Plain-English explanations of the technical terms and legislation used in this document.
- Adrenaline (intramuscular)
- The first-line emergency medicine, given by injection into a muscle, to treat a severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis).
- Adverse event
- Any unexpected or unwanted occurrence linked to a treatment that harms, or could harm, a patient.
- Aesthetic Complications Expert (ACE) Group World
- A specialist group that publishes guidance for practitioners on preventing and managing complications of aesthetic treatments, including the use of hyaluronidase.
- Anaphylaxis
- A severe, life-threatening allergic reaction needing immediate emergency treatment.
- Aseptic technique
- A way of preparing and giving treatment that keeps everything as free from germs as possible to prevent infection.
- Atopy
- A personal or family tendency to develop allergic conditions such as asthma, eczema or hay fever.
- Best interests
- A decision made for someone who cannot decide for themselves, choosing the option that is best for them.
- Capillary refill
- A quick bedside check of blood flow, done by pressing the skin and timing how fast the colour returns.
- Diluent
- The sterile liquid used to dissolve a powdered medicine and make it up to the correct strength for use.
- Duty of candour
- The legal duty to be open and honest with a person and their family when something goes wrong with their care.
- General Medical Council (GMC)
- The body that registers doctors in the UK and sets the standards of good medical practice they must follow.
- Haemostasis
- Stopping or controlling bleeding, for example by applying pressure with gauze at an injection site.
- Hyaluronic acid (HA)
- The gel-like material in the most commonly used dermal fillers; it occurs naturally in the body and can be broken down by hyaluronidase.
- Hyaluronidase
- An enzyme used to dissolve hyaluronic acid dermal filler, supplied as a powder that is mixed before use and measured in international units.
- Hypersensitivity reaction
- An exaggerated or harmful immune response to a substance, ranging from a mild rash to severe anaphylaxis.
- Informed consent
- Agreement to treatment given freely after the risks, benefits and alternatives have been clearly explained.
- International unit (IU)
- A standard measure of the amount (activity) of certain biological medicines, used here to express the dose of hyaluronidase.
- Intradermal
- An injection given into the upper layer of the skin, for example for a small sensitivity test.
- Intramuscular
- An injection given into a muscle, such as the adrenaline used to treat anaphylaxis.
- Marketing authorisation
- The official licence that sets out the approved uses, doses and conditions for a medicine.
- Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA)
- The UK body that regulates medicines and medical devices and oversees their safety.
- Migration (filler)
- Movement of dermal filler away from where it was originally placed.
- Near miss
- An event that could have caused harm but did not, by chance or because it was caught in time.
- Off-label use
- Use of a licensed medicine outside the approved terms of its marketing authorisation, such as using hyaluronidase to dissolve dermal filler.
- Ophthalmology
- The branch of medicine concerned with the eyes and their disorders.
- Overcorrection
- Placing more dermal filler than intended or needed, giving an over-full result.
- Perfusion
- The flow of blood through the tissues, which keeps the skin and other tissues supplied with oxygen.
- Prescriber
- A healthcare professional legally authorised to prescribe medicines.
- Prescription-only medicine (POM)
- A medicine that may lawfully be supplied or given only on the instruction of an appropriate prescriber.
- Reconstitution
- Mixing a powdered medicine with a sterile liquid to prepare it for use.
- Registered Manager
- The person registered with the regulator as responsible for the day-to-day running of a service.
- Sensitivity test
- A small test dose, given by patch or into the skin, to check for an allergic reaction before full treatment.
- Sharps
- Needles, blades and other items that can cut or puncture the skin.
- Standard Operating Procedure (SOP)
- A written, step-by-step instruction setting out how a specific task must be carried out consistently and safely.
- Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC)
- The official document for a medicine that sets out how it should be prepared, dosed and used safely.
- Titrating
- Adjusting the dose gradually to match what the individual patient needs, rather than giving a fixed amount.
- Urticaria
- A raised, itchy skin rash (hives) that can be a sign of an allergic reaction.
- Vascular occlusion
- A partial or complete blockage of a blood vessel by filler or compression, which threatens the blood supply to the skin or eye and is a medical emergency.
- Yellow Card scheme
- The UK system run by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency for reporting suspected side effects and problems with medicines or devices.