Glossary of Terms

Acne:Skin condition in which there is an over production of sebum (oil) or skin debris that clogs the pores creating inflamed pustules. Acne can be treated with a variety of skin procedures including: SilkPeel® rejuvenation treatment, chemical peels, or acne light therapy.

Acne Discoloration: Residual effect of past acne lesions. Areas of brown or reddish pigment (darker than surrounding pigment) on the skin caused by past trauma of improper acne extraction.

Acne Light: Topical phototherapy that utilizes regular applications of specific wavelength of laser light to kill the acne causing bacteria deep within the pores.

Acne Scars: Scarring resulting from wound healing in which too much collagen is produced in one spot. There are four types of scarring caused by severe acne: ice pick scars, rolling scars, boxcar scars, and hypertrophic/keliod scars.

Age Spots: Skin blemishes, also known as liver spots, caused by aging and sun damage which appear as brownish areas of concentrated melanin.

Birthmark: Areas of concentrated blood vessels underneath the skin that form before birth. Common types of birthmarks include: café au lait spots, congenital melancytic nevus, mogolian blue spots, port wine stains, and hemangiomas.

Birthmark Removal: Cosmetic laser treatment used to remove small, non-vascular birth marks through several treatments. Results of laser birthmark removal can be obtained in as little as three laser treatments and is safe for all skin types.

Blackheads: Pores clogged with pigmented debris that appear as dark specks on the face and body.

Botox®: Injectable cosmetic wrinkle treatment made from a purified form of botulinum toxin A. Botox® may be used in facial rejuvenation to temporarily reduce the appearance of forehead wrinkles and wrinkles around the eyes.

Broken Blood Vessels: Often the result of trauma, broken blood vessels commonly appear as a bluish-purple bruises that are highly visible on thinner, aging skin.

Broken Capillaries: Reddish pink thread-like vessels under the skin’s surface occurring when walls of capillaries narrow and widen too quickly tearing muscles. Broken capillaries can be remedied with laser vein removal.

Cellulite: Uneven distributions of fat underneath the skin that cause a dimpled, rough appearance of skin. Cellulite can be reduced surgically through liposuction or topically with Viora Reaction™.

Chemical Peels: Skin treatment which uses the application of carefully combined acids to remove damaged layers of facial skin and improve the appearance of skin conditions such as: dry skin, wrinkling, acne , and hyperpigmentation.

Chronic Condition: A condition or disease that lasts for an extended period of time, as opposed to a short-term condition , not usually contagious and sometimes genetic.

Collagen: Protein within the skin that adds youthful volume and elasticity. As the aging process progresses, the amount of collagen produced and maintained by the body decreases and results in the appearance of wrinkles. Collagen production can be increased through laser skin resurfacing, chemical peels, and SilkPeel® rejuvenation treatment.

Complexion: Term used to describe the skin’s appearance, including texture and color (skin tone).
Consultation: A meeting with the physician or qualified treatment provider to discuss goals and determine which procedure would best suit a patient’s needs. Potential benefits, risks, and side effects are discussed at this time and patients’ questions are answered.

C02 Fractionated Laser: Laser skin resurfacing treatment which uses short, concentrated microscopic columns of light to penetrate deeply into the skin and boost collagen production and heal skin conditions such as wrinkles, melasma, and birth marks.

CoolGlide: Type of YAG laser used in laser hair removal with the advantage of treating all skin types and complexions.

Crow’s feet: Wrinkles that appear around the eyes from repeated squinting or smiling. The appearance of crow’s feet can be reduced through Botox® and Dysport® injections, laser skin resurfacing, and other facial rejuvenation procedures.

Customized Facials: Combination of natural, plant-based topical ingredients applied to the face to address a patient’s specific skin condition(s). Laser Lights commonly recommends customized facial s for acne, anti-aging, moisturizing, and skin clarification.

Dermis: The layers of the skin between the epidermis and the deeper layers of tissue.

Dysport®: Injectable protein wrinkle treatment derived from bacterium Clostridium botulinum to relax fine lines and wrinkles of the forehead for up to six months.

Electrolysis: Cosmetic treatment which removes unwanted hair by streaming an electric current to the hairs’ roots. Suitable for all hair colors, including blonde (unlike laser hair removal).

Endermologie®: Cellulite reduction treatment utilizing powerful suction and vibration from a hand held piece that boosts circulation and reduces the appearance of subcutaneous fat deposits on the lower abdomen, hips, and buttocks.

Epidermis: The outermost layer of the skin, the epidermis acts as a barrier between the body’s important structures and the outside environment.

