What words should I know about skin rejuvenation and resurfacing?

Ablative

Resurfacing treatments that remove the uppermost layers of the skin (epidermis and dermis) to varying degrees.

Dynamic wrinkles

Expression lines that may appear as folds when the skin is not moving, and deepen with facial movements or expressions.

General anesthesia

Drugs and/or gases used during an operation to relieve pain and alter consciousness.

Intravenous sedation

Sedatives administered by injection into a vein to help you relax.

Laser and energy therapies

Ranging from ablative to non-ablative, these treatments use laser energy, light energy, radio waves, ultrasonic energy or plasma energy to treat the skin.

Local anesthesia

A drug injected directly to the site of an incision during an operation to relieve pain.

Loss of skin tone

Weakening of the supportive skin structure that results in a loss of skin firmness or the development of cellulite.

Nasolabial fold

Deep creases between the nose and mouth.

Non-ablative therapy

Treatments that do not remove any skin but rather penetrate the skin or treat the skin superficially (only on the surface).

Pigmentation

Freckles, sun spots, melasma or other darkened patches of skin result mainly from sun exposure.

Scars

As the result of acne or injury to the skin, scars may be rolling (a wavy appearance to the skin), pitted, discolored or have raised borders.

Static wrinkles

Wrinkles that are visible at all times.

Tear trough

Deep crease that appears as a shadow below the lower eyelids.

Vascular conditions

Blood vessels visible on the surface of the skin, vascular lesions that appear as tiny blood filled blisters or even a constant flush of facial redness.