Common Medical Terms for Cosmetic Procedures

People are often confused when they hear their doctor speak. What they don’t realize is that sometimes it is easy for doctors to forget that the glossary of medical terminology burned into their brains during medical school is not also available to their patients. This can leave you quite confused when your plastic surgeon whips out terms like abdominoplasty, rhinoplasty, and more. Luckily for you, just about every medical term has a common counterpart. Here are a few of the most often used medical terms and the common terms that correlate. When it comes to breast surgery, the most commonly known term is a boob job. Within this boob job category, however, there are actually four types of surgeries. A breast augmentation is when the breasts are enlarged. The medical term for this is augmentation mammoplasty. A breast reduction takes place when you have large breasts you wish to make smaller. The medical term for breast reduction is reduction mammoplasty. Sometimes, all the patient desires is a lift to their breasts. This is commonly referred to as a breast lift, but the medical term is a mastopexy. A fat transfer breast augmentation is when fat from other areas of the body is inserted into the breasts, making them larger. The medical term for this surgery is fat grafting and breast augmentation. Male breast reduction surgery is referred to in the medical world as gynecomastia surgery.

Liposuction is the common term for a surgery where fat is removed from certain areas using a cannula. The medical term for this procedure is lipoplasty. Nonsurgical fat reduction is referred to in the medical world as minimally invasive procedures for fat reduction. A mommy makeover Is the common term for any number of surgeries a mother chooses to regain her pre-baby body.

There are many types of body lifts. An arm lift is also known as a brachioplasty. A tummy tuck is known in the medical world as an abdominoplasty. The medical term for buttock augmentation, or a butt-lift, is gluteal augmentation. A gluteal augmentation using fat grafts from another area of the body is commonly referred to as a Brazilian Butt Lift. Facelift surgery is also referred to as rhytidectomy in medicine while a neck lift is called a lower rhytidectomy. Chin surgery is called mentoplasty. Eyelid surgery is called blepharoplasty. This surgery can solve a vision problem caused by drooping eyelids, as well as freshen the face. The medical term for nose job is rhinoplasty. This is a surgery to reshape the nose, making it more aesthetically pleasing, easier to breathe, and easier to sleep. The medical term for labia surgery is labiaplasty. This surgery shapes the labia to your liking. The medical term for spider vein treatment is schlerotherapy.

From now on, when navigating conversations with your plastic surgeon, you will be up to date on the medical terminology. It can be helpful to know these medical terms so that you and your doctor are on the same page. Actually understand what your surgeon is saying during consultations will help you choose the right surgeries for your body and your goals.