Every bride-to-be dreams of looking and feeling like the best version of themselves on their wedding day. Achieving radiant, glowing skin in time for the big event is dependent on one major component: a well-thought-out skincare plan. While it can differ from person to person, we are sharing ideal strategies and actionable tips medical aesthetic providers can use to help prepare the perfect pre-wedding treatment timeline for their bridal clients.

In this article, we’ll cover the ideal treatment timelines for the following procedures:

• Chemical peels
• Microneedling
• QWO® cellulite treatment
  
• Botox®
• Dermal fillers

Six months before the wedding

Consultation

Starting in advance is one of the best ways to ensure your client achieves fantastic results in time for their wedding day. Consultations are a chance to understand the client’s specific skin concerns while also developing a plan to achieve optimal results with customized treatments. For instance, you might get into a conversation with a bride-to-be and realize the wedding location (in Arizona) can significantly impact their skin type (very dry), which can affect the recommended treatments (you’ll want to avoid anything that dries out the skin). Take the following pro-tip from Portrait provider Kristen Doezie, MSN, BSN, RN: “The sooner you start, the better. That runway means we can really hone in on what the client’s goals are.” Once you develop a timeline leading up to the big day, you can get ahead of planning treatments that require more downtime and healing - or book repetitive sessions if needed.

For advice on conducting an expert consultation, check out our previous blog post.

Chemical peels

Chemical peels will likely be at the top of the treatment list for brides looking to improve their skin’s overall appearance. Also known as chemexfoliation or derma peeling, chemical peels use a chemical solution to remove damaged outer layers of skin and unveil a fresh, new surface with a smoother texture. Chemical peels are the third most commonly performed non-invasive cosmetic procedure in the United States, with nearly a million procedures in 2020 alone. Depending on the client's skin issues, these treatments should be started early, with the bride’s last treatment being at least six weeks out from the wedding. For instance, VI Peels will require a series of three peels, scheduled one month apart and ending 45 days before the wedding.

While there might be differences between the types of chemical agents used and their intended cosmetic outcome (i.e., reduction of redness vs. pigmentation vs. scarring), the general goal of a chemical peel is to improve the clinical appearance of skin and produce a more youthful look. However, as a medical aesthetic provider, it is essential to note that there has been a paradigm shift in recent years, with lasers frequently replacing deep peels. While clients might be interested in joining this trend, it’s critical to explain why chemical peels could be the better choice for your client’s skin. The mild properties, minimal side effects, and relative cost-efficiency of chemical peels are key reasons they remain an excellent choice for skincare prep leading up to the big day.

Microneedling

Whether they're looking to improve scarring, treat hair loss or stretch marks, or simply boost collagen for that perfect wedding glow, microneedling treatments offer plenty of benefits for brides-to-be. Kristen Doezie, MSN, BSN, RN, reminds us: “The most beautiful brides don't need to have layers and layers of foundation caked on. So, the more we can get them to where their natural skin is looking refreshed and dewy, the better they’re going to feel and the better their photos are going to look.” The process of microneedling, also known as collagen induction therapy, achieves this through repetitive puncturing of the skin with sterilized microneedles. The physical trauma from needle penetration induces a healing process with minimal damage to the epidermis. The overall result is a dermis regeneration that essentially makes a client’s skin look glowy and renewed. This treatment has become increasingly popular over the last several years because it is cost-effective, well-tolerated, and offers both cosmetic and therapeutic benefits.

Microneedling also pairs well with PRF (Platelet-Rich Fibrin)  or PRP (Platelet-Rich Plasma), which can help a client with hair growth or under-eye lumination before the wedding. PRP and PRF contain extracts of the blood circulating tissue collected through centrifugation — they’re used on wounded sites to stimulate, improve, and accelerate healing. Because this extract also contains growth factors, it is perfect for hair growth stimulation treatment for brides-to-be with thinning hair. PRF and PRP both work well to administer hair growth treatment. Still, PRF is more effective for this process due to being 100% natural and containing more significant concentrations of growth factors and stem cells.

If a client is looking to correct deep acne scars or extensive hyperpigmentation, it could take up to six treatments to see results, with four to six weeks between sessions to heal. As Gail Keir, RN, BSN, says: “You have to be a patient advocate, first and foremost. With something like peels or microneedling that requires multiple treatments, you’ll want to get started right away. The bride’s  last treatment should be at least six weeks out from the wedding.” If the bride’s skin concerns are less severe, one to three treatments should be enough. We recommend starting early with clients to properly assess the best treatment plan.

For a deeper dive into microneedling, check out this previous blog post.

