You’ve picked your color theme, you’ve sampled the food, and you’ve even planned out your seating chart—but, dear bride-to-be, have you put much time and thought into you? Studies show that cosmetic treatments for brides are on the rise—there was reportedly a 30 percent increase in people considering cosmetic procedures as part of their wedding prep in 2019 alone.
While cosmetic surgery takes months of planning ahead, almost any bride can see visible benefits from today’s quick, zero-downtime treatment options. At RestoreSD Plastic Surgery in San Diego, in addition to our full range of Aesthetician Services, we offer a number of proven non-surgical and minimally-invasive treatments. Here is our 2022 list of favorite subtle bridal “tweakments” to help ensure you feel picture-perfect on your wedding day.
1. Cosmetic Injectables
For brides seeking a non-surgical treatment that is quick, nearly painless, and has no downtime, injectables like BOTOX and dermal fillers are a great option.
Neuromodulators like BOTOX & Dysport
Nueromodulators, like BOTOX and Dysport, work to subtly disable muscles in targeted areas of the face by temporarily stopping some nerve signals to the muscle—thus beautifully smoothing out wrinkles and lines around the eyes, forehead, and between the eyebrows. When working neuromodulators into your pre-wedding beauty checklist, just be aware that the treatment will need to be touched up every 4-6 months.
Dermal Fillers
Expertly-placed dermal filler, such as Juvéderm® or Restylane®, can correct a number of common skin concerns, as well as enhance certain features or aspects of the face. If you’re a soon-to-be bride seeing signs of aging or volume loss around the cheeks, under the eyes, or around the mouth and lips, dermal fillers are a great way to ensure you are looking refreshed and rejuvenated on the day of your wedding. Ideally, plan about a month in advance to give time for your results to settle as well as allow for any subtle touch-ups you may want.
Dermal fillers are a wonderful option for brides who want to add a little volume to their cheeks or plump up their pout before their big day.
2. Microneedling
Traditional Microneedling
If regular microneedling treatments aren’t already a part of your skincare regimen, then the months leading up to your wedding is the perfect time to start. Traditional microneedling, also known as collagen induction therapy, uses a special device with several small needles to create micro injuries in the skin, which in turn stimulates an increase in collagen production.
Microneedling is highly effective at treating acne scars and fine lines, as well as reducing pores and improving skin texture. It is safe for all skin types and the downtime is minimal. While just a single treatment can yield impressive results, we recommend brides start six months in advance and receive a series of treatments to achieve transformative results in time for their wedding.
Microneedling with Radiofrequency (RF)
At RestoreSD Plastic Surgery, we also offer VirtueRF—a newer form of microneedling that is enhanced with radiofrequency energy. Like traditional microneedling, VirtueRF effectively targets unwanted scars and wrinkles, but its simultaneous use of radiofrequency energy allows it to also tighten the skin during the treatment. Because radiofrequency microneedling can deliver targeted energy, it can accomplish what an intense laser or peel would without the downtime—making it an exciting alternative to surgery and traditional lasers, and therefore a great fit for brides who, understandably, aren’t willing to commit to more demanding procedures.
3. Laser Skin Resurfacing
Many brides opt for laser skin resurfacing treatments to ensure their skin is plump, smooth, and radiant on their wedding day. Laser skin resurfacing treats dark spots, hyperpigmentation, sun damage, as well as retextures crepe-like skin and fine lines. The treatment’s ability to treat both acne scars as well as wrinkles makes it a great fit for brides of all ages.
At Restore SD Plastic Surgery, we use the Phoenix 15 CO2 laser for our skin resurfacing treatments, as it is often considered the gold standard for its ability to revitalize the skin with less downtime and discomfort than other aesthetic laser systems. The CO2 laser works by removing the layers of skin that have begun to show the signs of aging, and—depending on your skin’s needs—a single treatment or a series of several treatments can help you reveal a fresh, youthful glow on the day of your wedding.
4. Intense Pulsed Light (IPL)
IPL, or Intense Pulsed Light, is one of the most effective methods for treating pigmentation issues but also offers other benefits. Also known as a photofacial, an IPL treatment is a non-invasive and highly effective solution for improving the overall health and appearance of your skin with minimal recovery time.
IPL works by sending concentrated flashes of light that pass through the top layer of skin to reach the deeper layers of blood vessels, pigment cells, and collagen. It is there that the light vaporizes the capillaries that cause redness to erase imperfections below the surface of the skin. Pain is minimal, as most patients compare the sensation to a snapping rubber band. Depending on the condition of your skin, we typically recommend our brides undergo a series of 3 to 5 treatments for optimal results. And speaking of optimal results – the benefits of IPL can last for several years!
5. Diamond Glow
There is no better way to get that highly-coveted glow on your wedding day than a Diamond Glow treatment. Diamond Glow is an advanced skin treatment that combines exfoliation with the infusion of powerful serums to improve your skin’s health and appearance.
Diamond Glow’s unique technology provides immediate and long-lasting results on all skin types. Unlike traditional facials that rely on chemical exfoliation to treat skin at the surface level, Diamond Glow uses a patented diamond-tip wand (hence the name “Diamond Glow”) that acts as a resurfacing treatment to deeply clean and rejuvenate your skin.
Diamond Glow is a non-invasive treatment with no downtime, and the treatment is fully customizable to address your specific skin concerns. Whether you desire increased skin plumpness, volume, hydration, tone, and texture (or all of the above), Diamond Glow checks all the boxes for healthy, glowing skin—making it a perfect fit for brides looking to literally shine on their wedding day.
6. Renuvion®
If you’re looking for a bit of tightening and sculpting in your face, neck, arms, abdomen, or thighs, Renuvion® might be a great fit for you. Renuvion is an innovative treatment that combines Helium Plasma and Radiofrequency energy to contour from within—without the need for extensive surgery, extended downtime, or large, noticeable scars. While slightly invasive, this in-office procedure offers results that rival those of surgery.
During a Renuvion treatment at Restore SD, Dr. Gallus creates a small incision that serves as the entry point for the device to be placed just under your skin. The device then releases pro helium gas and radiofrequency energy to create a powerful, precise stream of plasma energy. The energy generates heat to contract the skin, while excess helium gas cools the area. This combination of hot and cold energy tightens the tissues under the skin, providing dramatic and precise contouring results.
While Renuvion provides exceptional results on its own, it can also be combined with liposuction to treat particularly stubborn fat and address sagging skin in the areas such as the arms, thighs, and abdomen in just a single treatment.
Recovery involves 3-5 days of downtime and a few weeks of restricted activity, but the results can be well worth the investment of time. As such, it’s best to have your Renuvion treatment at least a month ahead of your big day.
Bonus Tip: Whatever procedures you choose, optimize your results with medical-grade skincare to ensure your skin is glowing and radiant on the day of your wedding.
Schedule your pre-wedding consultation with San Diego plastic surgeon Dr. Katerina Gallus
If you are a bride-to-be in San Diego looking for subtle bridal “tweakments” to prep for your wedding, female board certified San Diego plastic surgeon Dr. Katerina Gallus is here to help. Dr. Gallus will meet with you one-on-one and help you come up with a custom plan specifically designed to help you look like the very best version of you on your special day. To schedule your personal consultation with Dr. Gallus today, call 858-224-2281 or contact our practice online.
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