Medical Spas Glossary

Sculptra
An injectable facial filler designed to treat the deepest wrinkles and to restore fullness and thickness to the skin. Scupltra is a synthetic acid that has been used in dissolvable stitches and implants. It is both biocompatible and biodegradable. Sculptra treatments are normally administered over a period of several months to achieve results that can last up to two years. Sculptra has yet to be approved by the Food and Drug Administration for cosmetic use. See injectables.

sleep health
A field of health care whose purpose is to increase the quality and quantity of patients' sleeping hours. Sleep specialists combat disorders such as sleep apnea and insomnia. Specialists also treat irregularities that occur during sleep, such as heart arrhythmia and sleep terrors.

spa
The International Spa Association (ISPA) defines the word spa in the following way:
"Spas are devoted to enhancing overall well-being through a variety of professional services that encourage the renewal of mind, body and spirit."

spirituality & healing
Health care that focuses on the connection between spiritual and physical well-being. Programs, treatments, and classes focus on bringing the body and soul into closer harmony.

suction lipoplasty
See liposuction.

Thermage
A non-surgical way to reduce signs of facial aging. The process involves protecting the skin with cooling spray while radio-frequency energy heats the skin’s lower layers. This is said to stimulate collagen production and tighten age-slackened skin, especially around the forehead and eyes. Visible results can be achieved immediately after the initial treatment, but several treatments may be required to achieve optimal appearance. Thermage results will not be as dramatic as those brought about by surgery.

tumescent liposuction
A form of liposuction using micro-instruments so that the procedure can be done under local anesthetic alone. The instruments are less traumatic so the incision is tiny, recovery may be quicker, and results may be smoother. See liposuction.

wellness
A state of inner and outer health maintained by lifestyle choices. Genuine wellness is not merely the absence of disease; it is the state of positive well-being which takes into account the physical, mental, emotional, vocational, spiritual, and social dimensions of life.

the wellness movement
Health-care movement that began in the mid-1970s and encourages individuals to reach their optimal levels of health and bodily functioning. The wellness movement teaches that mind, body, and spirit must exist in harmony both with each other and with their surrounding environment. A central tenet of the movement that wellness is not out of reach of people who are disabled, ill, or even dying. A philosophy of "personal wellness" shifts the emphasis from what people cannot achieve to what they can.

Western Herbal Medicine
A health-care system practiced by professionals called "herbalists" that uses the healing properties of plants to combat illness. It is believed that compared to drugs, application of either a whole herb or an herb component achieves a gentler effect that is more effective in the long term. Herbalists make a thorough investigation into patients' physical, mental, and emotional symptoms, as well as their lifestyles, before devising a plan for treatment. Herbalists may be licensed in another field of medicine, such as naturopathy or osteopathy, or may be unlicensed.

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