Abdominoplasty ("tummy tuck")... surgery to tighten the abdominal muscles, remove excess skin and fat and, in some instances, improve stretch marks. Generally, an incision is made across the pubic area and around the navel.

Botox.... injectable form of sterile, purified botulinum toxin injected into muscles to temporarily relieve frown lines. This toxin weakens or paralyzes injected muscle. 

Breast augmentation (augmentation mammoplasty).... surgery to enlarge small breasts or underdeveloped breasts. Surgeon inserts an implant behind each breast. An incision is made either under the breast, around the areola (the pink skin surrounding the nipple) or the armpit. A pocket is created for the implant either behind the breast tissue or behind the muscle between the breast and the chest wall.

Breast lift (mastopexy)... surgeon relocates the nipple and areola (the pink skin surrounding the nipple) to a higher position, repositions breast tissue to a higher level, removes excess skin from the lower portion of the breast and then reshapes the remaining breast skin. Scars are around the areola, extending vertically down the breast and horizontally along the crease underneath the breast. Variations on this technique, in some cases, may result in less noticeable scarring.

Breast Reduction (reduction mammoplasty).... involves removing excess breast tissue and skin, repositioning the nipple and areola (the pink skin surrounding the nipple) and reshaping the remaining breast tissue.

Buttock lift... excess fat and loose skin in the buttock area can be reduced by performing a buttock lift in combination with lipoplasty (liposuction). Incisions required for skin removal can often be hidden in the fold beneath the buttocks.

Chemical peeling... chemical solution is applied to the skin, causing the skin to blister and peel off over a period of days. As the treated skin peels off, new and more pliant skin replaces it. Chemical peeling is a procedure for facial skin rejuvenation.

Dermabrasion... procedure that uses a rapidly rotating brush to plane off the surface layer of skin, remove scars, and improve the appearance of sun-damaged skin.

Endoscopic facial rejuvenation... a facelift procedure that necessitates fewer incisions because the surgeon uses an endoscope (a fiber optic tube) affixed to a camera (surgeon views the surgical site on a monitor) and smaller surgical instruments. Does not alter the hairline; sometimes called "scarless facelift".

Laser resurfacing... lasers of various wavelengths and power are used to remove wrinkles, crease lines, age spots, and other effects of aging and photoaging. Lasers also can be used to treat spider veins, to remove unwanted hair, and to remove some skin cancers.

Liposuction... surgical procedure that vacuums fatty deposits from under the skin. Often effective for removal of fatty deposits that do not respond to dietary modification.

Mesotherapy... non-surgical procedure in which small quantities of a detergent or vitamin solution are injected into the skin's middle layer to dissolve fat, such as cellulite.

Power-assisted lipoplasty (PAL)... a version of liposuction in which a reciprocating cannula (hollow tube), powered by gas or electricity, vacuums out fat and fibrous or scarred tissue. The back and forth motion of the tip of the cannula facilitates passage through tissue. This technique is thought to cause less bruising, swelling and discomfort and a quicker recovery time than traditional liposuction.

Restylane (hyaluronic acid)... injectable gel used as a soft-tissue filler to treat facial wrinkles.

Rhinoplasty... surgery to alter the size and shape of the bridge and tip of the nose. Generally done through incisions inside the nose, but there may also be an incision passing across the central portion of the nose between the nostrils.

Rhytidectomy (facelift)... surgical procedure to trim excess skin on cheeks, shin, neck and around the mouth.

Sclerotherapy... treatment for varicose veins and spider veins. A chemical solution injected into the enlarged vein causes it to collapse and form scar tissue.