With just a month to go until the holiday season, many patients are seeking ways to refresh their appearance. If you are considering a festive rejuvenation, here is a guide to some of the most popular treatments, along with what to expect in terms of recovery, helping you plan to be Christmas-ready.
Non‑Surgical Options
Injectables
Injectable treatments such as neurotoxins (e.g. Botox) and dermal fillers are among the fastest‑turnaround options. This means these treatments are ideal for patients who want to look fresh for festive gatherings but do not have weeks to recover. The procedure can typically be completed during a lunch hour, and patients can resume normal activities immediately, with only mild, short-lived side effects such as minor swelling or bruising.
Anti-wrinkle injections like Botox are great for reducing the appearance of forehead lines, frown lines/glabellar lines (sometimes called “11 lines”), crow’s feet, bunny lines, neck bands, and lip lines/smoker’s lines. We generally recommend booking your wrinkle injection appointment about 2–3 weeks before any big event.
Fillers, on the other hand, are a good option to “fill” sunken hollows under the eyes (known as Tear Trough Filler), cheeks, and temples. They can also help soften and smooth nasolabial folds and marionette lines.
Skin Rejuvenation Treatments
These treatments are ideal for boosting radiance, improving texture, smoothing fine lines, and evening out skin tone, all in time for the holidays.
For example, Laser Treatments such as UltraClear, chemical peels, Exosomes with Potenza RF Microneedling, and Aquafusion can deliver strong “glow” results with little or no downtime.
Laser Treatments can come with a few days recovery period depending on the exact treatment required, however they do provide exceptional resurfacing results and lighter rejuvenating laser treatments can be done with virtually no downtime at all. This treatment is celebrated for its ability to significantly improve skin texture and treating wrinkles, scars, and pigmentation.
Chemical peels, an aesthetic staple, can help improve skin texture, enhance overall skin tone, and reduce fine lines and wrinkles. Again depending on the exact peel required, there is sometimes no downtime required.
When it comes to Potenza RF Microneedling, this advanced treatment helps reduce acne and acne scars, leaving the skin firmer, tighter, and more youthful, with a smoother and brighter complexion. Recovery usually takes 5–7 days. It is especially recommended for those dealing with both old and new blemishes. The addition of Exosomes alongside your Microneedling treatment can significantly reduce the recovery period.
Whereas Aquafusion provides deep cleansing, exfoliation, extraction, and hydration with zero downtime, making it perfect for any pre-event skin prep.
Thread Lifts
For those seeking a more noticeable lift without undergoing full surgery, thread lifts provide notable improvements. The procedure helps reduce the appearance of mild to moderate wrinkles and jowls while effectively lifting sagging skin. They work by using bio-compatible fibres made from polymers commonly composed of polylactic acid or polydioxanone, depending on the type of thread used.
It is best to schedule your thread lift at least 3–4 weeks before a major event. While most people experience only mild swelling or bruising for a few days, it can take 2–3 weeks for the skin to fully settle and for the lifting effect to look its most natural.
Surgical Options
If your goal is to be party-ready in about 4 weeks, many full surgical options may be too ambitious for that timeline. More manageable procedures within this timeframe potentially include blepharoplasty, brow lift, VASER liposuction, and a lip lift.
Blepharoplasty (Eyelid Lift): A blepharoplasty, also known as an eyelid lift, brightens tired-looking eyes, addresses hooded eyelids, and smooths under-eye puffiness. Time off work is typically 5–7 days, with full recovery expected in 3–5 weeks.
Brow Lift: A brow lift addresses sagging or drooping brows, refreshes the appearance of tired eyes, and skillfully smooths forehead and worry lines. Recovery usually takes 1–2 weeks.
Lip Lift: A lip lift elevates and enhances upper lip fullness, shortens the nose-to-lip distance, and lifts downturned mouth corners. Initial recovery is around 1 week.
VASER Liposuction: VASER lipo is gentler than traditional liposuction and can be used to contour the body and remove fat from areas such as the chest, abdomen, arms, legs, and even under the chin. Recovery typically takes about 4 weeks.
*Recovery times may vary from patient to patient.
During your consultation with our team, we will assess your concerns and recommend the right treatment to get you ready for your festive deadline. If we feel there is a better option suited to your needs, even if it may extend your timeline, we will always discuss all possibilities to ensure you are well-informed and confident in your decision.
In Summary
If you want to look your best with minimal downtime this festive season and into the New Year, we are always here to help.
Our team believes in taking a careful, considered approach, whether for non-surgical or surgical treatments, and we never advise patients to rush into important decisions.
Book a consultation, and let’s discuss your concerns and the best options to achieve your goals.