Erbium Laser: Cosmetic laser treatment used to reduce the appearance of bags and dark circles under the eyes. Unlike the stronger Fraxel laser, the Erbium Laser only penetrates the first few layers of delicate skin to increase collagen production and reduce the dark circles.

Extraction: The clearing of pore debris by a trained aesthetician. The technician may or may not use instruments to assist them in removing the pore blockages.

Facial Enhancements: Any cosmetic facial rejuvenation procedure which addresses a cosmetic issue. Common facial enhancements include facial cosmetic surgery, peels and facials, and dermal injections.

Facial Hair Removal: Cosmetic process which removes unwanted hair on the beard, neck, side burns, or upper lip of men and women. Common facial hair removal procedures include laser hair removal, electrology, and waxing.

Facial resurfacing: Cosmetic skin procedure which utilizes lasers, chemicals, or manual instruments to strip the dead layers of skin from the face and reveal rejuvenated layers beneath. Resurfacing often performed to combat the appearance of wrinkles, dull skin, hyperpigmentation, and acne.

Facial veins: Small blood vessels underneath the skin of the face that can be treated with laser vein removal or sclerotherapy if deemed unsightly.

Facial fillers: Injectable gel treatments composed of natural (collagen) and man-made components (hylaruonic acid) used in facial rejuvenation to reduce or eliminate wrinkles, fill scar depressions, enhance lips, and replace lost volume. Laser Lights offers Restylane®, Perlane®, Juvederm®, and Radiesse® dermal fillers.

Fascia- Connective tissue, similar to the fibrous nature of collagen and elastin, that joins muscle to bone throughout the body.

Fitzpatrick skin type scale: A scale that classifies the skin type based on genetic factors, reaction to sun exposure, and sun exposure habits.

Fraxel®: laser type unique in its ability to target very specific areas, leaving surrounding skin undamaged. Fraxel laser treatments used to minimize scar tissue, hyperpigmentation, and wrinkles.

Freckles: Spots of concentrated melanin that vary in color (usually brown.)

Freckle/Brown Spot Removal: Freckle removal utilizes a laser to fade and eliminate the areas of concentrated pigment.

Frown Lines: deep furrows along the sides of the mouth that result from repeated frowning expressions. Also known as marionette lines, frown lines can be reduced through laser skin resurfacing and dermal injections.

Fuller Cheeks: Cosmetic change in which an individual’s hollowed cheeks are revolumized with dermal injection of Juvederm® or like facial filler.

Fuller Lips: Cosmetic change in which the lips are injected with a natural collagen material or dermal filler (Restylane® or Juvederm®) to boost lost volume.

Health and Wellness program: Customized fitness / nutrition plan through Laser Lights and an area personal trainer to aid patients in making healthy, long-term lifestyle changes and losing weight.

Hollow Cheeks: Cosmetic condition in which the fat and collagen within the cheeks has begun to decrease due to aging. Volume may be added back to cheeks with injections of facial filler to give the appearance of more youthful skin.

Human Papilloma Virus (HPV): A viral infection and member of the papillomavirus family, HPV produces infection in the skin or mucous membranes.

Hyperpigmentation: Areas of skin that are darker in color than surrounding tissue caused by sun exposure, genetics, medications, and some scarring.

Hypopigmentation: Areas of skin void of any pigment. Often develops in response to trauma (i.e.- skin cancer surgery, burn, or chemical peel.)

Juvederm®: Injectable gel made of hylaruonic acid which reduces deeper lines and wrinkles of the face. The gel consistency also makes Juvederm® useful as a filler to increase volume in thinned cheeks.

Kirby-Desai tattoo removal scale: A scale that measures six factors—skin type; tattoo location, color and size; and any scarring or layering of the tattoo—to determine the number of laser treatments needed to completely remove a tattoo.

Large Pores: Cosmetic skin condition in which the skin’s pores appear over sized. Application of a toner substance to constrict the pores or laser skin resurfacing may be used to reduce the pores’ appearance.

Laser Hair Removal: Cosmetic laser treatment used to remove unwanted face and body hair. Laser light is attracted to the pigment within the follicles of unwanted hair; permanently or semi-permanently impairing future hair growth with several regular applications to the desired area(s).

Laser Vein Treatments: Cosmetic laser treatment in which the application of laser light is used to remove unsightly spider and varicose veins on the face and legs.

Latisse®: FDA approved topical cosmetic treatment used to darken, lengthen, and regrow eyelashes with regular application.

Ligation: Surgical excision of unsightly, improperly functioning varicose veins of the legs. Also known as vein stripping.

