Woolfson Cosmetic understands that these laser treatment procedures, as is true of all cosmetic procedures, can never be “one size fits all”. This has driven us to seek out the advanced technologies and techniques required to deliver you the Woolfson Cosmetic Difference, through laser treatments customized precisely to the needs of your case and to your aesthetic sensibilities.
DEEMED STATUS FROM THE CENTERS FOR MEDICARE AND MEDICAID SERVICES
In order for a healthcare organization to participate in the Medicare or Medicaid programs, it must be certified as complying with the Conditions of Participation (CoP) standards set forth in federal regulations. This certification is based on a survey conducted by a state agency on behalf of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Woolfson Eye Institute, however, is accredited by national accrediting organizations such as the Joint Commission which enforce standards beyond the federal Conditions of Participation and therefore has been granted "deemed status" from CMS.
DEEPFX
The DeepFX operational modality of the UltraPulse Fractional CO2 laser is used to treat very deep wrinkles and scars.
DERMAL FILLER
As we age, the dermis (our skin) gradually loses its major constituents: collagen, elastin and hyaluronic acid. Collagen acts as the major support protein for our skin, elastin allows our skin to stay firm and resist wrinkles, and hyaluronic acid helps to trap water and add volume and shape. Dermal fillers reverse these changes associated with aging by restoring some of these constituents back into the dermis. Dermal fillers are being used to reduce or eliminate wrinkles, raise scar depressions, enhance lips, and replace soft-tissue volume loss.
DERMIS
This is the layer of skin beneath epidermis, the outermost protective layer of the skin. It is the thick sensitive layer of skin containing blood, lymph vessels, sweat glands, and nerve endings.
DNA MOLECULES
DNA is the acronym for deoxyribonucleic acid, an extremely long macromolecule serving as the main component of chromosomes, which transfers genetic characteristics in people (and more broadly in all living things). The genetic information is encoded in the sequence of the bases and transcribed as the strands unwind to replicate.
DYSPORT
Dysport is an injectable treatment for wrinkles made from the botulinum toxin type A. It received FDA approval for use as a wrinkle treatment in the spring of 2009. It was originally developed in the 1990s to treat neuromuscular disorders. Dysport is injected directly into the muscles that cause facial wrinkles, temporarily immobilizing them and specifically targets the ones that form creases on your forehead when you frown. Dysport spreads farther from the injection point than Botox. This means that fewer injections are needed, but the doctor doing the injections must be more skilled to ensure it does not spread to nearby muscles and cause eyelid and/or eyebrow drooping or other unwanted side effects.
ELASTICITY
This is the ability of a substance to return quickly to its original shape and size after being bent, stretched, squashed, or otherwise misshaped.
ELECTROLYSIS
This, generally, is a removal technique using electricity. More specifically, it is the use of an electric current applied though a needle to remove body hair for cosmetic purposes. (The same technique can also be used to destroy warts, moles, or tumors for medical reasons.)
EYE CREAMS
Over time, signs of aging become apparent around delicate eye area as the underlying tissue thins and loses elasticity, causing a loss of firmness and the eyelids to droop. Medical eye creams can lift eyelids, firm skin around eyes, and reduce puffiness.
EYE REDNESS
A red appearance on the sclera (white) of the eye or eyes due to enlarged, irritated or swollen blood vessels.
FACIAL FILLER also DERMAL FILLERS or INJECTABLES
Facial fillers are temporary to longer-lasting solutions administered through a few tiny injections in specific areas of the face. This can be an effective and less invasive alternative to plastic surgery. Various types of facial fillers are available with each designed for specific purposes. Your Woolfson Cosmetic team will work with you to determine which facial fillers will provide you with optimal non-surgical rejuvenation.
FDA APPROVED also FDA CLEARED
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is the U.S. agency that tests, evaluates, and approves drugs and medical devices. FDA approval is specific to a procedure. Other, non-approved applications are referred to as “Off-Label” use.
