The dress is ordered, the hall reserved, you have a guest list in your head for your side, but what about plans for your appearance at the biggest social event for you since your own wedding?? Don’t leave these plans for last. There are many proven ways to medically improve one’s appearance and turn back the hands of time, but they do require a few months to obtain results. Medical spas specialize in cosmetic dermatology to improve skin appearance and rejuvenate facial structure. A pre-wedding consultation at a medical spa for the mother of the bride or groom might include medical grade skin care products, chemical peels, injectables such as Cosmetic Botox and dermal fillers, Photofacials, and Sculpsure for body contouring.
First, medical grade skin care products are products developed by chemists and physicians only available in doctor’s offices that have proven results from medical studies as far as efficacy and safety. They are as affordable as skin care products at the pharmacy, department stores, or in-home parties. Medical grade skin care products are guaranteed to do what they say they will do, unlike most products in the beauty industry. These products are typically highly concentrated with active ingredients and provide more dramatic and quicker results. In the hands of trained physicians, medical grade skin care products can transform your skin from dull and lifeless to glowing, like a bride, in a few weeks.
Chemical peels are a method of opening the skin and putting concentrated medicated products into the skin to correct skin problems such as rosacea, acne, brown spots, red areas, large pores and skin laxity. The most effective chemical peels are medium to deep peels that in most states are performed only by nurses or doctors. Chemical peels increase cell turnover which is a major factor in aging skin. Sometimes people experience some mild skin sloughing after a chemical peel for a few days. Tamara Smith, RN, an aesthetic nurse at Nicole Norris MD Medical Spa in Peru says that “Medical-grade chemical peels should be gradually advanced in potency over months and no one should experience persistent redness or sheets of skin peeling off as often portrayed on TV. They are a great way to get your skin to healthy and rejuvenated without significant cost or discomfort.”
For those who need a quicker fix or may have more significant sagging structure or deeper lines of the face, injectable treatments might be a better option. Botox Cosmetic is the most common non-surgical cosmetic procedure in the world. Botox Cosmetic relaxes facial muscles above and around the eyes to soften lines. It works in 2 weeks and lasts an average of 3 months. Dermal Fillers are gel-like substances that are similar to our own collagen and are used to “fill” lines and areas of volume loss of the face. Fillers are injected with a needle and last 6 months to 2 years depending on the type of filler injected. The most common areas of the face injected with filler are the cheeks, lines around the mouth and the lips.
The fourth procedure that might be recommended at a pre-event cosmetic dermatology consultation is a photofacial. Photofacial, otherwise known as Intense Pulse Light (IPL) laser treatment, is a treatment that simultaneously treats red areas, brown spots, and tightens the skin. Results are seen in about a month. The results last as long as you keep your skin protected from the sun and heat but typically last years when the right precautions are taken. Patients typically need 1-3 treatments for full correction and treatments are separated by a month. Nicole Norris, MD, who offers Photofacials in her medical spa in Peru, IL, states that “Photofacials are most often done in the winter months as we ask our patients to avoid direct sunlight/tanning 2 weeks before and after a treatment. As safe laser practices and exceptional laser results are always our goal, we routinely do test spots on patients with the laser prior to treating the whole face. It’s very important that you have test spots done before any laser procedure, especially if you have darker skin.”
Lastly, body contouring to treat areas of stubborn fat might be discussed at a pre-wedding consultation. The most effective and safest form of body contouring on the market today is SculpSure. SculpSure is a breakthrough light-based body contouring treatment designed to reduce stubborn fat in problem areas such as the abdomen, love handles, thighs, upper arms, or bra strap area. Treatments take 25 min and cause permanent loss of fat with an average of 24% reduction with one treatment. Due to this amazing medical technology, bodies can now be altered to fit the dress.
For optimal results, pre-event/wedding cosmetic dermatology consultations are done 6 months prior to the wedding. If you are looking for a full service medical spa locally who offers these treatments, call Nicole Norris MD Medical Spa at 815-780-8264 or visit their website, NicoleNorrisMD.com. You plan the event, and let them plan you!
