Aesthetic Glossary

The instructions for what to do (and avoid) in the hours, days, and weeks after treatment. Following aftercare carefully maximises results and minimises side effects.

Group of water-soluble acids (glycolic, lactic, mandelic) that exfoliate the skin's surface, smooth texture, and brighten tone. Used in cleansers, toners, serums, and chemical peels.

Injectable treatment using a purified protein to temporarily relax facial muscles, smoothing dynamic lines and wrinkles. Often called by brand names — but the underlying science is the same. Lasts 3-4 months.

The unique manufacturing reference for a specific batch of injectable product. Recorded in your treatment notes for traceability — required by GDC and useful in the rare event of a product recall.

Oil-soluble acid (almost always salicylic acid) that penetrates pores to clear oil and dead skin. Excellent for acne-prone or oily skin. Used in cleansers, toners and spot treatments.

A treatment approach that triggers your body to repair and rebuild itself, rather than adding external substances. Profhilo is the leading bio-remodelling treatment — it stimulates your own collagen and elastin.

Any injectable that stimulates your own tissue (collagen, elastin) to grow rather than adding external volume. Profhilo is a hyaluronic acid bio-stimulator. Sculptra and Radiesse are non-HA bio-stimulators.

Hyaluronic acid filler placed in the mid-face to restore lost volume, improve contour, and lift the surrounding tissue. One of the most transformative non-surgical treatments — but easy to overdo. Conservative placement is key.

The most abundant protein in your skin, providing structure and firmness. Production declines from your mid-20s — about 1% per year. Treatments like Profhilo and microneedling stimulate new collagen production.

A no-obligation discussion with Dr Niru to assess your skin, understand your goals, and recommend treatment options. Always free at The Azim Clinic. No treatment is performed without one.

Continuing Professional Development — the mandatory ongoing training all GDC-registered dentists must complete each year to remain on the register. Includes courses, conferences and reflective learning.

Fine lines that fan out from the outer corner of the eyes, deepening with smiling and squinting. Treated effectively with anti-wrinkle injections placed in the orbicularis oculi muscle.

Gel-like substances (usually hyaluronic acid) injected to add volume, smooth folds, or enhance contours. Different products have different consistencies for different areas. Results last 6-18 months.

Lines that appear when you move your face — frowning, smiling, raising eyebrows. Best treated with anti-wrinkle injections, which relax the underlying muscle.

Protein that gives skin its ability to stretch and bounce back. Like collagen, production decreases with age. Loss of elastin contributes to skin laxity and sagging.

When dermal filler moves from where it was placed into surrounding tissue. Most commonly seen with lip filler creeping above the vermillion border, creating a 'moustache shadow' or blurred lip edge. Usually fixable with dissolving and a fresh anatomically-conservative re-treatment.

A 6-type classification of skin tone and how it reacts to UV (Type I = very fair, burns easily, never tans; Type VI = deeply pigmented, rarely burns). Used in dermatology to guide treatment decisions, especially for lasers and peels.

The vertical lines between the eyebrows, formed by repeated frowning. Sometimes called 'glabellar lines' or '11s'. Among the most common targets for anti-wrinkle treatment.

The General Dental Council's public register of every dentist legally allowed to practise in the UK. Free to search at gdc-uk.org. You can verify Dr Niru's registration in 30 seconds.

The smooth area of skin between the eyebrows. Home to the corrugator and procerus muscles that create frown lines.

The smallest AHA molecule, allowing deep penetration. Strong exfoliator that smooths texture and brightens. Available at various strengths from low (5-10%) to professional peels (20%+).

A naturally occurring substance in the skin that holds up to 1,000 times its weight in water. The active ingredient in dermal fillers, lip fillers, Profhilo, and skin boosters. Gradually broken down by the body over months.

An enzyme that breaks down hyaluronic acid. Used to dissolve unwanted or migrated HA filler, or to manage vascular complications. Every clinician injecting HA filler must have it on hand.

Patches or spots of darker skin caused by excess melanin production. Triggered by sun exposure, hormones, inflammation, or ageing. Treated effectively with Obagi Nu-Derm and other medical-grade skincare.

Professional insurance that protects both the practitioner and patient if something goes wrong. All GDC-registered dentists are required to hold indemnity that covers their full scope of practice — including aesthetics.

The legally required process of explaining risks, benefits, alternatives and after-effects of a treatment, and confirming the patient understands and agrees. A signed consent form is mandatory before any aesthetic treatment.

Filler placed along the mandible to define the jaw, sharpen the angle, and improve facial contour. Popular with both men and women. Requires deep, structural product placement.

The Joint Council for Cosmetic Practitioners — voluntary register of approved aesthetic practitioners and an escalation route for complaints about non-surgical cosmetic procedures.

A leading global brand of hyaluronic acid dermal filler manufactured by Allergan. Multiple formulations within the range tailored to different facial areas (lips, cheeks, jaw). Premium price reflects extensive research and CE marking.

Local anaesthetic added to most modern dermal filler products. Numbs the area as the filler is injected, making the procedure significantly more comfortable. Usually well tolerated; allergies are rare.

Hyaluronic acid filler placed in or around the lips to add volume, improve symmetry, define the lip border, or smooth fine lines. Conservative approach is best — start with 0.5ml.