FRACTIONAL LASER PROCEDURE also FRACTIONAL PHOTOTHERMOLYSIS
Fractional laser resurfacing is a relatively new method of skin rejuvenation in which the ablated areas of the skin are precisely spaced out at a microscopic level, leaving some skin perfectly intact while other zones are heat treated. During healing, as the tiny spots of treated skin replace the older destroyed cells with newer healthier ones, the untreated areas maintain tissue stability. This allows for quicker recovery. Of course the ratio of affected to unaffected skin cells must be carefully configured by your Woolfson Cosmetic team. This technique allows the results of higher energy lasers with the greater safety and faster recovery time of lower energy treatments.
FREE RADICALS
This is a chemical term for any atom or molecule that has a single unpaired electron in an outer shell making most of them highly reactive. Free radical damage is therefore closely associated with oxidative damage and antioxidants limit oxidative damage by passivizing the free radicals. The free-radical theory of aging says organisms age because cells accumulate free radical damage over time.
FROWN LINES
Technically known as glabellar lines, these are vertical folds of skin that deepen as we age and our dermis (skin) loses more and more of its collagen and elasticity. In addition to age, sun exposure and unlucky DNA can also cause deepening frown lines to form permanently on the forehead between the eyebrows with the perception to others that you are always unduly stern.
GOLD SEAL OF ACCREDITATION FROM THE JOINT COMMISSION
This is a prestigious accreditation issued and administered by the Joint Commission that can be earned by many types of health care organizations, including hospitals, doctor’s offices, nursing homes, office-based surgery centers, behavioral health treatment facilities, and providers of home care services.
GROWTH FACTORS
A growth factor is a naturally occurring substance, typically a protein or a steroid hormone, capable of stimulating cellular growth, proliferation, and differentiation. They often act as signaling molecules between cells that bind to specific receptors on the surface of specific target cells.
HEMOSTASIS
This typically refers to the changing of blood from a fluid to a solid state, but looking deeper it is a complex process which causes the bleeding process to stop which is critical to keeping blood within a damaged blood vessel. The opposite of hemostasis is hemorrhage.
HEREDITY
Heredity is the transmission of traits from parents to offspring through genes that are found within all living cells.
HIGH-ENERGY SHORT PULSE
This refers to a unique laser capability that produces a sustainable high pulse power with extremely short-pulse durations to ablate tissue instantly all the way to reach effective dermal depths with sufficient coagulation to promote collagen remodeling. When addressing moderate to severe wrinkles, true high-energy short-pulsed CO2 technology has proven to be the superior modality.
HORMONAL PRODUCTION
A hormone, taken from Greek for "impetus", is a chemical released by a cell or a gland that sends out messages that affect cells in other parts of the body. Cells respond to a hormone when they possess a specific receptor protein for that hormone. Just a tiny amount of hormone can trigger significant metabolic responses, so controlling hormonal production levels is critical.
HYALURONIC ACID
Hyaluronic acid is distributed widely throughout connective, epithelial, and neural tissues. It forms in the plasma membrane and relatively speaking can be very large in terms of molecular weight. It supports cellular reproduction and migration. In the human body, roughly one-third of the supply of hyaluronic acid is replenished each day.
HYDRELLE
This is an injectable form of hyaluronic acid gel designed to reduce unwanted facial wrinkles. In addition to its high concentration of hyaluronic acid, it also contains the local anesthetic lidocaine for greater patient comfort.
HYPER-PIGMENTATION
Hyperpigmentation is a common, typically harmless condition causing patches of skin to become darker in color than the surrounding skin. This is from an excess of melanin, the brown pigment that produces skin color, forming deposits. Hyperpigmentation can affect the skin of people of any race. Age or "liver" spots are a common form of hyperpigmentation occurring from sun damage.
HYPERSENSITIVITY
This is a state of altered reactivity causing the body to over-react with a more extreme immune response than would typically be triggered by a given foreign substance.
INFLAMMATORY or INFLAMMATION
Taken from the Latin for “to set on fire”, inflammation is the tissue's reaction to trauma often with pain, heat, redness, swelling, or loss of function. Inflammation may be caused by trauma, infections, immune reactions, and other causes. ”-itis” at the ending of a term typically means inflammation.
INJECTABLE FILLERS
This is a synonym for dermal filler or facial filler.
INNOVATOR
This is someone or some company that helps to open up a new line of research or technology.
