Flawless Bridal Skin: Popular Skin & Facial Treatments For Brides

Skin and Body Treatments for Brides

It is wedding season once again, and more than choosing a picturesque venue, the most unique cake, or the perfect dress, one of the most important things a bride must consider is herself.

Every bride wants to look like a princess on her wedding day and integral to the fulfilment of a fairytale wedding is the bride-to-be’s flawless look.  Women go to great lengths to look their best and be radiant, blushing brides on the big day. Most women undergo diet and weight loss programs and mani-pedis are a must. But aside from these, modern brides are now also looking at aesthetic treatments that will enable them to be at their most beautiful, picture-perfect selves.

Facial and Skin Procedures

Muscle-relaxant Injections

Brides need to have porcelain-smooth skin on the wedding day with no signs of crow’s feet or lines around the mouth, and definitely no frown lines on the forehead (the goal is to be a blushing bride, not a frowning one.), which is why a popular aesthetic treatment for brides-to-be is muscle-relaxant injections. It involves injecting botulinum toxin A on the face using an ultra-fine needle to smoothen facial wrinkles on the forehead, between the eyebrows, around the mouth and eye areas and even on the neck.

It contracts and paralyzes the muscles by blocking nerve signals, easing the lines and wrinkles caused by facial movements. It can also be used to balance facial asymmetry and even treat excessive sweating of the underarms and hands.

The biggest advantages are that it is painless, the results are almost always predictable and virtually involves no downtime after the procedure. However, it is recommended to schedule the initial treatment more than a month before the big day to allow for side effects, such as minor bruising on the injection site to subside and heal. While getting it around three weeks before the day is possible, and the bruising can be covered by makeup, such a short time frame is only advisable for those who have already undergone the treatment before.

Dermal Fillers

Dermal fillers are minute injections under the skin’s surface that fill out the face to produce a smooth effect. The treatment fills in the creases and folds in the face for a more defined contour of the cheeks, jaw and lips and is considered a popular minimally-invasive procedure for reducinge the appearance of acne scars and genetic imperfections.

Temporary facial fillers, which usually last from six months to a year, are now generally hyaluronic acid-based and are perfect for enhancing the bride’s lips to define a cupid’s bow. They can also smoothen creases on the forehead and eyebrows and remove eyebags and under-eye hollows caused by sleepless nights preparing for the wedding.

Dermal fillers are not a one-time treatment, as they requires touch-up sessions. Because it lasts from 6 to 12 months, brides have ample time to space out the sessions.  The recommended time frame to get fillers is around 6 to 9 months before the wedding. Injections usually take 10 to 20 minutes every session.

However, it would also vary depending on the area being treated and the amount of filler being injected. The amount of filler will depend on the depth and size of the wrinkle. The last treatment session for final enhancement can be scheduled,  at most, three weeks before the wedding day to allow for ample recovery time. However, initial treatment can also be scheduled within this time frame. Brides may resume normal activities post-treatment but must avoid strenuous movements and direct exposure to sunlight.

Chemical Peels

One of the earliest treatments in the industry is the chemical peel. This treatment sloughs off and exfoliates the top layer of dead and old skin cells, revealing taut, baby-smooth skin. Chemical peels are administered by applying topical formulas of chemical solutions – such as glycolic acid, trichloroacetic acid (TCA), salicylic acid, lactic acid or carbolic acid – to the face, causing it to blister and eventually peel off. Peels can reduce the appearance of fine line, wrinkles, enlarged pores, acne scars, sun spots and even precancerous lesions.

The length of the process and the depth of exfoliation depend upon the type of acid used and its pH level, the concentration of the solution and the time it is left on the skin. Once the skin is affected by the peel solution, it begins to naturally repair itself, as the dead skin flakes away.

Peels can range from superficial or micro-surfacing, medium and deep peel. Superficial peels are usually done over a series of six sessions while deep peels can be a one-time procedure. With superficial peels, brides may experience mild redness but can resume regular activities immediately; deep peels, on the other hand, require some downtime.

Given these time frames, brides should schedule peels at least three months prior to the wedding to ensure that the redness will have subsided. Treatments take anywhere from 5 to 15 minutes. Peels, like other treatments, are recommended to be  taken in a series of 3 to 6 sessions scheduled around two weeks apart.

