Practice Test Geeks(ABCS) American Board of Cosmetic Surgery Certification Practice Test
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Non-Surgical Cosmetic Procedures and Aesthetic Medicine Flashcards

7 cards from real ABCS practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.

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  1. Which chromophore is primarily targeted by the 1064 nm Nd:YAG laser?

    Answer: Melanin

    At 1064 nm, melanin is the predominant chromophore, though this wavelength has relatively low melanin absorption, making it safer for darker skin tones than shorter wavelengths.

  2. Cryolipolysis (CoolSculpting) induces fat reduction primarily through which mechanism?

    Answer: Apoptosis triggered by controlled cooling without freezing tissue

    Cryolipolysis selectively triggers apoptosis in adipocytes at temperatures above freezing (around 4°C), exploiting fat cells' heightened sensitivity to cold compared to surrounding tissues.

  3. Which of the following best describes the zone of coagulation in a fractional ablative laser treatment?

    Answer: Columns of ablated tissue surrounded by intact skin bridges

    Fractional ablative lasers create microscopic treatment zones (MTZs)—columns of ablated/coagulated tissue—surrounded by untreated skin that accelerates healing and reduces downtime.

  4. A patient on warfarin therapy is requesting a chemical peel. At which peel depth does bleeding risk become clinically significant?

    Answer: Deep (reticular dermis)

    Deep chemical peels penetrating the reticular dermis carry meaningful bleeding risk and require coagulation status assessment; superficial and medium peels generally do not induce significant bleeding.

  5. Which muscle is responsible for the 'bunny lines' that appear on the nose with facial expression?

    Answer: Nasalis

    The nasalis muscle (transverse portion) contracts to produce diagonal wrinkles on the dorsal nose known as bunny lines, which are treated with small doses of botulinum toxin.

  6. What is the mechanism by which intense pulsed light (IPL) treats facial telangiectasias?

    Answer: Selective photothermolysis targeting oxyhemoglobin in vessels

    IPL uses broad-spectrum light filtered to target oxyhemoglobin (peak absorption ~541 and 577 nm), causing selective thermal damage to the vessel wall through selective photothermolysis.

  7. Which adverse effect is most commonly associated with high-frequency focused ultrasound (HIFU) treatments for skin tightening?

    Answer: Transient erythema and mild edema

    Transient erythema, mild edema, and tenderness are the most common side effects of HIFU, typically resolving within hours to a few days after treatment.