Plain-English definitions of the words you will meet across this site: injectable treatments, skin-regeneration products, and the regulators and professional bodies behind them. Written by Helena, a Registered Nurse, so you know what each term means before your consultation.
Also known as: Wrinkle-relaxing injections, Muscle-relaxing injections.
A prescription-only medicine injected in small amounts to relax the specific facial muscles that fold the skin into frown lines, forehead lines and crow's feet. The effect builds over about 2 weeks and wears off gradually over 3 to 4 months. It is provided only after a face-to-face consultation and prescription, in line with NMC and MHRA requirements.
Source: dermnetnz.org
Also known as: POM.
A medicine that can only be supplied against a prescription written by a qualified prescriber who has assessed you in person. Anti-wrinkle injections and the injectable treatment for excessive sweating fall into this category, which is why they are never available off the shelf or without a face-to-face consultation.
Source: www.gov.uk
Also known as: HA.
A sugar molecule found naturally in skin, where it holds water and keeps tissue plump. In aesthetics it is the base of dermal fillers, skin boosters and Profhilo. Because the body already recognises it, it is broken down gradually over time and can be dissolved early if needed.
Source: www.nhs.uk
Also known as: Filler, HA filler.
A smooth gel, usually made of hyaluronic acid, injected beneath the skin to restore lost volume, soften deep folds or refine a contour such as the lips, chin or jawline. Results are visible straight away and typically last 6 to 18 months depending on the product and the area treated.
Source: www.nhs.uk
An enzyme that breaks down hyaluronic acid filler, usually within 24 to 48 hours of injection. It is used to correct an unwanted result or to treat a rare complication, and its existence is one of the reasons hyaluronic acid is the filler of choice in reputable UK clinics. It is itself a prescription-only medicine.
Source: www.nhs.uk
Also known as: Bioremodelling treatment.
An injectable made of a high concentration of hyaluronic acid that spreads through the skin rather than adding volume in one place. It draws in water and prompts the skin to make more collagen and elastin, improving firmness and glow. A course is 2 to 3 treatments 4 weeks apart, with maintenance at around 6 months.
Source: www.jccp.org.uk
Also known as: PN, PDRN.
Purified fragments of DNA, usually from salmon or trout, injected into the skin or scalp to calm inflammation, hydrate tissue and encourage the cells that make collagen. For skin, a course is 3 to 6 sessions 4 to 6 weeks apart; for thinning hair, 3 to 4 sessions every 4 weeks. They add no volume, so the change is in skin quality rather than shape.
Source: www.jccp.org.uk
Also known as: Poly-L-lactic acid, PLLA, Collagen biostimulator.
A collagen biostimulator made of poly-L-lactic acid, a material long used in dissolvable stitches. Rather than filling, it prompts your own collagen to build gradually over several months, restoring volume in the cheeks, temples and lower face. A course of 3 sessions 6 to 8 weeks apart can last up to 2 years.
Source: www.jccp.org.uk
An injectable that combines hyaluronic acid with a blend of amino acids, the building blocks the skin needs to make new collagen and elastin. It is used for fine lines, crepey skin and the under-eye area. A course is 3 sessions 2 weeks apart, with maintenance every 6 to 8 months.
Source: www.jccp.org.uk
Tiny packets released by cells that carry signals to neighbouring cells. In aesthetics, lab-derived exosome preparations are applied to the skin during microneedling to support repair and calm redness, usually as a course of 3 sessions 4 weeks apart. The research is still developing, so Helena is clear about what the evidence does and does not yet show.
Light hyaluronic acid injections placed just under the skin to hydrate it from within and improve texture and glow, rather than to add volume. A course of 2 to 3 sessions is typical, with maintenance every 4 to 6 months, or once a year for some products.
Source: www.jccp.org.uk
A series of very small injections, or microneedling, that deliver a blend of vitamins, minerals and hyaluronic acid into the middle layer of the skin or into the scalp. Usually given as a course of 4 to 6 sessions 2 weeks apart, it is used for dull skin, dehydration and thinning hair.
Source: dermnetnz.org
Also known as: Collagen induction therapy.
A device with fine sterile needles makes thousands of tiny, controlled punctures in the skin, which triggers the skin's own repair response and new collagen. It is used for acne scarring, texture, pores and fine lines, and on the scalp for thinning hair. A course is usually 4 to 6 sessions 4 weeks apart.
Source: www.jccp.org.uk
A solution applied to the face that removes the outermost layers of skin in a controlled way, so fresher skin comes through as it heals. Superficial peels have little downtime and are used for dull skin, pigmentation, congestion and fine lines, either as a one-off or as a short course.
Source: www.nhs.uk
Also known as: Full-face approach, Facial balancing.
Treating several areas of the face together, usually with dermal filler, so that the proportions read as balanced rather than any one feature standing out. Chin, jawline, cheeks and lips are commonly combined. The aim is a refreshed, natural-looking version of your own face.
Also known as: Excessive sweating.
Sweating well beyond what the body needs to keep cool, most often in the underarms, hands or feet. When antiperspirants have not helped, a prescription-only medicine injected into the affected skin reduces sweating for several months, with a review at 2 weeks.
Source: www.nhs.uk
Also known as: Jaw muscle.
The large chewing muscle at the angle of the jaw. When it is overworked by clenching or grinding, it can enlarge, widen the lower face and cause jaw ache or headaches. Anti-wrinkle injections into the masseter reduce the clenching force and, over time, slim the muscle.
Source: www.nhs.uk
Also known as: Under-eye hollow.
The groove that runs from the inner corner of the eye down and outwards across the top of the cheek. When it deepens, it casts a shadow that reads as tiredness or dark circles. A soft hyaluronic acid filler placed carefully here can lessen the shadow with little or no downtime, though not every under-eye concern is suited to filler.
Also known as: Smile lines, Nose-to-mouth lines.
The line that runs from the side of the nose to the corner of the mouth. Everyone has it when they smile, but it becomes deeper and more fixed as the mid-face loses volume. Dermal filler can soften the fold directly, or the cheek can be supported first so the fold lifts from above.
The UK regulator for nurses and midwives. Every practising nurse must be on the NMC register, which is public and searchable, and must follow the NMC Code, the professional standards of practice and behaviour. Helena is NMC registered.
Source: www.nmc.org.uk
A UK body that sets education and practice standards for non-surgical aesthetic treatments and holds a voluntary register of practitioners. Its published standards are a useful reference point for the training and conduct you should expect from anyone providing injectable treatments.
Source: www.jccp.org.uk
Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency: the UK regulator for medicines and medical devices. Prescription-only medicines such as anti-wrinkle injections, and medical devices such as dermal fillers, come under its oversight. Novaderma Aesthetics uses MHRA-regulated products from UK pharmacies and suppliers.
Source: www.gov.uk
Also known as: Level 7 in Aesthetic Medicine.
A postgraduate-level qualification in injectable aesthetic treatments, sitting at Level 7 on the UK qualifications framework, the same level as a master's degree. It combines theory in anatomy, pharmacology and complication management with assessed hands-on practice. Helena holds hers from the Medical & Aesthetics Training Academy (MATA) on Harley Street.
The UK membership body for nurses working in medical aesthetics. It supports members with professional standards, education and peer networks, and membership indicates a nurse who chooses to work within a recognised professional community. Helena is a BAMAN member.
Source: baman.org.uk