INTENSE PULSED LIGHT (IPL)
IPL laser (Intense Pulsed Light) is also known as photorejuvenation or photofacial and can be used to treat sun damage, wrinkles, stretch marks, and age spots. Additionally, IPL can be used for laser hair removal where it achieves greatest hair reduction for darkly pigmented hair follicles. There are nearing a half million IPL laser treatments given each year.
INTRADERMALLY
This simply means in or into the skin. An intradermal injection is given into the skin as opposed to applying a substance epicutaneously or on the skin, subcutaneously or just under the skin, or intramuscularly in the body of the muscle.
ITCHY EYES
An irritating sensation on the eye or eyes causing a desire to scratch.
JUVÉDERM
JUVÉDERM is a facial filler from Allergan. It is an injectable gel in several forms (including JUVÉDERM® Ultra, JUVÉDERM® Ultra Plus, JUVÉDERM® Ultra XC, and JUVÉDERM® Ultra Plus XC) indicated for the correction of moderate to severe facial wrinkles and folds including nasolabial folds. Treatment side effects are usually mild to moderate, lasting 7 days or less, and typically related to temporary injection-site reactions such as redness, pain, firmness, swelling, and bumps.
JUVÉDERM ULTRA PLUS
This gel is a colorless hyaluronic acid gel that is injected into facial tissue to smooth wrinkles and folds, especially around the nose and mouth. Hyaluronic acid is a naturally occurring sugar found in the human body hat acts to deliver nutrients, hydrate the skin by holding in water, and to act as a cushioning agent.
KNOWLEDGE BASE
This is an organized repository of knowledge, typically in a computer system, which often contains key concepts and data relevant to a particular topic or need.
LASER AESTHETIC TREATMENT
These treatments use laser light to penetrate beneath the skin to the dermis where the laser energy encourages the production of collagen and facilitates skin renewal from within. These treatments can have positive effects on age spots, acne, veins, redness, sun damage, minor wrinkles, scars, and poor skin texture.
LATISSETM
LATISSETM is a prescription treatment used to enhance eyelashes length, thickness and color.
LIDOCAINE
Lidocaine is a common local anesthetic drug given topically or by injection.
LOWER BLEPHAROPLASTY
In this lower eyelid surgery, the surgeon makes the incision in an inconspicuous site along the lashline and smile creases of the lower lid. Excess fat, muscle, and skin are then trimmed away before the incision is closed with fine sutures. When sutures are used to close this kind of incision, they are typically invisible to the eye and are self-dissolving, leaving no visible scar.
LUMENIS
In offering the benefits of advances in light-based medical technology to patients, Lumenis has installed over 70,000 leading-edge systems in more than 100 countries and has invested far more in R&D than any other company in the industry with over 250 Patents Worldwide.
LUMENIS® ONE IPL PLATFORM
This is the IPL laser platform that offers the widest spectrum of energy across the broadest range of applications to give Woolfson Cosmetic a superior mix of strength, precision and versatility with unprecedented precision.
LUMENIS® ULTRAPULSE FRACTIONAL CO2 LASER
The UltraPulse is the most versatile laser system available of its type. It is capable of offering the full range of fractional resurfacing from a small deep spot microablative treatment through a large, superficial spot treatment. This allows for total outcome optimization in the treatment of scars, fine lines, texture, dyschromia and deep wrinkles. The complete control of depth per spot, density of scanned spots, spot shape, and pattern size make this system extremely versatile. It also has 34 cleared FDA indications for Aesthetic uses.
MARIONETTE LINES
Marionette lines appear as long vertical lines around the chin. When deep, they give the face an expression of being dissatisfied, grim or even scornful. Marionette lines appear with advancing age in some people depending on their facial structure and anatomy.
MEDICAL GRADE SKIN CARE also MEDICAL SKINCARE
These are clinically evaluated and physician recommended skin care ingredients and products. They are often stronger and certainly better demonstrated to work that most off the shelf products. Many are only available through physicians like those here at WEI Cosmetic.
