Medical dictionary

What is chin surgery (mentoplasty)? Chin surgery, also known as mentoplasty, genioplasty or chin augmentation, is a surgical intervention that aims to modify the size of the chin to achieve a more proportionate and aesthetically pleasing face, correcting congenital facial asymmetries or those caused by an accident. Chin surgery can be done either by inserting an implant or by modifying the bone

What is a cleft lip and palate? A cleft lip and/or cleft palate is a congenital condition in which parts of a baby’s face didn’t fuse together properly in utero, and as a result the child is born with a split or gap in the upper lip (cleft lip) and/or the roof of their mouth (cleft palate). It affects around one in 700 babies born in the UK, making it the most common facial b

What are congenital malformations? Congenital malformations are defects or abnormalities in the baby's body that develop during pregnancy. There are more than 4,000 types of congenital malformations, and they are categorised into two main groups: Structural congenital malformations: Those in which the baby is born without a part of the body or they have a malformation in that part. Wi

What is Coolsculpting?Coolsculpting is a relatively new fat-reduction treatment which, unlike liposuction, involves no surgery. Coolsculpting kills fat cells by freezing them using a special machine applied to the skin.  Who is Coolsculpting for?Coolsculpting is not a weight-loss procedure for people who are obese. It is a cosmetic procedure, so the best candidate is someone who has a sm

What is a coronavirus? Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that cause mild to moderate upper-respiratory illnesses ranging from the common cold to more severe illnesses such as pneumonia, severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS). Almost everyone will get infected by a coronavirus at least once in their life, and most of the time t

What is craniosynostosis? Craniosynostosis is a problem with the growth and development of the skull in childhood. Normally, the skull of a child is made up of a number of plates which fit together but don’t fuse until adulthood. In craniosynostosis, some of these plates fuse early, causing the skull to have an irregular shape. Craniosynostosis is a rare condition, affecting just 1 in

What are cysts?Cysts are closed sacs in the body’s tissue that may be filled with fluid, air, or other substances. They have a membrane, or “shell”, to divide them from the surrounding tissue, and the cells that make up this membrane are abnormal compared to the surrounding cells. Cysts can appear almost anywhere on the body, including on bones, organs, and the skin. There are hundreds or typ

What is dark circle treatment? Dark circles (technically known as idiopathic cutaneous hyperchromia of the orbital region) refer to the darkest area under the eyes. They can be hereditary, caused by hyperpigmentation, shadows, allergies, asthma, or eczema or be due to medication, fatigue, sadness, hormonal changes, age or nutritional deficiency. Dark circle treatment is a highly effecti

What is De Quervain syndrome? De Quervain syndrome is an inflammation of the tendon sheath (a membrane encasing the joints in the human body) of the tendons that control thumb. This condition causes your thumb to thicken and the tendon sheath to shrink, limiting your articular motion and leading to overall pain in your hand and wrist. What is the prognosis of De Quervain syndrome? The