Do you have a special event coming up? Is your goal to look and feel your best to impress those in attendance? Wondering what aesthetic MedSpa skin care treatments can help and how far in advance you should schedule them? In this post, we answer these questions and more with expert guidance on the best treatment timeline for MedSpa and cosmetic services ranging from body contouring and collagen stimulation to laser treatments and injectables.
Maybe you have a class reunion coming up or a major milestone birthday, and you want to put your best foot forward. Or maybe there’s a big family reunion that you haven’t been to in a while, or you’re being presented with a major award in the near future, making you the center of attention on stage. There are a myriad of events that could be occurring in your life that prompt you to look into skin care treatment options to prep, so you walk into the event with your head held high.
And it doesn’t have to be a major event, either. It could be a company event, holiday party, or the holidays in general that prompt you to up your game when it comes to your appearance. So, what skincare and body treatments can help you look and feel your best, and how far in advance should you consider scheduling those treatments?
We turn to DermaTouch RN Houston-based Aesthetician, Krys Givens, and San Antonio-based Nurse Injector and Advanced Practice Nurse, Carrie Moschitto for their expert advice to answer these questions.
How far ahead of time should you schedule non-surgical cosmetic and aesthetic MedSpa treatments?
How far in advance you seek treatments will partly depend on the type of results you’re seeking and your age. If you have an upcoming major event that you’re aware of at least 12 months out, then it’s best to go ahead and schedule a consultation at that time.
“An individual should seek an aesthetic services consultation at least 6 to 12 months ahead of time,” shares Givens, “For more seasoned individuals, 12 to 18 months beforehand is best, and for younger individuals, 6 to 12 months is recommended.”
If you’re considering injectable treatments only, scheduling treatments at least six months ahead of time is recommended by Moschitto.
However, it’s still best to schedule a consultation sooner, in case you and your Provider determine that, for the results you desire, other treatments are needed. It’s possible to start treatments closer to the event, though it’s difficult to speed up results for some treatments within a briefer treatment timeline.
According to Givens, “It’s always better to err on the side of caution and opt for a consultation earlier rather than later, since the specific timeline for an ideal outcome is dictated by a person’s specific concerns, overall aesthetic goals, and skin condition of the skin.”
Cosmetic & aesthetic MedSpa treatment timeline
Givens and Moschitto recommend the following Med Spa body contouring and facial treatments timeline to get ready before your big event.
12+ months ahead of event
Considerations for at least 12 months out from your event include:
- Cosmetic & Aesthetic MedSpa treatment consultation
- Chin contouring with CoolSculpting before facial rejuvenation treatments
Cosmetic & Aesthetic MedSpa treatment consultation
Givens points out that each individual is unique, and the treatment timeline necessary for recommended treatments will vary based on the individual’s current skin condition, concerns, and overall goals. That’s what, as previously shared, it’s best to seek a consultation 12 to 18 months out for more mature skin and 6 to 12 months out for younger skin in terms of age.
CoolSculpting chin contouring before facial rejuvenation treatments
CoolSculping, discussed in more detail below, is the top non-surgical fat reduction treatment available. It can be a great option for those seeking chin contouring.
However, Givens suggests that, if your treatment plan includes skin tightening treatments, you will ideally have completed your CoolSculpting chin contouring treatments before the skin tightening treatments begin. If this is your situation, then CoolSculpting should be completed 6 to 12 months out to give time for skin tightening treatments to follow and take effect before the event. If your treatment plan doesn’t include skin tightening treatments, then CoolSculpting for chin contouring can be completed 3 to 6 months ahead of the event.
6 to 9 months ahead of event
Modalities for skin rejuvenation and collagen production required time for full results to manifest, and many services require a series of treatments for clinical correction,” shares Givens, “So brides should plan for these treatments at least 6 to 9 months out to see the full results of her treatment plan from the first treatment initiated in a series.”
Treatments that address acne, skin laxity, and uneven skin tone, texture, and tightening fall under this category.
Treatment should begin 6 to 9 months ahead of the event if you’re seeking to address any of the following concerns:
- Uneven tone, texture, and tightening
- Skin laxity
- Acne
- Jaw contouring (with Kybella (Deoxycholic Acid))
Uneven tone, texture, and tightening aesthetic MedSpa treatments
In terms of skin rejuvenation, combination treatments can do wonders for the skin. To address uneven skin tone, tightening, and texture, Givens suggests the BBL and Halo Hybrid Fractional Laser at DermaTouch RN’s Houston location, the BBL and Moxi Laser combination at their San Antonio location, and the Vivace RF Microneedling and CoolPeel combination at either location.
Here’s some information regarding Halo, Vivace, CoolPeel, Moxi, and BBL treatments.
- Halo: Halo treatments help to correct uneven skin tone, sun damage, discoloration, scarring, and enlarged pores. This hybrid fractional laser is used to treat the chest, arms, hands, neck, and face.
