52 Dermatology / Medical Aesthetic Terminology Definitions used in the United Kingdom
0If you’re in the field of medical skin care and dermatology, this is a good terminology list to brush up on. This list focuses on the most recent medical terminology used in the U.K. by Dermatologists, Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons, and Cosmetic Practitioners.
Abdominoplasty
This is an operation also known as a ‘tummy tuck’, it involves removing excess fat and skin in order to make the abdomen more firm.
ABCP
Academy of Cosmetic Practitioners
BAAPS
The British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons. Association ‘’established for the advancement of education in, and the practice of, Aesthetic Plastic Surgery for public benefit’’.
BABTAC
British Association of Beauty Therapy and Cosmetology
BAPRAS
British Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons. Professional association that ‘’exists to promote the best evidence-based practice in plastic, reconstructive and aesthetic surgery in order to achieve the highest standard of patient care through professional support in education, research and the development of knowledge’’.
Blepharoplasty
This is a cosmetic procedure used to remove excess skin from the either the upper or lower eyelid.
BMA
British Medical Association
Body Dysmorphic Disorder
Defined as a preoccupation that causes significant distress with one or more defect in one’s appearance for which most people can hardly notice or do not believe to be important.
Body lift
A body lift is surgery performed to correct excess loose and sagging skin. Surgical body lifting improves the shape and tone of the underlying tissue that supports fat and skin.
Brachioplasty
A brachioplasty, or arm lift, is a surgical procedure to remove loose skin and excess fat deposits in the upper arm.
Breast augmentation/reduction
Breast augmentation involves surgically inserting an artificial implant to increase the size of the breast. Breast reduction involves removing excess tissue to reduce the size of the breasts.
Breast implant
A medical prosthesis used in post–mastectomy breast reconstruction or for breast augmentation.
Browlift
Also known as a forehead lift or browplasty, is a cosmetic surgery procedure used to elevate a drooping eyebrow that may obstruct vision and/or to remove the deep “worry” lines that run across the forehead.
Buttock lift/ implant
A surgical procedure that removes excess skin and fat from the buttocks, and/or the insertion of an implant may enhance the appearance, size and definition of gluteal muscles in the buttock area.
CAP
Committee of Advertising Practice
Cheek implant
Also known as Malar augmentation, uses implants, usually made of synthetic material, to make cheek bones more prominent
CMO
Chief Medical Officer
Competent Authority
National body responsible for the compliance with and enforcement of the EU Medical Devices Directive as it applies to medical devices, device manufacturers and notified bodies in their Member State. In the UK this is the MHRA.
Cosmetic intervention
Operations or other procedures that revise or change the appearance, color, texture, structure, or position of bodily features, which most would consider otherwise within the broad range of ‘normal’ for that person.
CQC
Quality Care Commission is the regulatory body for all health and social care services in England.
CPSD
Cosmetic Products (Safety) Regulations 2008.
Facelift
Also called rhytidectomy, facelift is a plastic surgery procedure used to remove facial wrinkles, sagging skin, fat deposits, or other visible signs of aging for cosmetic purposes.
FDA
Food and Drug Administration USA
GDC
General Dental Council
GMC
General Medical Council is the regulatory body for doctors in the UK.
GP
General Practitioner
GPSR
The General Product Safety Regulations 2005
Gynaecomastia
Is a common condition in teenage boys where firm tender breast tissue grows under the nipples. It is usually caused by an in balance if hormones during puberty and usually disappears in a couple of years.
IHAS
Independent Healthcare Advisory Services is a representative organization for the independent healthcare sector.
Labiaplasty
A surgical procedure to reshape the inner lips of the vagina.
Laser liposuction
A method of liposuction that utilizes a laser during surgery to assist in unwanted fat removal.
MAC
Medical Advisory Committee
Mastopexy
Plastic surgery in which the breasts are lifted or reshaped.
MDA
Medical Devices Agency. The predecessor to the MHRA with responsibility for medical device safety and regulation.
MDA
Medical Devices Alert – notice issued by MHRA with important safety information related to a medical device sent to key contacts across the healthcare system using the Central Alerting System with instructions for further cascading to relevant health care workers, as well as being posted on the MHRA website.
Medical Device
Defined in European law as “any instrument, apparatus, appliance, software, material or other article, whether used alone or in combination, including the software intended by its manufacturer to be used specifically for diagnostic and/or therapeutic purposes and necessary for its proper application, intended by the manufacturer to be used for human beings.
MDT
Multi-disciplinary team
MDEG
Medical Device Expert Group. Established by the EU Commission, MDEG is composed of delegates from member state competent authorities, industry and other stakeholder representatives in the area of medical devices and is the forum in which the implementation of the Medical Devices Directive is discussed. In closed session, MDEG consists of member state competent authorities only and is a forum to discuss all issues relating to the implementation of the medical device directives. MDEG is responsible for publishing guidance documents which reflect the consensus position of its members on interpretation of the Medical Devices Directive.
Medical Device Liaison Officers
Members of staff designated in all NHS trusts and primary care trusts in England who are responsible for encouraging effective and comprehensive adverse incident reporting and action on medical device safety publications through encouragement and training of healthcare and support staff and medical device users.
Medical Devices Directives
European Union legislation which, when translated into national law in EU member states, provides the legal framework for regulation of medical devices in Europe.
MHRA
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, the UK competent authority responsible for regulation of medicines, medical devices, blood and blood components. MHRA is an Executive Agency of the Department of Health.
NMC
Nursing and Midwifery Council
Notified Body
Third-party private sector organizations designated by their national competent authority and commissioned by manufacturers to determine whether a particular medical device meets the relevant regulatory requirements and, whether, when used as intended, it works properly and is acceptably safe (the process known as conformity assessment).
Pinnaplasty
Also known as otoplasty, a surgical procedure done to correct misshaped or protruding ears.
Post-market surveillance
A systematic procedure to review experience gained from their devices after they are placed on the EU market, and to implement appropriate means to apply any necessary corrective action. This undertaking must include an obligation for the manufacturer to notify the competent authorities of:
(a) any adverse incident which might lead to or might have led to the death of a patient or user or to a serious deterioration in their state of health;
(b) any field safety corrective action (e.g. systematic recall) undertaken by the manufacturer to reduce the risk of adverse incidents with the device.
RCN
Royal College of Nurses
Rhinoplasty
Aesthetic surgery of the nose where cartilage and bone are reshaped and reconstructed; excess bone or cartilage may be removed.
SMR08
Supply of Machinery (Safety) Regulations 2008
Thigh lift
A thigh lift can be performed to tighten sagging muscles and remove excess skin in the thigh area.
Thread/suture facelift
Minimally-invasive facelift procedure involving the insertion of fine threads (sutures) through small incisions into deeper tissues. The threads are attached to soft tissues and are pulled upwards to tighten the deep tissues.
TYCT
Treatments You Can Trust. A provider register run by IHAS. Registered Providers are fully qualified, trained and insured and will deliver treatments which comply with a minimum of standards and are delivered in facilities which are clean, hygienic and comfortable.
Vaginoplasty
Is a plastic surgery procedure used to construct or reconstruct a vaginal canal and mucous membrane.
This list contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government License v2.0.