MOISTURIZERS AND MOISTURIZER ENHANCERS
Moisturizers are complex mixtures of natural and artificial chemical agents specially designed to make the epidermis softer and more elastic by increasing its hydration. These typically include skin lipids and sterols as well as oils, humectants, emollients, and lubricants. Moisturizers and enhancers can offer several additional benefits including building a barrier against ongoing water loss, repairing damaged skin resulting from environmental wear, and postponing age effects on the skin.
NASOLABIAL FOLDS
The nasolabial folds, commonly known as "smile lines" or "laugh lines", are the two skin folds that run from each side of the nose to the corner of the mouth to separate the cheeks from the upper lip and typically become aesthetically undesirable with ageing. As we age, there is excess skin, skin thinning, and excess cheek fat that most often exaggerate the nasolabial folds.
NON-ABLATIVE
Non-ablative, most literally means “without removing”. Ablative lasers (such as CO2 lasers) use heat and light to vaporize damaged cells from the surface of the skin and penetrate deeper layers. Non-ablative lasers (such as Intense Pulsed Light and Broad Based Light) use light to penetrate beneath the skin without removing outer layers.
NON-SURGICAL REJUVENATION
Although plastic surgery is an excellent means to a person’s aesthetic desires, many people don’t want surgery, can’t afford surgery, or are too young to truly require surgery. Also, many people have had surgery and just need additional care to maintain the results. The core treatments in non-surgical rejuvenation include a skin care system that makes positive changes, injectable products, and lasers. This is a combination that can push off more invasive surgery for many years. This is also a very common choice for patients. In 2005, as an example, the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery recorded 11.5 million cosmetic procedures being performed with 9.3 million of them being non-surgical.
OCULAR
This is simply an adjective relating to eyes or eyesight or to other things that may be relating to, perceived by, or performed by the eye.
OCULOPLASTIC SURGERY also OCULOPLASTICS
This is the cosmetic surgical sub-specialty that deals with the cosmetic correction and enhancement of the eye and surrounding structures. This surgical specialty focuses on the eye socket, eyelids, tear ducts, and surrounding face often including the reconstruction of the eye and these associated structures.
OUTPATIENT
This is a patient who receives treatment at a surgical facility without staying overnight.
PARTICLE
The term particle generally refers to a minute portion, piece, fragment, or amount of something such as in the phrase “particle of dust”.
PATENTED MICROSPHERE TECHNOLOGY
Refers to a patented technology to produce microspheres small enough to penetrate the skin’s outer layers and transport medical-grade compounds and other treatment ingredients deep into the skin.
PATIENT CONCIERGE
At Woolfson Cosmetic our patient concierge will attend to your needs and questions not as you would expect form a receptionist or nurse but with the focused attention expected from a hotel concierge.
PEPTIDES
Skin is made up mostly of collagen which is protein made up long chains of amino acids strung together. When it is broken down, it breaks into short segments of 3-5 amino acids called peptides. Applying peptides directly to your skin is a way to trick your skin into thinking that it has lost collagen recently and needs to make more. Also, when copper is attached to a peptide, the peptide can deliver it to the living layers of the skin, and there is research showing that copper is an effective agent in skin healing. It has been used for years to treat chronic wounds. Copper peptides may also promote collagen production and act as antioxidants.
PERIPHERAL VISION
Sometimes referred to as “side vision”, this is the ability to see objects and movement outside of the direct line of vision – the central vision. Peripheral vision is performed by the rods, nerve cells located mostly around the macula which is at the center of the retina. These rods are also responsible for night vision and low-light vision, but they cannot sense color.
PERLANE
Perlane, is a dermal filler that comes in the form of a long-lasting gel. Once injected into the skin with an ultra-fine needle, Perlane lifts and adds volume to diminish fine lines. It is made of a natural substance called hyaluronic acid that supplements the body's age-depleted hyaluronic acid to “fill in” the wrinkles being treated. The only significant difference between Restylane and Perlane is the size of the particle. Perlane contains more hyaluronic acid, so it does a better job of filling deep lines.
PFB also PSEUDOFOLLICULITIS also PSEUDOFOLLICULITIS BARBAE also RAZOR BUMPS
This is a common condition of the beard area. It affects almost 60% of African American men and other people with curly hair. Highly curved hairs grow back into the skin causing inflammation that, over time can cause keloidal scarring. Because shaving sharpens the ends of the hairs, it exaggerates this condition.
