It's only mid-September now, so the holidays may be far from your mind. That is, unless you're a Christmas freak like me (and my daughter). She said to me last week, "Why is September even a month?" We are ready to skip ahead to cooler weather, pumpkin pie, pretty twinkle lights and allll the decorations!! I know people are generally heavily divided on this topic: some are like us and all the decorations go up on Thanksgiving weekend (ok last year it was like November 1), and others would rather avoid it altogether.
Whichever camp you are in, chances are you at least plan ahead for your family events and holiday parties. Hair appointments have to be scheduled weeks out during October to December, new outfits are bought if family photos are probably a must, and the same is true for your skin care and injectable treatments: you gotta plan ahead!
So here’s our annual guide to how much downtime you should allow for each type of treatment to make sure your face is picture perfect by the holidays. Keep in mind everyone heals differently! Also remember our injectors’ schedules are now booked out about a month or more,. and for longer laser treatments and Skin Pen/PRP/BBL treatments, Kit's schedule is also booking into October...so book soon to avoid disappointment!
Botox, Dysport, Xeomin:
Botox, Dysport and Xeomin can take up to 10 days for results to set in. And if you desire a little tweaking after that initial appointment, our injectors need 10 days from the first injection appointment until extra units can be added. So this appointment should be set for at least 2 weeks before you want your optimal results.
Fillers:
Filler results are immediate. Unfortunately, the reduction of bruising and swelling is not. There is downtime associated. Any time a needle goes into skin there is soft tissue injury, and there’s a chance of bruising and swelling. We always tell our clients that if you don’t want people seeing ANY sign of bruising or swelling, give yourself a 7-14 day timeframe before you need to look your best.
Many variables go in to whether a person will bruise after having injections such as:
~Treatment area: some areas, like those where the skin is thin or areas that are more vascular, can bruise more easily (think lips or tear troughs)
~Did you drink alcohol the day before?
~Do you take medicines or supplements that thin the blood?
We will send you pre-and post-instructions when you schedule you filler appointments so you know what to do before your appointment to optimize your outcome. We also recommend taking SinEcch-i which is an oral version of Arnica, proven in research studies to reduce post-injection bruising and swelling. We have the packs here and you take the first dose just after your appointment. People's Pharmacy also carries it if you'd like to purchase beforehand.
Filler appointments, just like Botox, should be set at least 2 weeks prior to when you want your optimal results. (Note: if we are talking about a wedding, that’s a different story. You need to have your appointments set more like 6-8 weeks prior to all pictures and events).
Give yourself 5-14 days to heal from this, depending on the intensity of your laser treatment (for Halo give yourself 2 weeks to be completely healed). For me, my down time was 5-7 days for Halo, but for others it can be a full 2 weeks. Your skin will go through stages: from redness, to tightness, to dry and flaky. Some people experience swelling. Give yourself leeway between treatment day and whenever you need to look your best. For detailed info on Halo, check out our blog: Hello Halo!
Downtime for this depends on how much sun damage you have to start with. The visible pigment will become much darker after the treatment and will begin flaking off within a few days. (We call it chocolate chip cookie face!) You can’t rush the sloughing…If you try to scrub at it, you will hypo-pigment, meaning the new skin underneath will appear white or pink for quite awhile if you don’t allow it to heal properly. Give yourself at least 2 weeks downtime to be picture perfect.
Skin Pen and Skin Pen with PRP: Downtime with these treatments is much more minimal. Most people only experience redness and dryness for 2-4 days. Sometimes there may be small patches of dry or flaky skin for a little longer. Again, if you need to be picture-perfect, give yourself 7 days to heal, to be on the safe side.
No Downtime Treatments:
HydraFacial: This non-laser skin resurfacing treatment treats multiple issues and leaves skin glowing. Choose the Deluxe or Platinum level to target specific issues with custom booster serums: hyperpigmentation, acne, dry skin, redness, fine lines and texture. These can be done every week if you’re working on a particular skin issue, or once a month for skin maintenance.
MicroPeel: A great, three-step procedure that combines dermaplaning, a custom chemical peel and a cryogen ball with antibacterial properties.
Dermaplane: Removes peach fuzz and the top layer of dead skin for a smooth fresh face. Can be done every 4 weeks.