The following terms are used within the curriculum for the course. This glossary is provided for your convenience and to ensure understanding of the material.
a | |
| Abdominoplasty | cosmetic surgery procedure that involves the removal of excess skin and fat from the middle and lower abdomen in order to tighten the muscle and fascia of the abdominal wall; tummy tuck. |
| Adipocyte | specialized cells that store fat as energy; the major constituent of adipose tissue; lipocyte |
| Adipose | related to, or composed of, fat |
| Apoptosis | programmed cell death |
| Atherosclerosis | gradual inflammatory process in which cholesterol and scar tissue form plaque that narrows arteries and clogs the blood vessels |
c | |
| Cooling Intensity Factor (CIF) | measure of the rate of heat extraction from a tissue; a high CIF represents a higher rate of heat extraction or a colder cycle |
| Coronary Artery Disease | end result of the accumulation of atheromatous plaques within the walls of the coronary arteries that supply the myocardium (the muscle of the heart) with oxygen and nutrients; sometimes called coronary heart disease (CHD), but although CAD is the most common cause of CHD, it is not the only cause |
| Cryoglobulinemia | disorder characterized by precipitation of immunoglobulins upon cooling, associated with clonal B-cell abnormalities and hepatitis C infections |
| Cryolipolysis | lipolysis through controlled cooling |
d | |
| Dermal | of or relating to the dermis, the layer of skin between the epidermis and subcutaneous tissues, which is composed of the papillary and reticular dermis; structural components of the dermis include collagen, elastic fibers, and extrafibrillar matrix (previously called ground substance) |
e | |
| Embolus | an obstruction causing an embolism: a blood clot, air bubble or other matter carried by the blood stream and causing a blockage or occlusion of a blood vessel |
| Epidermal | of or relating to the epidermis, the thin, outermost layer of the skin |
| Erythema | abnormal redness of the skin resulting from dilation of blood vessels |
f | |
| Fat Embolus | an embolism caused by fat entering the circulatory system; most often as a result of surgery or trauma (eg, breaking a bone) |
g | |
| Gelpad | pad that provides a thermal contact between the applicator and the patient’s skin during a lipolysis through controlled cooling procedure |
h | |
| Hematoma | large bruise or collection of blood under the skin, producing discoloration and swelling in the area. It is usually caused by trauma |
| Hemoglobulinuria | presence of hemoglobin in the urine |
i | |
| Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) | focused, broad-spectrum light applied to the skin surface that is used by skin care practitioners to treat acne rosacea, aging skin, acne, and other conditions |
l | |
| Lipolysis | breakdown of lipids (fats) into fatty acids and glycerol |
m | |
| Melanocyte | cell in the basal layer of the epidermis that produces melanin under the control of the melanocyte-stimulating hormone |
| Morbidly Obese | having excessive body fat; life-threatening obesity |
p | |
| Paroxysmal | of or relating to a sudden recurrence or intensification of symptoms; a spasm or seizure |
| Pulmonary Embolus | embolism or obstruction of a pulmonary artery, usually by a detached blood clot from a leg or pelvic vein, which causes a stoppage of blood into the lungs |
r | |
| Radiofrequency (RF) | subset of electromagnetic radiation with a wavelength of 100km to 1mm, which is a frequency of 300 Hz to 3000 GHz, respectively; used in aesthetic medicine to heat skin to denature collagen and to heat subcutaneous tissue, such as fat |
| Rippling | appearance of ridges or wrinkles in the skin as a result of a cosmetic procedure |
s | |
| Seroma | pocket of clear serous fluid that sometimes develops in the body after surgery such as liposuction; when small blood vessels are ruptured, blood plasma can seep out; inflammation caused by dying injured cells also contributes to the fluid |
| Skin Elasticity | tendency of skin to return to its original shape and position after it has been stretched or compressed |
| Subcutaneous | beneath the skin |
v | |
| Visceral | associated with organs within the body's cavities; eg, the stomach is a viscus within the abdominal cavity, and is covered with a lining called the visceral peritoneum |