PHOTO REJUVENATION
This is a treatment to correct photoaging – aging induced by sun and other forms of light exposure. Photorejuvenation leverages intense pulsed light or other thermal or chemical methods to treat the skin conditions including wrinkles arising from photoaging. Typically, the process wounds the skin thereby prompting it to heal itself with the creation of new cells.
PHOTODAMAGE
This is damage to the skin caused by exposure to ultraviolet radiation.
PIGMENTATION
The pigment in the skin reacts to the sun and is responsible for skin color. It can also be responsible for spots appearing to be atypically light or dark on the skin. Pigment spots are simply areas of too little (depigmentation) or too much (hyperpigmentation) pigment occurring in “spots” on the skin and in many cases can be treated at Woolfson Cosmetic.
PORES
These are the minute openings or orifices in the skin that allow for perspiration, absorption, etc.
PROTEIN ANTIOXIDANT PRODUCTS
The skin is largely composed of collagen which is protein that can break down into peptides. Medical skincare products, however, can manipulate these processes to maintain a more youthful appearance. (More information is found in the definition of peptides.)
PULSE ENERGY
This is typically a higher-power but shorter duration emission from a laser that is carefully modulated to achieve the desired cosmetic effects.
RADIESSE
This is an FDA approved filler composed of calcium hydroxylapatite microspheres that lasts approximately a year in the face since its material broken down very slowly by the body. This material induces collagen stimulation but there is no evidence that new collagen persists once the body has removed the Radiesse. Due to the tissue response, it is essential that this material not be placed too close to the skin surface which can create visible irregularities.
REJUVENATION
This is the process of restoring a youthful vigor or appearance. In addition to referring to making young again, this term also connotes restoring to an earlier condition.
RESTYLANE
Restylane is the commercial name for a range of dermal fillers formulated of non-animal sourced hyaluronic acid. In the United States, Restylane was the first hyaluronic acid filler to be approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for cosmetic injection into sub dermal facial tissues, and has been used in over 11 million treatments worldwide.
RETINOL
This is a fat-soluble carotenoid vitamin (vitamin A), present in fish oils and green vegetables. It is essential to normal vision and bone development.
SALICYLIC ACID
Salicylic acid is a naturally occurring acid that is commonly used as a topical treatment for a range of skin disorders. It is an ingredient in many over-the-counter and prescription skin medications that help to remove skin cells and reduce flaking and irritation.
SERUMS
In precise terms, serums are the clear portion of any liquid separated from its more solid elements. However, this term is often used more broadly to encompass any solution.
SKIN RESILIENCE
You have probably had a skin resilience test where a fold of skin is picked up and then quickly let go. The amount that it will stretch is an indication of its extensibility. The speed with which it returns to a normal position is determined by the degree of hydration of the skin and subcutaneous tissue and the amount of fat in the subcutaneous tissue, e.g. in an animal that is 10 to 12% dehydrated the skin fold will not disappear until 20 to 45 seconds have elapsed.
SKIN TONE also COMPLEXION
This is a term used to refer to the general color of one’s skin. There are darker and lighter skin tones that can be described in a number of ways, typically by associating them with common objects such as in an “olive” skin tone or complexion.
SKIN TYPES
Properly identifying patient skin types is absolutely necessary to make the right decisions about proper skin care and treatment suitable for particular skin needs. The initial quality, or type, of your skin is genetically determined, meaning that you are born with it. However, the health and beauty of skin later in life largely depends on how you take care of yourself and your skin.
SPIDER VEINS
Spider veins are small red, blue or purple veins that commonly appear on the surface of the thighs, calves and ankles. It's estimated that over a third of adult females are troubled with this common problem. Patients often seek treatment because of cosmetic concerns, but spider veins can cause other symptoms, such as aching, heaviness, itching and night cramps.
SKINCEUTICALS
SkinCeuticals mission is to improve skin health, making one simple promise to provide advanced skin care backed by science. They offer complete medical grade skin care solutions through professionals like those at Woolfson Cosmetic in the United States and over 35 countries worldwide.