A small dose of anti-wrinkle injection at the upper lip border to relax the muscle, allowing the lip to roll out subtly. Adds the appearance of fuller lips without filler. Lasts 6-8 weeks.

A non-surgical combination plan using dermal fillers, anti-wrinkle injections and Profhilo together to restore facial structure, soften lines and improve skin quality in one personalised programme. Not a single product — a planning approach combining three techniques.

Lines running downward from the corners of the mouth toward the chin, creating a 'puppet' effect. Treated with subtle filler in the chin or jawline rather than the lines themselves.

A specific type of hyperpigmentation, often hormonal, appearing as patches on the cheeks, forehead, and upper lip. Common in pregnancy. Notoriously stubborn but treatable with the right approach.

The lines running from the side of the nose to the corners of the mouth. Can be softened by treating the cause — usually mid-face volume loss in the cheeks — rather than directly injecting the fold itself.

Form of vitamin B3 used in skincare to reduce inflammation, control sebum, minimise pores and even skin tone. Tolerated by almost all skin types. A great staple ingredient.

Obagi's flagship transformation system using tretinoin and hydroquinone to treat hyperpigmentation, melasma, and ageing skin. 18-week programme delivers dramatic improvement in skin clarity.

Medical-grade skincare brand that uses prescription-strength ingredients. Only available through qualified practitioners who can assess your skin and prescribe the right system. Famous for its Nu-Derm transformation programme.

A small test of a product on the skin (usually behind the ear or inner arm) before a full treatment, to check for allergic reactions. Standard practice for new patients trying chemical peels or new skincare.

Short chains of amino acids used in skincare to signal collagen production and skin repair. Different peptides target different functions (firming, lifting, calming).

A medicine that can only be prescribed by a registered prescriber and administered to a specific named patient. In UK aesthetics, anti-wrinkle injection medicines are POMs. ASA/MHRA rules prohibit advertising POMs by brand name to the public — which is why we describe treatments by their function, not by trade name.

A staged 3-6 month plan to maximise skin quality and address aesthetic goals before a wedding day. Typically includes Obagi or medical skincare started 3-6 months out, Profhilo course 6-8 weeks before, plus precisely-timed filler or anti-wrinkle 2-4 weeks before. Timing matters — last-minute treatment risks bruising on the day.

The medical or dental professional legally responsible for prescribing a Prescription Only Medicine. Required for all anti-wrinkle injections and most dermal fillers in the UK. The prescriber must have assessed you in person.

Bio-remodelling injectable containing one of the highest concentrations of pure hyaluronic acid available. Stimulates collagen and elastin production rather than adding volume. Two sessions, 4 weeks apart.

Long-established hyaluronic acid filler brand from Galderma. The original commercial HA filler, with decades of safety data. Multiple formulations for different uses.

Vitamin A derivative used in skincare to speed up cell turnover, smooth fine lines and improve skin texture. Available over the counter in lower strengths; prescription-strength tretinoin is more potent.

A specific lip-filler injection technique that emphasises vertical lift and a heart-shape silhouette. Done well by experienced injectors it can look striking; done with too much product or by inexperienced injectors it commonly leads to migration and an exaggerated upper lip that ages poorly.

BHA that penetrates pores to dissolve oil and dead skin. The first-line ingredient for blackheads, congested skin, and mild acne. Most effective at 1-2% concentration.

An accreditation register of aesthetic practitioners with a public-facing complaints service. Practitioners must meet standards on training, premises and indemnity to be accredited.

The oil produced by the sebaceous glands in your skin. Normal in moderation; excess sebum can contribute to oily skin, blackheads and acne.

Micro-injections of hyaluronic acid spread across the treatment area to deeply hydrate the skin from within. Improves quality and texture rather than adding volume. Course of 3 recommended.

Superficial Musculoaponeurotic System — the layer of fibrous tissue and muscle beneath the skin that surgeons lift in a facelift. Knowledge of the SMAS guides safer, deeper filler placement.

Lines visible even when your face is at rest. These have become etched into the skin over time. Often need a combination of fillers and skin boosters to address.

The hollow under the eye that creates a tired or shadowed look. Can be treated with carefully placed hyaluronic acid filler — but it's one of the most technique-sensitive areas. Not all practitioners should attempt it.

Premium Swiss-made hyaluronic acid filler range, known for natural-feeling results and excellent integration with tissue. Often preferred for the lips and tear troughs.

A maintenance treatment after your initial result starts to wear off. Booking before complete wear-off makes results last longer over time.

Prescription-strength vitamin A derivative that speeds up cell turnover, treats acne, and reduces fine lines. Used in many medical-grade skincare programmes including Obagi Nu-Derm.

A bluish tinge that appears when filler is placed too superficially in thin-skinned areas like the under-eye. Light scatters off the gel and shows through as blue. Almost always requires dissolving to correct — does not resolve on its own.

A serious filler complication where the product enters or compresses a blood vessel, blocking blood flow. Signs: severe disproportionate pain, blanching (white patches), dusky or mottled skin, vision changes. Time-critical — requires immediate hyaluronidase and clinical management. Why prescribing authority and emergency training matter when choosing an injector.

The sharp edge separating the lips from the surrounding skin. Definition of this border is one of the key markers of youthful lips. Can be enhanced with precise filler placement.

Topical antioxidant serum that brightens skin, helps fade pigmentation, and protects against UV damage. Best used in the morning under SPF. L-ascorbic acid is the most studied form.