C

Cafe-au-lait spot - a benign flat, light-brown to tan lesion; may be associated with neurofibromatosis

Calcification - a process in which tissue becomes hardened as a result of deposition of insoluble salts; can signify local tumor presence

Calculus - a hard mineral deposit on the teeth

Camouflage makeup - a flesh-toned product used to cover scars, bruises, and skin discolorations

Candida albicans - a yeast that is responsible for causing infection of the skin, nails or vaginal area

Canthus - the corner of the eye

Canthoplasty - an operation to suture the corner of the eye and correct sagging lower eyelids caused by aging or previous surgery

Canula or cannula - a small, hollow tube used during liposuction surgery to remove fat by suction

Cap - in dentistry, see Crown

Capillary - a tiny blood vessel that connects an artery to a vein

Capsular contracture - shrinkage of the scar tissue around an implant that causes hardenss, distortion, and sometime pain

Capsule - scar tissue that grows around implants or any foreign body

Capsulotomy - creation of an opening through a capsule, as with scar tissue around breast implants. (Closed capsulotomy is by external compression. Open capsulotomy, known as capsulectomy, is through an incision)

Capsulectomy - surgical removal of the capsule, or scar tissue around an implant

Carcinoma - medical term for cancer

Caries - the medical term for dental cavities or tooth decay

Cartilage - a type of connective tissue

Cataract - loss of transparency of the lens of the eye causing cloudiness

Cauliflower ear - an acquired deformity of the ear resulting from undrained accumulation of blood usually caused by trauma to the ear; also known as boxer's ear

Cautery - electrical or chemical device used to cut the skin or seal blood vessels to stop bleeding

Cellulite - a term used to describe an uneven, "cottage cheese", or dimpled texture to the skin overlying fat; sometimes treated with mechanical massage or mesotherapy

Centrifuge - an apparatus that spins fluid to separate cells

Cervicoplasty - commonly called a neck lift - ; surgery to remove excess skin to improve the neckline, correct "turkey neck", and improve one's profile

Chalazion - a chronic inflammatory lesion causing a bump on the eyelid.

Cheek augmentation - a procedure to contour and angle the cheeks using injectable fillers, surgical implants, or grafts

Cheek fat removal - surgical removal of fat in the lower cheeks to slim and contour the face; also called "buccal fat pad excision"

Cheek lift - surgery to raise the middle of the face, the cheek, to enhance cheek and undereye fullness and contour; also called midface lift

Chemical peel - removal of the superficial layers of the skin with a chemical agent to remove wrinkles and age spots and to promote the regrowth of fresh, clearer new skin

Cherry angioma - a benign bright-red vascular bump commonly occuring on the trunk of adults

Chill tip - a device attached to the handpiece of a laser that continuously cools the treatment site and diminishes pain

Chloasma - see Melasma

Colace - see Docusate

Cicatrix - medical term for a scar

Cleanser - an agent that removes oily residue, makeup, dirt, and sometimes dead skin cells

Closed rhinoplasty - surgery of the nose without any visible external incisions

Coagulation - clotting

Collagen - the major protein of connective tissue that makes up the foundation of skin and other tissues; used as an injectable filler to temporarily plump depressed areas or augment deficient areas of the skin

Columella - the column at the base of the nose separating the nostrils

Comedone - a hair follicle filled with keratin and sebum: Closed comedone- whitehead; Open comedone - blackhead

Computer imaging - the use of a computer to simulate how one will look after surgery with the desired procedure; also called cosemtic imaging or digital imaging

Concealer - a cosmetic used to cover blemishes and neutralize pigment irregularities

Conduct Keratolplasty - a procedure using thermal energy (heat) to correct far sightedness; abbreviated as CK

Congenital nevus - pigmented lesion in the dermis that is present at birth

Conjunctiva - the inner lining of the eyelids and eye

Conjunctivitis - inflammation of the lining of the eye or eyelids

Connective tissue - includes ligaments, tendons, or muscle sheaths

Cornea - the clear covering of the pupil of the eye

Coronal lift - a type of surgical forehead and browlift using a wide incision across the scalp to remove excess skin, lift the brows, and diminish or eliminate wrinkles and frown lines

Corneal ulceration - a slough of a portion of the cornea due to infection or injury

Cosmeceutical - a term for a product that combines features of both a cosmetic and a pharmaceutical

Cosmetic dentistry - the specialty of dentistry to improve the appearance of the teeth and smile

Cosmetic surgery - an elective procedure performed to reshape normal structures in the body in order to improve appearance

CRNA - Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist; see Nurse Anesthetist

Craniofacial - a term relating to both soft tissue of the face and the underlying bony tissues of the skull

Crow's feet - wrinkles at the outside corners of th eyes, resulting from aging and normal facial expression

Crown - a porcelain covering placed over a tooth to improve it's appearance, or the portion of a tooth covered by enamel

Cryosurgery - freezing with liquid nitrogen to destroy unwanted tissue

Cyst - an abnormal sac containing gas, fluid, or a semisolid material