- Vivace RF Microneedling: RF microneedling applies a dual action mechanism of radio frequency and controlled micro injuries through micro-needle punctures. This process helps to stimulate collagen production and tissue regeneration due to the coagulation of deeper skin tissues that occurs with treatment.
- BBL (Broadband light): A BBL, or Broadband Light Photofacial, helps to improve and address broken capillaries, skin tone, redness, and sun damage through the use of light therapy.
- Moxi: Moxi treats the superficial epidermis of the face as a nonablative laser skin treatment. The treatment addresses and prevents skin discoloration and sun damage.
- CoolPeel: CoolPeel is an ablative laser that treats a range of skin concerns by delivering intense infrared light to the outer layers of skin of the chest, neck, and face. The treatment targets and improves:
- Fine lines and wrinkles
- signs of premature aging
- Benign skin growths (i.e., moles and skin tags)
- Enlarged pores
- Rosacea
- Acne scarring
- Other scars (like from falling off your bicycle)
- Skin tone
- Skin texture
Skin laxity aesthetic MedSpa treatments
When it comes to concerns with skin laxity, Givens favorite treatment options include Sofwave, Halo, and Vivace RF Microneedling.
Halo and Vivace RF Microneedling are discussed above. Here’s some info regarding the innovative Sofwave treatment:
- Sofwave: Sofwave helps to tighten and lift the submental, neck, and eyebrows and treats fine lines and wrinkles by using parallel ultrasound beams to stimulate collagen, elastin, and hyaluronic acid production.
Acne treatments
“For those who have acne scarring concerns, it’s essential to ensure any active acne is addressed before treating remediating scarring, regardless of whether the type of scarring is discolored – as in post-inflammatory erythema or post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation – textured, or both,” indicates Givens.
Clinical treatments to help with active acne include chemical peels, DiamondGlow, Forever Clear BBL for Acne, Glacial RX, and a personalized medical grade at-home skin care regimen.
- Chemical peels: Chemical peel treatments come in various levels, with deeper peels being more intense and requiring more recovery time than lighter peels. Peels help to improve many skin concerns, including skin texture, tone, and fine lines and wrinkles.
- DiamondGlow: Using pro-medical grade serums chosen by the Provider based on the individual’s skin concerns and condition and concerns, DiamondGlow uses a diamond tip to support cell proliferation through gentle, yet effective exfoliation. Congestion, dead skin, and debris are removed during treatment, allowing the skin to better absorb skincare products afterward. DiamondGlow also helps with lymphatic drainage for improved detoxification.
- Forever Clear BBL: Forever Clear BBL helps to clear acne using a combination of blue, yellow, and infrared light. This process helps to eliminate bacteria, reduce inflammation, and promote healing for adults and teens.
- Glacial RX: As the first FDA-cleared dark spot treatment of its kind, Glacial RX applies CryoModulation, a freezing technology that helps to treat age spots and hyperpigmentation during treatment. By temporarily freezing the skin’s melanocytes, less production of melanin or pigment occurs as the skin cells heal and restore themselves.
- Medical grade skin care: Using scientific-based, medical-grade skincare at home is essential to maintain in-clinic treatment results and support your skin overall. SkinMedica is a great option. Givens points out that using medical-grade skincare addresses specific skin conditions and concerns, supports day-to-day skin health, and supports the in-clinic rejuvenation process.
Kybella jaw contouring
Suppose you want a more contoured jawline that’s noticeable in photos. In that case, Moschitto suggests the injectable treatment Kybella (Deoxycholic Acid) as a consideration before an event.
“An injectable treatment that can have some great effects on jaw contour is Kybella. Since some can have more significant swelling following treatment than others and the volume reduction that occurs with Kybella is cumulative, often requiring a series of treatments over the course of 3 to 4 months, the optimal time to start treatment would be at least six months before an event. This would allow time to complete the series, see results, and allow any swelling following the treatment to resolve completely.”
To learn about the differences between Kybella and CoolSculpting as fat reduction treatments, refer to “Fat Reduction Options for the New Year.”
3 to 6 months ahead of event
If one or both of the following two treatments are part of your event treatment timeline, you’ll want to initiate treatment at least 3 to 6 months ahead of the event:
- Biostimulation dermal fillers
- CoolSculpting fat reduction treatment
Biostimulation dermal fillers
HA dermal fillers are the most commonly discussed and used dermal fillers on the market, which are discussed in more detail later. Biostimulatory fillers are another type of dermal filler used, which work by stimulating an increase in collagen production in an individual’s tissue.
Moschitto points out that there are different types and brands of biostimulatory fillers.
“While some biostimulatory fillers provide more immediate improvement than others, the full biostimulatory filler effect takes time to develop. Injections should be completed 3 to 6 months prior to an event if you want to see results by the time the event rolls around.”