Melasma: Areas of hyperpigmentation or dark spots on the face caused by sun-exposure or hormone fluctuation.

SilkPeel® rejuvenation treatment: Non-surgical exfoliating procedure that smoothes and softens skin and erases mild imperfections by removing the dead, outermost layer of skin called the stratum corneum. Requires no downtime and produces immediately noticeable surface improvement.

Naso-labial Folds: Wrinkles around that appear around the mouth in reaction to repeated facial expressions and facial aging. Also known as laugh lines or smile lines.

Perlane®: Facial filler produced using hyaluronic used to eliminate facial wrinkles and fill thinning, depressed areas of the cheeks.

Photodynamic therapy (PDT): A treatment that utilizes a specific wavelength of light and a photosensitizing agent that reacts to that light by generating a form of oxygen to kill specific cells. Can be used to treat acne, pre-cancerous cells, cancer, and other skin conditions.

Phototherapy: Any skin treatment which uses the power of light to treat skin conditions and cosmetic skin issues of the face and body.

Pigmented Birthmark: Birthmarks caused by excessive growth of melanocytes, or the cells that product skin color. The most common types of pigmented birthmarks are café-au-lait spots and Mongolian spots.

Pulsed dye laser: A intense beam of light that eliminates visible or dilated capillaries that can cause rosacea, red spots, and other vascular skin conditions.

Radiesse®: Compromised of calcium hydroxyapatite, this dermal injectable corrects moderate to severe wrinkles by stimulating the body’s natural collagen production.

Restylane®: Hylauronic acid based dermal filler safe and effective in removing wrinkles of the face. Also used to add volume lost with age to thinning cheeks or lips.

RF energy: Sound waves used in Viora Reaction™ therapy to heat the deeper dermal layers, encourage collagen production, and tighten skin of the face, neck, and body.

Rosacea: Skin disorder that typically occurs after the age of 30. Symptoms include a reddening or rash on the cheeks, chin, nose or forehead.

Sagging Skin: Loose skin that isn’t taught against the body anymore. This condition develops if skin is stretched with growth past its elastic limit or in response to the decrease elasticity caused by aging.

Scarring: Skin condition that develops in response to the healing process. The body produces scar tissue to cover a wound, but can over produce collagen in the affected area leaving a visible difference between the once-wounded and untouched tissue.

Sclerotherapy:
Vein reduction/ elimination technique in which sclerosing agents are injected into unsightly, unwanted vessels of the face and legs to minimize their appearance.

SculpSure™ Fat Reduction:
A non-invasive way to remove localized areas of suborn fat using controlled warmth. As the latest non-surgical fat reduction technology, SculpSure™ can treat nearly any area of the body.

Short term condition: A condition that lasts for a short period of time and goes away on its own.

Spider Veins: Superficial telangiectasias, or small, thin blood vessels that are visible beneath the skin.

Stretch Marks: Cosmetic skin condition that develops in response to rapid stretching of skin from weight gain, pregnancy, or dramatic muscle gain. The appearance of stretch marks can be reduced through laser skin resurfacing.

Tattoo: The act of injecting pigments into the skin in a picture or pattern via a special needle; considered a type of decorative body modification.

Tattoo Removal: Cosmetic laser procedure in which laser light is used to target and eliminate all colors of tattoo ink from within the skin.

Telangiectasias: Small, visible veins just below the surface of the skin. Also known as spider veins.

Trigger point: Isolated area of muscular stress which can produce cramping and discomfort. Relief from trigger point pain can be accomplished through a type of massage therapy know as myofascial release.

VBeam® Perfecta: Laser type used to erase vascular lesions (small, unwanted veins) on the face and body associated with rosacea and age. VBeam® treatment is also useful in minimizing the visibility of acne, psoriasis, freckles, and age spots.

Varicose Veins: Enlarged veins, usually appearing on the legs, which develop when blood isn’t moving as it should and instead pooling in the vessels. Varicose veins are seen predominantly in women and can become painful if left untreated. Varicose vein treatment commonly includes sclerotherapy or surgical vein stripping (ligation)

Vein Treatments: Cosmetic treatments, also known as vein elimination, that utilize laser light or a sclerosing agent to eliminate small, unsightly blood vessels on the face and legs.

Vein Stripping: See “ligation.”

Wrinkle Treatments: Range of cosmetic skin treatments used to diminish the appearance of facial wrinkles. Common wrinkle treatments include: chemical peels, laser skin resurfacing, Botox® and Dysport®, and facial filler injections.

Wrinkles: Depressions or folds of the skin that develop in response to decreased collagen and skin elasticity.