People often say, “summer bodies are made in the winter.” Instead of letting the cold and gloomy winter weather get you down, use it to your advantage! Getting cosmetic treatments and other surgical procedures done in the winter is a great idea for a multitude of reasons. Many beauty treatments may take time to show their full results, so if you want to look a certain way by summer, it is best to get these treatments in advance. In addition, many treatments give better results when performed in the winter, not to mention the never-ending layers of clothing that can help disguise any work you may have had done. Below, read about what cosmetic procedures and beauty treatments are best to get done this holiday season!
Fillers & Injectables
Dermal fillers and other injectables are popular cosmetic treatments that are highly sought after every single day of the year. While there is no requirement to get fillers and injectables done in the winter, many dermatologists and plastic surgeons opt to perform these cosmetic enhancements in the winter, as the colder temperatures help to minimize the risk of post-injection bruising. Cold causes vasoconstriction while heat causes vasodilation, so if you’re someone that bruises quite easily, it may be best to consider getting these procedures done while the weather is still cooler.
Dermal fillers are gel-like substances that get injected underneath the skin in order to smooth fine lines, soften wrinkles, restore lost volume, or enhance facial contours. Over 1 million people annually opt for this common facial rejuvenation treatment as a cost-effective and minimally invasive solution to the inevitability of aging. There are many other substances that can be injected into the face, all with the promise of making you look younger. Some injectables to try out this winter include Radiesse (calcium hydroxylapatite), Kybella (deoxycholic acid), Restylane (hyaluronic acid), Sculptra (poly-l-lactic acid), and Bellafill (polymethylmethacrylate with bovine collagen).
Chemical Peels & Laser Treatments
Both laser treatments and chemical peels are two beauty treatments one should avoid during the summer months due to increased sun exposure and excessive heat, which can cause undesirable results and unwanted pigmentation. These treatments increase your sensitivity to the sun, so they are not ideal to perform when the UV index is higher. Since your likelihood of having a tan is higher when the UV index is higher and having a tan can negatively affect the results of pigment-targeting lasers, it is best to avoid those as well. The more ablative the laser is (the ones that resurface the uppermost layers of skin) the more downtime is required, which can include staying indoors to avoid the sun.
Dermatologists also recommend superficial nonablative laser treatments during the winter as there is a decreased risk of complications due to post-procedure sun and heat exposure that can cause post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. Superficial restorative laser treatments for brown spots and blood vessels and exfoliating chemical peels are two effective beauty treatments to consider this winter.
Sclerotherapy
Another popular cosmetic procedure during the holiday season is vein-eliminating sclerotherapy. Sclerotherapy is a procedure used to treat varicose and spider veins in which a polidocanol solution is injected directly into the veins, causing the vein to scar and forcing blood to reroute through healthier veins. After this cosmetic procedure is performed, the treated veins tend to fade away within a few weeks, although in some instances multiple sclerotherapy treatments may be necessary.
Since sclerotherapy can take time to fully work, it is recommended that you get this treatment done in the winter when your legs are usually covered.
We tend to notice unsightly veins more in the summer months when shorts are in season, so it’s best not to wait until summer to get it done. In addition, post-sclerotherapy one must wear compression garments for about two weeks, which is much easier to do in the winter as they can be hidden under clothing and won’t cause you to sweat as much in the cold weather. In terms of healing, pigmented skin (including tanned skin) is less forgiving and can lead to hyperpigmentation. To prevent hyperpigmentation, scarring, and other post-procedure complications, doctors recommend that you don’t rush the healing process, which is easiest to do in the winter.
Laser Hair Removal
Just like facial laser treatments, laser hair removal is also best when performed during the winter months. If you want to be hairless in time for bikini season, dermatologists and plastic surgeons recommend getting this cosmetic treatment done in the winter, as it will require multiple follow-up sessions to acquire permanent results. While every treatment area is different, most people will need at least six sessions spaced six weeks apart to reach their end goal of permanent hair removal.
For laser hair removal to be successful, the skin should not be exposed to the sun or tanned at all (this includes self-tanner). Since laser hair removal involves the use of a laser light as the primary hair removal mechanism and the light is attracted to pigment and melanin, having tanned skin can impact the overall results as the laser will have trouble distinguishing between the melanin in the hair and skin. This is why laser hair removal cannot be performed on light blonde, light red, or white hair, because they lack the necessary pigment and melanin for the laser light is attracted to.
Skin Tightening and Fat Loss Treatments
Even though the winter is a perfect time to go under the knife, some people aren’t ready to make that big of a decision. As we age, the effects of time, gravity, and exposure to the elements takes a toll on our skin’s elasticity, leading to the appearance of saggy skin. Luckily, there are non-surgical options for those looking to tighten skin and/or lose fat in time for the summer.
For skin tightening, one can consider getting either a radio frequency or an ultrasound-based skin tightening treatment that uses specialized energy to stimulate collagen production for firmer skin. Some skin tightening treatments to contemplate this winter include SkinTyte II™ (most commonly used to treat the abdomen, arms, jawline, neck, face, and eyes) and Cellulaze™ (first treatment ever to specifically treat the appearance of cellulite) .
For fat loss, there are also many cosmetic procedures available to choose from. If you have stubborn fat that won’t budge no matter how much you diet and exercise, you would most likely be a good candidate for minimally invasive fat reduction treatments. The most common fat loss procedure with long-lasting result is Coolsculpting®. Coolsculpting® uses the power of cryolipolysis to freeze and eliminate fat cells in the targeted areas. Another alternative to a surgical procedure like liposuction is SmartLipo™, a procedure that uses lasers under the skin to melt fat and destroy fat cells.
Plastic Surgery
Last but not least, the best time to get any form of plastic surgery is during the winter. Going under the knife is no joke and results can take up to a year to fully show. If you are looking to get a breast augmentation to flaunt in a bikini during the summer months, plastic surgeons recommend that you have the procedure done in the winter in order to give your body the necessary time to recover.
For procedures like liposuction, tummy tucks, and Brazilian butt lifts, the surgery itself will create some residual swelling that continues to improve over the course of 6 months. Plastic surgeons say that surgery on the eyes is the quickest procedure to show results, while a rhinoplasty (nose job) can take up to a year to show its final shape. When it comes to breast augmentation and tummy tuck scars, those can also take up to a year to heal and flatten, with sun exposure potentially causing further discoloration to these marks since scar tissue is extremely sensitive.
Conclusion
Although you can get cosmetic procedures, beauty treatments, and plastic surgery at any time of the year, most procedures are best performed in the winter. The cooler weather and lack of UV light makes the winter months the prime time for healing and covering up evidence of having work done. If you are looking for the best possible results, opting to get work done this holiday season is the perfect time to do so. Treat yourself this holiday season and upgrade indulge in a little self-care.
