Medical Spas Glossary

mammogram
X-ray of the breasts that shows an image of the inner tissue and may reveal calcifications or mass lesions that are characteristic of the breast cancer. It is used to screen women (usually between ages 50 and 70).

massage
Therapists manipulate muscle and connective tissue to enhance function of those tissues and promote relaxation and well-being. See lymphatic draining and medical massage.
Source: National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine

medical
Of, or related to, the art of healing. Pertaining to medicine, a scientifically based discipline dedicated to the prevention and treatment of disease and injury. The word comes from the Latin word "medicus," which means physician.

medical massage
Treatment based on a medical model (with research and treatment protocols) by a therapist trained to diagnose and evaluate connective tissue abnormalities through palpation and observation of soft tissue. Therapists work under medical supervision and by prescription and receive and make appropriate medical referrals.

medical spa
An establishment employing medical and spa professionals whose primary purpose is to provide comprehensive medical and wellness care in an environment which integrates spa services, as well as conventional and complimentary therapies and treatments.

mesotherapy
A complementary procedure in which conventional or homeopathic medicine is delivered directly to the mesoderm (a superficial layer of the skin) via a series of extremely fine injections. Mesotherapy has been widely practiced in Europe since the 1950s to address such ailments as the appearance of cellulite, hair loss, and arthritis.

microdermabrasion
Treatment to counter-effect signs of aging, sun damage, fine lines, and mild acne scarring to face, neck, arms, and hands. Sterile micro-crystals gently exfoliate the top layer of dead cells, then are suctioned away so that fresh skin is exposed. Several treatments with intervals are usually required.

micropigmentation
See permanent make-up.

mind/body medicine
Focuses on the interaction between mental and physical faculties. Special emphasis is placed on the ways in which emotional, intellectual, social, and spiritual factors affect overall health. Techniques employed include meditation, guided meditation, self-hypnosis, and self-awareness exercises. Yoga and other non-Western therapeutic systems are used to help patients cope with common health problems and the effects of aging.

naturopath
A doctor who uses a wide variety of non-invasive natural medicines -but not drugs- to help the body heal its own chronic and acute problems. Naturopaths (N.D.s), who in some states are licensed and regulated, refer patients to conventional M.D.s as necessary and appropriate.

naturopathic medicine
An alternative medical system in which practitioners work with natural healing forces within the body, with a goal of helping the body heal from disease and attain better health. Practices may include dietary modifications, massage, exercise, acupuncture, minor surgery, and various other interventions.
Source: National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine

non-invasive
A medical procedure that does not involve incision or puncture of the skin or the insertion of a foreign object into the body. See invasive.

nutrition
The biological process by which the body breaks down food to sustain itself. Health-care professionals called "nutritionists" or "dietitians" assess patients' nutrition needs and suggest dietary alterations accordingly.

nutrition therapy (nutritional therapy)
An area of complementary health care that addresses medical disorders using diets designed to encourage the body's natural defenses. According to the individual, nutritional therapists may prescribe vitamin supplements, herbs, or other nutritional products.

nutritionist
A licensed nutritionist, or registered dietician, has specialized training in the nutritional needs of healthy people, ill people, and those with a disease requiring specialized nutritional care. An R.D. holds a four-year degree in nutrition that has been approved by the American Dietetic Association.

osteopathic medicine
A form of conventional medicine that, in part, emphasizes diseases arising in the musculoskeletal system. There is an underlying belief that all of the body's systems work together and that disturbances in one system may affect function elsewhere in the body. Some osteopathic physicians practice osteopathic manipulation, a full-body system of hands-on techniques to alleviate pain, restore function, and promote health and well-being.
Source: National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine

pain management
Assessment and treatment of chronic, surgery, and injury-related pain.

permanent make-up (also micropigmentation, micropigment implantation, or dermagraphics)
Cosmetic tattooing by machine or hand for eyebrows, eyeliner, lip color, scar camouflage, lash enhancement, hair imitation, etc.

photo facial treatment (also fotolite treatments, IPL, and photo rejuvenation)
A treatment using a laserlike device used in a medical setting that gives out a light that is absorbed selectively by dilated blood vessels and sun-induced brown spots and will decrease blotchiness (as in roseacea) and small broken blood vessels. Some doctors theorize it helps decrease fine wrinkles and plump up skin because it stimulates the production of collagen.

photo rejuvenation
See photo facial treatment.

physical examination
A comprehensive series of tests performed by a Western health professional to determine whether there are any present health problems or abnormalities. Typically, physical exams include palpation (feeling the body with hands); auscultation (listening to body sounds); and percussion (producing sounds).

physical therapy
A branch of rehabilitative health that uses specially designed exercises and equipment to help patients regain or improve their physical abilities. Physical therapy incorporates many techniques including therapeutic exercise, massage, and stretching to treat physical dysfunction or injury. Physical therapists should be trained and certified by a state or accrediting body.

plastic surgery
A subspecialty of medicine and surgery that may treat any area of the head, neck, and body in order to enhance a patient's appearance or correct an apparent irregularity.

pre- and post-natal care
Attention to the nutritional and other health needs of a baby and its mother before and several months after birth.

pre- and post-operative
Doctor-prescribed or elective procedures designed to augment the processes of surgery preparation and recovery.

predictive health
Means of identifying people most likely to contract disease based on risk factors such as smoking, obesity, and lack of exercise.

preventive health (also preventative health)
Practice of preventing health problems through maintaining good health habits (such as weight control, exercise, proper nutrition, and control of chronic problems such as diabetes and high blood pressure); periodic screenings (such as pap tests, mammograms, colon cancer screenings, and dental checkups); being alert to unusual symptoms (unexplained weight loss or gain, fever, coughing, wounds that don't heal); and seeking medical advice if they occur; and keeping immunizations up to date.

Perlane
A substance used to correct deep groves, such as between the nose and mouth corner. See injectables.

qi gong
A component of traditional Chinese medicine that combines movement, meditation, and regulation of breathing to enhance the flow of qi (an ancient term given to what is believed to be vital energy) in the body, improve blood circulation, and enhance immune function.
Source: National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine

reiki
A Japanese word representing universal life energy. Reiki is based on the belief that when spiritual energy is channeled through a reiki practitioner, the patient's spirit is healed, which in turn heals the physical body.
Source: National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine

Restylane
A synthetic hyaluronic acid (another version of a substance long used to cushion arthritic knee joints) that is used to smooth out deeper creases and augment lips. See injectables.

rosacea
A very common skin disorder that ranges in severity from a tendency to blush or flush easily to disfiguring inflammatory acne. An estimated 14 million Americans are afflicted with rosacea, though many may not yet know it. The disorder is more prevalent among lighter-skinned people, especially those of Celtic extraction.

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