CoolSculpting fat reduction treatment
CoolSculpting is a fat reduction treatment many turn to for a slimmer physique. Using cooling technology, CoolSculpting freezes away unwanted diet- and exercise-resistant fat in nine FDA-cleared areas of the body, including the abdomen, buttocks, arms, back, thighs, flanks, bra fat, and chin.
Givens advises that individuals who want to focus on smoothing out areas such as the abdomen (tummy), arms, bra line, or flanks (love handles) schedule a consultation with one of DermaTouch RN’s CoolSculpting specialists at least 4 to 6 months before an event.
As mentioned earlier, CoolSculpting also works well for reducing fat in the chin area to support a more defined jawline. If this approach is part of your treatment plan, it would be best if the CoolSculpting series were completed prior to moving into any skin tightening services. Therefore, a CoolSculpting treatment or treatment series for the chin or jawline would be best concluded somewhere between 6 to 12 months before an event. This allows for sufficient time for all treatment plans to be finalized and results to take full effect.
1 to 2 months ahead of event
As you get closer to your event, here are the treatments that should be completed within 1 to 2 months before it:
- HA dermal filler treatment (like Juvederm filler) – 4 to 6 weeks out
- Botox injections and neuromodulator treatments – 3 to 4 weeks out
4 to 6 weeks before event – HA dermal filler treatment (like Juvederm)
Here, we focus on HA fillers vs. the biostimulatory fillers discussed previously, since HA filler results are more immediate than those of biostimulatory fillers.
“Fillers are wonderful products to enhance our best features,” shares Moschitto, “They’re also a great option to soften harsh lines that can develop with aging. With hyaluronic acid fillers, you need to provide enough time prior to an event for potential swelling and bruising to resolve. Since they continue to settle into the tissue for between 4 to 6 weeks after treatment, one should plan on scheduling their HA filler treatment at least 4 to 6 weeks prior to an event.”
3 to 4 weeks before vent – Med Spa Botox injections and neuromodulator treatments
Botox is a great treatment to soften expression lines of the forehead, between the brows, and around the outside corner of the eyes prior to an event.
“Since neuromodulators, like Botox, take some time to completely take effect and see results, it’s essential to time your injections with enough time prior to the wedding,” suggests Moschitto, “At a minimum, treatments should be completed at least two weeks prior to an event, and ideally 3 to 4 weeks prior to allow time for a small adjustment if needed.”
Another side effect to consider with Med Spa Botox injections is bruising, though, as Moschitto shares, “It’s very rare for bruising to be significant or last for long – the bruises that sometimes occur usually resolve quickly.”
Week of event
Though most treatments should be completed at least a few weeks to months prior to an event, a DiamondGlow treatment, previously mentioned, is suitable and recommended for the week of your upcoming event.
“A DiamondGlow facial treatment a few days prior to the big day will ensure glowing, hydrated, smooth skin, which are all desirable conditions for smooth makeup application the day of the event!” shares Givens.
Book your cosmetic & aesthetic MedSpa treatment consultation ASAP!
As soon as you know you’ll be attending an event that you want to prepare for, begin immediately to find a reputable Med Spa to book your aesthetic MedSpa treatment consultation. The more time you allow between starting treatments and the event, the more likely you’ll be able to complete the required treatments to meet your desired outcomes.
At DermaTouch RN, you can book online 24/7!
Carrie Moschitto, MSN, ANP-C
NURSE INJECTOR/ADVANCED PRACTICE NURSE
Carrie has over a decade of clinical experience as a Registered Nurse and subsequently as an Adult Nurse Practitioner. She obtained her BSN in Nursing in 2007 and her MSN in 2011, both from University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston. Carrie has a diverse background in healthcare, with prior experience in Trauma Critical Care, Cardiac Electrophysiology, and Aesthetic medicine. She has worked as a Nurse Practitioner for the last 9 years and takes pride in providing comprehensive, compassionate, patient-centered care.
Carrie has a passion for delivering high-quality wellness and aesthetic services to our clients, including injectable therapies, hormone replacement, and Laser treatments. She played an instrumental role in establishing our Houston location 15 years ago and looks forward to helping DermaTouch RN expand its footprint into San Antonio.
Krys Givens, MA
AESTHETICIAN
Krys is a Medical Aesthetician with a long-standing passion for the beauty and wellness industry. She is a lifelong learner and is driven by the opportunity to help patients achieve their best and most confident self through proven aesthetic applications. She works with each patient, individually, to help them achieve their personal aesthetic needs and goals through attentive communication and patient education.
DermaTouch RN offers minimally invasive and non-invasive treatments for men and women in Houston, San Antonio, Spring and Cypress, as well as the surrounding areas of Texas. We are the largest aesthetic practice in the Houston area, and all of our medical spa treatments are performed by a team of nurse practitioners, registered nurses, and aestheticians who receive continuing education to remain abreast of emerging treatments that benefit our patients. We invite you to learn more about our office before your consultation.
