Pre-wedding beauty treatment timeline
An abridged extract from Grow Younger with Great Food – A Guide to Healthy Ageing Inside and Out by Dr Catherine Stone and Jessica Giljam-Brown, $39.95.
Clients often come to us to prepare for life’s big moments — weddings, big birthday parties, etc. Here’s a timeline for action that can help you plan the treatments that will have you looking and feeling your best on your big day…
Six to 12 months before the event:
Start your skin care and injectable treatments as early as possible. If you can start a year in advanced, your tailored plan will deliver better results. Definitely avoid leaving this to the last month, as most good clinics are unlikely to treat you due to the risks of bruising (from injections) or reactions (to any active treatment).
If you don't have 12 months to spare, you can also trial your injectable treatments six to seven months before the big day to work out what looks best for you. Remember that everyone is different, so what's right for your bridesmaid or your mother might not be right for you. Ensure you plan is personalised and flexible enough to change as your needs change. The most common mistake is waiting until the final month to have treatments. Starting earlier will get you much better results!
Now is the time to start your Botox plan with your chosen medical injector. Choose wisely and plan your consultation early. When administered by an experienced and artful clinician, Botox can make subtle and beautiful changes to the face. Millions of men and women have used Botox to relax frown lines, forehead lines, crow’s feet, and bunny lines, but it can be expertly used for much more with an experienced injector. Botox can lift and shape the brow area, widen eyes, slim the face, reduce tension headaches and migraines, reduce jaw grinding, minimize ‘gummy’ smiles, and relax chin puckering. Botox can also help you look and feel less stressed on a day that can be anything but.
Also consider dermal fillers to restore or enhance facial volume and harmony. Hydrating dermal fillers create an instant, beautiful, naturally lifted result with minimal discomfort or downtime. Many brides choose to enhance cheek bones, reduce under-eye hollows, and add lip volume before the day when all eyes are on them.
IPL is very effective for treating brown spots and redness in the face and décolletage area. Work with your skin team to prep the skin for at least a month, and plan treatments for autumn or winter, when it’s easier to avoid sun exposure. If the timing doesn't work, or IPL isn't right for you, consider a course of light-to-medium peels to help improve the texture and even out the color of your face and décolletage area.
Three months before:
You’ve been using great skincare now for three to six months, so your skin will be optimally fit and healthy and ready for some next-level, tailored skin treatments to really get it glowing.
Natural peels introduce high levels of nutrients to the skin with an element of exfoliation. Peels increase the health of the skin through improved cellular activity, leading to improved hydration, colour, and texture. The procedure is sometimes used on other parts of the body, including the back, chest, décolletage, and hands. A wide range of peels are available to treat specific concerns.
Consider having a Vampire O-Shot for more intimate fun on your wedding night! Platelet rich plasma (PRP) helps the cells begin to rejuvenate the vaginal tissue. The result is increased sensitivity, improved orgasms, and better sex!
Four to six weeks before:
You will have your final Botox and dermal filler a minimum of four weeks prior to your big day. This gives time for the treatment to settle in — results always look their best about a month after treatment — and also gives time for any bruising to settle. Very occasionally you might want to adjust your treatment, so four weeks gives you time for the Botox to work (up to two weeks) and allows for any tweaks needed to look your absolute best!
Get your glow on with Omnilux Revive, which uses gentle, UV-free light to feed the skin with energy, improving healing and the skin’s regenerative processes. Hydration levels are boosted, which gives the skin a youthful glow. It is often combined with our professional facial treatments to make your skin luminous. A course of 10 treatments over two to four weeks is best, but even one treatment can make a lovely difference.
One week before:
You want your makeup to sit flawlessly on your face all day long, so you may choose microdermaplaning just before your event. Microdermaplaning improves the skin’s appearance by removing the top layers of dead skin through a fine planing procedure. This is a safe and painless way of exfoliating the skin’s dead cells and removing the fine peach-fuzz hair we have on our faces. It softens, smooths, and improves irregularities, giving the skin a silky texture.
Now is also the time for your final peel. It’s nice to combine this with an Omnilux treatment to really boost your glow.
Congratulations! You should be looking and feeling your absolute best. Have a wonderful day and remember to enjoy the moment!
About Dr Catherine Stone:
Dr Catherine Stone is an award-winning doctor, author and pioneer in cosmetic medicine, known globally for her work with positive ageing. Dr Cat has clinics in Britomart, Takapuna and London. www.thefaceplace.co.nz
About Jessica Giljam-Brown:
Jessica is a degree-qualified nutritionist who is passionate about how simple diet and lifestyle changes can have a powerful impact on the body. www.wellnessbyjessica.com