SKINMEDICA
SkinMedica believes everyone deserves to have naturally radiant skin, so they have dedicated years of research to formulating advanced skin care products that rejuvenate skin. Their scientifically proven recovery compounds include essential ingredients ranging from vitamins C and E to retinol to TNS®, a patented blend of growth factors, soluble collagen, antioxidants and matrix proteins. The impact of these treatments is that lines are reduced, age spots and discoloration fade, and skin texture and elasticity is improved.
SONIC FREQUENCY
This refers to having a frequency within the audibility range of the human ear. It is used for both waves and vibrations.
SONIC TECHNOLOGY
This refers to a technology that harnesses sound waves, like Clarisonic’s use of sonic technology to clean and clarify the skin.
STRUCTURAL PROTEIN
Collagen is the key protein of the skin that provides it structure and contour.
SUNSCREENS
These are typically lotions, sprays or gels that absorb or reflect some of the sun's ultraviolet radiation when the skin is exposed to sunlight. They protect against photodamage.
TEA TREE OIL or MELALEUCA OIL
Tea tree oil, poisonous if taken internally, has beneficial medical properties when applied topically: antiseptic, antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, and beneficial cosmetic properties. It is usually diluted to avoid or reduce reactions common with pure tea tree oil.
TNS PRODUCT LINE
This is a full range of anti-aging serums, body lotions, lip plumping systems, and dermal repair creams all with the benefits of the patented growth factor serum, TNS Recovery Complex®, from SkinMedica.
TOTALFX
Total FX is a CO2 laser resurfacing process that can run the full range of deep focused treatment to shallower and less focused therapy. It can only be done with a highly flexible and surgeon controllable laser that can run through a wide range of treatments.
ULTRAPULSE CO2 LASER
This laser, used by Woolfson Cosmetic for appropriate cases, has six times the power of most CO2 lasers. However, it also supports a full spectrum of aesthetic and surgical capabilities that allow us to deliver customized laser treatments. This fractional laser platform delivers on all critical fronts: power, speed, versatility, performance and precision.
UPPER BLEPHAROPLASTY
In this upper eyelid surgery, the surgeon first marks the individual lines and creases of the lids in order to keep the scars as invisible as possible along these natural folds. The incision is made, and excess fat, muscle, and loose skin are removed. Fine sutures are used to close the incisions to minimize the visibility of any scar.
UV RAYS or ULTRAVIOLET RAYS
These are the rays from the sun that cause photodamage which will need to be addressed in rejuvenation treatments.
VARICOSE VEINS
This is a condition in which the surface veins, especially of the legs, become knotted and swollen, as a result of flaws in the valves of the affected veins. The tendency to develop this condition may be inherited, while other causes include injury, inflammation, or thrombosis
VITAMIN C or ASCORBIC ACID
This is a water-soluble vitamin. It is commonly found in fruits and leafy vegetables, but it can be made synthetically. The body can absorb and use this vitamin as an antioxidant.
VITAMIN E or TOCOPHEROL
Vitamin E is a fat-soluble vitamin occurring in eight isomers that is an important antioxidant. Vitamin E is often used in skin creams and lotions because it plays a role in encouraging skin healing and reducing scarring after injuries such as burns.
WAVELENGTH
In physics this represents the distance between two points on adjacent waves that have the same phase, e.g. the distance between two consecutive peaks or troughs. In this context it is related to lasers and the waves of energy that they are producing.
WEI AMBULATORY SURGERY CENTER (ASC)
This is Woolfson Eye Institute’s (WEI) unique facility for performing Cosmetic surgery. It is exclusive to our patients, state-of-the-art, and far more comfortable than other outpatient surgical facilities or hospitals. We refer you to the ASC section of the website for more details.
In more general terms, an ASC is a medical facility staffed with health professionals similarly to conventional surgery departments in major hospitals. However, ASCs are focused on procedures that do not require overnight hospitalization. Most patients who are in relatively good health may receive treatment at ambulatory surgery centers which can be part of a general hospital, a specialty hospital, or an independent medical facility with prearranged hospital support. The Woolfson Eye Institute ASC is exclusive to our patients and affords far more comfort and convenience.
