Glossary

Cellulite – A fatty deposit causing a dimpled or uneven appearance, as around the thighs and buttocks.

Orange peel- the condition of Cellulite, which is a skin condition that affects the thighs, buttocks, and hips.

Adipose cells – another term for fat cells

Cottage cheese look – another term for cellulite, describing the appearance of the legs, buttocks or thighs caused by the effect of cellulite on the skin.

Liposuction – A usually cosmetic surgical procedure in which excess fatty tissue is removed from a specific area of the body, such as the thighs or abdomen, by means of suction. Also called suction lipectomy.

Mesotherapy – the practice of using microinjections of conventional or homeopathic medication and/or vitamins into the mesoderm or middle layer of skin to deliver healing or corrective treatment to a specific area of the body. Mesotherapy has not been proven benefical in cellulite reduction

Xanthines – A yellowish-white, crystalline purine base, C5H4N4O2, that is a precursor of uric acid and is found in blood, urine, muscle tissue, and certain plants

Tumescent liposuction – The surgical suctioning of fat deposits from specific parts of the body, the most common being the abdomen (the “tummy”), buttocks (“behind”), hips, thighs and knees, chin, upper arms, back, and calves after pumping several quarts/liters of a salt water solution underneath the skin of the area to be suctioned.

Theophylline – A colorless crystalline alkaloid derived from tea leaves or made synthetically, used as a cardiac stimulant and diuretic.

Cellulitis – An acute spreading bacterial infection below the surface of the skin characterized by redness (erythema), warmth, swelling, and pain. Cellulitis can also cause fever, chills, and “swollen glands” (enlarged lymph nodes). Cellulitis is a clinical diagnosis based on the spreading involvement of skin and subcutaneous tissues with erythema, swelling, and local tenderness, accompanied by fever and malaise.

Metabolism – The chemical processes occurring within a living cell or organism that are necessary for the maintenance of life. In metabolism some substances are broken down to yield energy for vital processes while other substances, necessary for life, are synthesized.

antioxidants – an enzyme or other organic substance, as vitamin E or beta carotene, that is capable of counteracting the damaging effects of oxidation in animal tissues.

dermatologist – doctor who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of skin problems.

liposomes – An artificial microscopic vesicle consisting of an aqueous core enclosed in one or more phospholipid layers, used to convey vaccines, drugs, enzymes, or other substances to target cells or organs.

Glaucine – An alkaloid obtained from the plant Glaucium flavum, as a bitter, white, crystalline substance.