Medical Glossary

Definitions and explanations of medical terms related to minimally invasive surgery and filler repair.

Apocrine Gland

A type of sweat gland found in the axillary, areolar, and perineal regions. Its secretions, when broken down by skin bacteria, produce characteristic body odor (bromhidrosis).

Capsule

A fibrous tissue layer formed by the body around foreign materials (fillers, fat grafts). Acts as a barrier that blocks enzymatic dissolvers, requiring physical surgical removal.

Capsulectomy

Surgical removal of the fibrous capsule that encases a tumor or foreign body. Complete capsulectomy is essential to prevent recurrence in lipoma and cyst removal.

CO2 Laser Micro-Hole Extraction

A technique using CO2 laser to create a precise micro-hole in the skin for extracting epidermal cysts, offering minimal scarring and faster healing than scalpel incisions.

Collagen Stimulator

Injectable biomaterials (such as Sculptra, Ellansé, Radiesse) that stimulate the body's collagen production. Complications include nodule formation and granulomas that cannot be dissolved enzymatically.

Epidermal Cyst

The most common benign skin tumor, consisting of a keratin-filled sac with a complete capsule wall. Also known as sebaceous cyst. Complete capsule removal is required to prevent recurrence.

Facial Overfilled Syndrome (FOS)

A condition caused by excessive dermal filler injection, resulting in unnatural facial contours, loss of expression, and a "pillow face" appearance. Requires surgical removal for correction.

Granuloma

A foreign body reaction where the immune system forms nodules of inflammatory cells around injected materials such as dermal fillers or fat grafts.

Hyaluronidase

An enzyme used to dissolve hyaluronic acid fillers. Effective for fresh HA filler complications but cannot penetrate hardened capsules around chronic filler lumps.

Lipoma

A benign soft tissue tumor composed of mature fat cells, the most common soft tissue tumor in adults. Requires complete capsule (capsulectomy) removal to prevent recurrence.

Pinhole Extraction

An ultra-minimally invasive technique using a needle-hole-sized incision to physically extract encapsulated filler complications, granulomas, and calcified lumps without scarring.

Rotational Curettage

A minimally invasive technique using a rotating blade probe to thoroughly remove apocrine glands through a 4mm incision, achieving over 99% gland clearance rate for bromhidrosis treatment.

Tumescent Anesthesia

A local anesthesia technique that infuses diluted lidocaine with epinephrine into subcutaneous tissue, providing prolonged anesthesia, hemostasis, and tissue hydrodissection for minimally invasive surgery.

Ultrasound-Guided

A technique using real-time ultrasound imaging to precisely locate tumors, filler lumps, or foreign bodies before and during minimally invasive extraction procedures.

Vascular Occlusion

A serious complication of filler injection where the injected material blocks blood vessels, potentially causing tissue necrosis or blindness. Requires emergency treatment.