Three months before the wedding

QWO® cellulite treatment

Clients looking beyond the wedding may want to also prepare for their honeymoon. As they look forward to bikini days and tanning by the beach, brides-to-be may be hyper-aware of cellulite and skin dimples. The perfect solution here is a QWO® treatment. QWO®, also known as collagenase clostridium histolyticum-aaes, received FDA approval to treat moderate to severe cellulite on the buttocks of adult women. Cellulite is an alteration in skin topography that affects between 80% and 98% of postpubertal women and results in a dimpled appearance of the affected skin. QWO® treatment uses the purified bacterium (collagenase clostridium histolyticum-aaes) to chemically sever fibrous septae, releasing the skin to appear smoother and firmer. It’s critical to note that QWO® works well on all participants with true cellulite. True cellulite is a dimple caused primarily by fibrous bands pulling in against fatty tissue. Sometimes, this can be confused for skin irregularities caused by laxity in the epidermis and dermis. Laxity is a common effect of aging and the decline of collagen beneath the skin.

QWO® treatments require at least three sessions across 21 days for the best results. While QWO® treatments do not require downtime to recover, a primary side effect includes bruising. More than 75% of the participants treated with QWO® developed significant bruising after their first round of injections in clinical trials. However, this did not correlate with pain. Bruising could result from the effects of the collagen-degrading enzyme on blood vessels in the treatment area. Most bruising fades within 10 to 14 days; however, some patients have experienced bruising or hemosiderin staining that lingers a bit longer. Arnica, warm compresses, and avoiding blood thinners can help with this.

Finally, please note that it may not be easy to tell exactly how long QWO® treatments last since it is a new product in aesthetic medicine, and there are no long-term follow-up studies to date. However, your client can expect results to last for at least one year and likely much longer.

Two months before the wedding

Botox®

Botulinum toxin type A injection (Botox®) remains the leading nonsurgical cosmetic procedure worldwide, with a high rate of efficacy and patient satisfaction. Surveys from prominent aesthetic specialty organizations consistently rank it first on lists of nonsurgical aesthetic procedures. In 2020, the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery reported more than 4.4 million botulinum toxin procedures. Botox®  is ideal for brides looking to minimize moderate to severe frown lines between the eyebrows (glabellar lines), lateral canthal lines (crow’s feet), and forehead lines. Furthermore, clients may be worried about wedding sweats and can use Botox® to treat severe underarm sweating, also known as severe primary axillary hyperhidrosis.

Brand names for Botulinum toxin type A may vary. OnabotulinumtoxinA has regulatory approval under the brand name Botox® Cosmetic, AbobotulinumtoxinA has approval under the brand name Dysport®, and incobotulinumtoxinA has approval under the brand name XEOMIN®. Regardless, the formulations are approved in numerous countries to treat the issues stated above. Administering Botox®  for your client will require a full assessment, including anatomical and functional analysis of facial morphology and the qualitative and quantitative status of hard and soft tissues. While administering Botox®  may only take 15 minutes, its effects take longer to realize. The provider’s rule of thumb states that it usually takes three to five days for results to kick in; however, scenarios also vary to a full two weeks to see the full effects of the injectable.

We recommend planning this treatment at least six months before their wedding date to ensure your client walks down the aisle with fresh Botox®. To give the bride a fantastic result, you may want to leave enough time for multiple sessions so they can also get comfortable with how it looks and feels. For instance, if a client wants to smooth out deeper, etched-in wrinkles, it may take more than one session.

Additionally, while after-care for Botox® is minimal, make sure the client understands the pre-care process that may interfere with this timeline. Avoiding blood-thinning medications or supplements for two weeks pre and post-injection is vital to note, as they can increase the likelihood of bruising.

One month before the wedding

Dermal fillers

Lastly, a bride may want fuller lips, stronger cheek definition, or a more defined jawline to ensure every angle is perfect on the big day. Hyaluronic acid (HA) fillers have become popular soft tissue filler augmentation agents over the past several years. They have helped revolutionize the filler market with several new products. HA injectables that are currently available include Belotero Balance®, Juvéderm® Ultra, Juvéderm® Voluma, Restylane®, Restylane® Silk, and Restylane® Lyft. Each product has unique characteristics that influence the best injection area, how deep they should be injected into the skin, and their longevity after injection. In a recent survey conducted by the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS), dermal filler injection was the second most common non-surgical procedure. For clients, the hallmark of aging or general subcutaneous volume loss may appear in many different areas on the face or hands. Common treatment areas include the lower half of the face, nasolabial folds, vertical lip lines, marionette lines, and even thinning lips. Fillers can enhance these areas and help a bride look fresh and plump on the wedding day.

While the effects are noticeable right away, patients may experience some bruising and swelling in the days following the treatment. You can start this process for your client during the final month before the wedding, but remember to factor in a few days for your bride to heal.

Conclusion

While this plan offers general guidance on a pre-wedding timeline, providers should always partner with their clients to develop a custom approach that best suits the patient’s needs. Keep in mind how important it is to construct a treatment plan that factors in the wedding timeline and other important variables (honeymoon, budget, and time spent in the office as the big day approaches). With wedding season around the corner, having a timeline handy is the perfect strategy to help your brides-to-be feel confident and glowing on the big day.

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