Have you ever been sat in a consultation with a practitioner and felt like, ‘Hold on, I really don’t understand what you are saying to me?’ Or, had a treatment recommendation from a friend and realised that their explanation raises more questions than answers? Trust me, you are not alone. But, while it can be tempting to just nod along when doctors (or friends!) use buzzwords or industry specific language – it’s your face (and/or body) so you really do want to be totally in the know.
To help, here is The Tweakments Guide cheat sheet to decoding eight popular industry buzzwords that your practitioner might use during a consultation. You can find out more about other commonly used terms in our Tweaktionary too!
The terms to know:
1. Neuromodulator
The short answer: you want to talk about “Botox”, your practitioner might call it ‘neuromodulator’, ‘toxin’, ‘muscle-relaxing injections’, ‘Botulinum toxin A’…
The explanation: Botox is by far the most widely known consumer term, but it is actually a brand name for botulinum toxin A, which gains its wrinkle-relaxing effect by interfering with the transmission of nerve impulses that tell muscles to contract. As toxins are prescription-only medicines, practitioners aren’t meant to publicly discuss individual brands, but in a consultation you can definitely ask them whether they are using ‘Botox’ or another leading brand such as Azzalure. Most importantly, they all work in the same way whatever term and brand your practitioner decides to use. That includes reducing wrinkle appearance, but also helping reduce tension in tight jawlines and controlling excessively sweaty armpits, too.
2. Hyaluronic acid
The short answer: both a hydrating skincare ingredient and the component of HA dermal fillers.
The explanation: Is there a buzzier buzzword than hyaluronic acid right now? Probably not, but that hasn’t stopped us hearing people talking about using hydrochloric acid (aka the highly corrosive acid!) on their skin. Equally, the reference to ‘acid’ means you might assume HA has an exfoliating effect, but it is actually a brilliant hydrator – no peeling required! For that reason, hyaluronic acid is both a hydrating skincare ingredient (found in many super serums) and the main component of hyaluronic acid dermal fillers, which provide a volumising effect when injected into the skin. If your practitioner also references HA cross-linking, this refers to the way the HA in a filler is chemically modified to hold it together in a coherent gel, so that it stays in your face for longer than a few weeks. The more firmly an HA gel is cross-linked, the longer it will last.
3. Dynamic versus static wrinkles
The short answer: think wrinkles are just wrinkles? There are actually different types, and it changes how your practitioner might treat them.
The explanation: Assume all wrinkles can be smoothed away by toxin alone? Perhaps not. The muscle-relaxing injections work best on dynamic wrinkles, such as crow’s feet and frown lines, because these wrinkles are caused by repeated expressions, such as smiling or frowning, and toxin can help prevent this movement. However, static wrinkles are present even at rest, and are due to more significant collagen loss as we age; while gravitational wrinkles are caused by sagging skin over time. These wrinkles require a restoration of volume, so dermal fillers, as well as skin-lifting lasers or more significant surgery may be the better option. Atrophic wrinkles (aka crinkle lines) and compression wrinkles (aka sleep lines) can be made worse by lifestyle factors, so your practitioner might suggest hydrating and protective skincare as a first step instead.
4. Erythema versus Edema
The short answer: two easy-to-confuse yet equally common side effects from tweakments
The explanation: The medical profession has a ‘sciencey’ way of referring to almost everything and the ’ema’ suffix that makes these two words seem confusingly similar actually just indicates a ‘condition’. Erythema is quite simply redness of the skin, specifically due to increased blood flow due to the body’s inflammatory response after treatments like microneedling or laser. Edema is also a trauma response, but it refers to swelling caused by fluid accumulation, especially after injectables. In both cases, the symptoms should be short-lasting and can be minimised by soothing and cooling the affected areas. If you do find your practitioner using these words – instead of their layman terms – don’t be afraid to stop them and reconfirm you know what they mean!
5. Downtime versus complications
The short answer: the difference between a treatment’s expected recovery time and when things go wrong.
The explanation: when your practitioner says ‘you can expect two days of downtime‘ they are referring to the normal period of recovery time post-treatment where you may experience temporary side effects. Examples include swelling after fillers or redness after microneedling. Complications on the other hand are unexpected (but not necessarily always unavoidable) adverse outcomes. This can range from filler migration – where filler goes where it is not wanted – all the way through to infection, allergic reactions and scarring. The key difference is that downtime is a normal and temporary part of the healing process, whereas complications are potentially a medical issue. Understanding this distinction (and asking your practitioner to explain to you examples of both) will help manage your expectations and guide you on when to seek professional help.
6. Cannula versus needle
The short answer: two slightly different ways to inject the skin
The explanation: There are two main tools that your practitioner might use for your injection-based treatments, so one or both of these terms could come up in your consultation. A needle (like those used for inoculations) is sharp and precise, making it perfect for smaller, targeted areas like wrinkle treatments or lip injections. However, it has a pointed tip that goes straight into the skin, which can sometimes cause more discomfort or bruising. On the flip side, a cannula has a blunt tip and is much more flexible. It’s inserted through a tiny entry point and then moved under the skin to distribute the treatment over a larger area. That’s why it’s often used for bigger areas like cheek or jawline fillers, and it reduces the risk of hitting blood vessels, which means less bruising and swelling. Both can give you brilliant aesthetic results but it is worth knowing which your practitioner likes to use and why.
7. Invasive, minimally-invasive and non-invasive
The short answer: treatments can be roughly split into three categories depending on how much they interact with the skin and underlying tissues.
The explanation: With its potentially large incisions, general anaesthetics and longer healing processes, surgery is your invasive treatment option, and includes your traditional face lifts and liposuction. Nowadays though, lots of brands like to celebrate being non-invasive or minimally-invasive instead, mainly because it can reduce side effects and recovery times while still giving you great results. Non-invasive treatments are the most surface-level options, meaning they don’t require any cuts or needles, such as chemical peels and non-ablative lasers (more on them below). Minimally invasive treatments go a little deeper, typically involving small incisions or the use of tools like needles or cannulas, including toxin, dermal filler and thread lifts. Which tweak you choose probably actually has more to do with the results you are looking for, which you can discuss with your practitioner.
8. Ablative or Non-Ablative laser
The short answer: Ablative removes the top layer of your skin and non-ablative does not.
The explanation: Not all laser treatments work the same way so the best one for you depends on the results (and recovery times) you are looking for. Ablative lasers, like CO2 and Er:YAG, are really resurfacing, physically blitzing away – aka ablating – the outer layer of your skin. This helps with wrinkles, scars, and sun damage by encouraging your skin to heal and regenerate. But, since they remove the skin’s surface, the recovery time is longer, often involving redness and peeling for several weeks. Non-ablative lasers don’t remove the skin surface. Instead, they work beneath it to target deeper layers and stimulate collagen production. These lasers such as fractional and Nd:YAG lasers, are perfect for treating things like mild wrinkles, fine lines, and uneven pigmentation over time. They’re also much gentler so you can return to normal activities sooner.
The final word
Being on the same page as your practitioner isn’t just about understanding the medical jargon they might use (and feeling a little bit cleverer about it all). It is also the best way to prioritise not only your results but also your safety, by helping you ask the right questions.
Need help finding the perfect practitioner for you and your skin needs? Head to our practitioner map to discover our favourites near you…
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