Glossary
Plain-language definitions of terms you'll meet in consultations and community discussions. Educational only — a clinician applies these ideas to your individual anatomy.
- Dorsal hump
- A raised area along the bridge (dorsum) of the nose, made of bone, cartilage, or both. Reducing a dorsal hump is one of the most common goals discussed in rhinoplasty consultations. Whether and how much to reduce is an anatomy-specific decision. Related guide →
- Chin projection
- How far the chin extends forward relative to the rest of the profile. Projection can be changed with an implant, with sliding genioplasty, or temporarily with filler; which is appropriate depends on anatomy and bite alignment. Related comparison →
- Genioplasty
- Surgery that repositions the chin bone itself. A 'sliding' genioplasty cuts the chin segment and moves it forward, backward, or vertically before fixing it in place. It differs from a chin implant, which adds material over the bone. Related guide →
- Blepharoplasty
- Eyelid surgery. Upper blepharoplasty removes or reshapes excess upper-eyelid skin and sometimes fat; lower blepharoplasty addresses under-eye bags or skin. It does not change brow position — that is a brow lift. Related guide →
- Ptosis
- Drooping of the upper eyelid itself (the lid margin sits lower over the eye), which is different from extra eyelid skin. True ptosis involves the lid-lifting muscle and needs its own evaluation — standard blepharoplasty does not correct it. Related guide →
- Rhinoplasty
- Surgical reshaping of the nose — bridge, tip, or nostrils — sometimes combined with functional breathing work. Non-surgical rhinoplasty refers to temporary filler-based contouring, which cannot make a nose smaller. Related guide →
- Rhytidectomy
- The formal term for a facelift: surgery that repositions deeper facial tissue and removes excess skin to address lower-face and neck laxity. Techniques vary widely, which is why consultations focus on what a specific plan would change.
- Hair graft
- A small unit of transplanted hair — usually a naturally occurring follicular unit of one to four hairs — moved from a donor area to a thinning area during a hair transplant. Graft counts describe procedure size, not guaranteed density. Related guide →
- Filler migration
- When injected filler moves from where it was placed, sometimes creating puffiness or blurring of natural borders — discussed most often with lip filler. Hyaluronic-acid fillers can often be dissolved by a clinician. Related guide →
- Revision surgery
- A repeat procedure to adjust or correct the result of an earlier one. Revisions are generally more complex than first procedures because tissue has changed, which is one reason conservative first decisions matter.
PlasticsForMe provides educational information and conceptual visualizations only. It is not medical advice, does not predict surgical results, and does not replace consultation with a licensed clinician.