Laparoendoscopic single site surgery (LESS) and natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (NOTES) are emerging platforms to further reduce the invasive profile of surgery. As feasibility of an increasing array of procedures in both platforms is being demonstrated, with out comes comparable to multiport laparoscopy, there has been a parallel proliferation of concepts, terminology and technology. In this article, we describe the rationale behind the evolving paradigm shift towards truly "scarless" surgery and address the terminology associated with these surgical approaches.