Around a week after the final session, brides may expect fresh, firm, young-looking new skin that is perfect for the red-letter day.

Laser rejuvenating treatments

For brides needing non-surgical correction but eschewing fillers, the alternative is laser treatments. Laser treatments remove acne scars, sunspots, age spots and fine lines. Because most laser treatments require minimal downtime, they are a great option for brides.

With all the stress of the wedding preparations, some brides break out. One of the best ways to treat acne and acne scars is by getting a Mosaic laser skin rejuvenating treatment. Mosaic employs the fractional laser Controlled Chaos Technology (CCT), wherein tiny laser beams create microscopic perforations on the face to stimulate rejuvenation without damaging the surface of the skin. With this treatment, the deep layers of the skin regenerate collagen and elastin for supple, rejuvenated skin.

After succeeding treatments, the face will become noticeably lighter and the scars will be reduced. Results can last up to three months or more depending on the condition of the skin and the aging process. Aside from acne, laser treatments also target sun spots, finelines and age spots.

Five to six days of recovery time will be necessary after every session. Though brides may expect redness, swelling and slight pain, these can be relieved by an intensive moisturizing routine, and just as with any facial treatment, staying away from direct sunlight as much as possible. For brides planning a beach or outdoor wedding, it is recommended to get laser treatments two to three months prior to the wedding day and putting sun protection lotion every time they are outside.

Medical facials

Do not be fooled into thinking that medical facials are as relaxing as spa facials. The former is more concerned with deep exfoliation and addressing skin problems to renew the skin surface than with relaxation. While medical facials generally follow the steps of a spa facial – cleansing, exfoliating, extracting, and moisturizing – in the former, these steps are done on a more intense level.

Popular types of medical facials are microdermabrasion and dermaplaning. Microdermabrasion is skin-resurfacing treatment that removes the dull top layer of the skin to reveal the smooth, young-looking skin underneath. Microdermabasion machines can use small crystals to do the resurfacing, while others have a diamond tip or sandpaper-like paddles. Dermaplaning, on the other hand, uses a surgical knife to remove the top skin layer. Other medical facials employ microcurrent, ultrasound or radiowaves to reveal firmer, younger-looking skin.

Medical facials can be planned in a series of five to eight sessions scheduled over a course of six to 12 weeks. However, it is recommended to begin medical facials around six months before the wedding. Because it is a gentle procedure, there is little to no downtime, so brides can immediately get back to the wedding preparations.

Medical facials give the face a youthful glow and also complement other non-invasive treatments such as dermal fillers and laser rejuvenation.

Thermage 

Thermage is an FDA-approved procedure that tightens the skin and reduces wrinkles and other signs of aging by applying captive radiofrequency energy to heat the underlying layers of the skin. The procedure targets three layers of facial skin to rejuvenate it.

It is painless, non-invasive and requires no downtime. The treatment can take anywhere from 20 minutes to two hours depending on the area to be covered. Another great thing about Thermage is that unlike laser skin tightening procedures, it does not require repeat procedures to achieve desired results.Brides may have to wait 4 to 6 months for the tightening and collagen growth to be complete. Once complete, results may last for a few years.

Body Procedure

Fat freezing or CoolSculpting

Coolsculpting is a non-invasive procedure that involves cooling adipose tissues to induce the breakdown of fat cells. Because subcutaneous fat cells are more vulnerable to the effects of cold compared to the other tissue, cooling is a safe method for reducing body fat and allowing for body contouring without damaging other tissues. It is a non-surgical alternative to liposuction.

The treated fat cells die and are carried off by the lymphatic system and eventually dissolve.  Fat freezing is merely for trimming bulges and not for reducing weight.

Fat freezing may be scheduled 3 to 4 months before the wedding, though effects may be seen about a month or two after the procedure.

Following any of these treatments, brides must strive not succumb to the stress and pressures surrounding the wedding preparations. Weddings days are wonderful days and regardless of the things that may go awry on the big day, a bride’s best accessory will be her smile and the man on  her arm. But of course it would not hurt to look picture-perfect either.

To get skin and body treatment for a radiant bride in Singapore, you can trust that Dr. Tyng Tan of the Aesthetics and Hair Clinic will provide you with the appropriate procedure in preparation for your big day. Call us now or simply fill out our inquiry form to schedule your consultation with Dr. Tyng Tan, today!