Basic Takeaways
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Start skin treatments 12 months before your wedding for long-lasting results and stunning, glowing skin.
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Schedule skin treatments that require downtime, such as deep chemical peels, 9 months before your wedding for smooth skin.
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3 months before your wedding, follow known treatments to avoid unexpected skin reactions.
Facial treatment? Love them. Peels? Yes, please. While you may have a few tried and true skin care treatments that you love to treat yourself to, you may also be the type of engaged person who traditionally relies on a basic cleanser and a good moisturizer to keep their skin in check. Whichever camp you fall into, creating a pre-wedding schedule can be confusing and intimidating. Suddenly, the pressure to do everything at the right time—so your skin doesn’t go astray—is more than anyone can handle.
Even our trusty friend Google isn’t shy about giving us her opinion on which skin treatments to do and when before a wedding, but when we actually consulted an expert, we learned that mapping your figure is a lot simpler than it looks. Here, plastic surgeon Dr. Gerald Imber explains how and when to plan your preferred skin treatments before the big day.
Meet the expert
Dr. Gerald Imber is an internationally renowned plastic surgeon Youth Corridor Clinic.
Skin treatments to book 12 months before the wedding
If you have never received skin treatments before, you should first schedule your initial appointment at a reputable medical clinic. Facilities that focus on cosmetic treatments are best for someone looking for long-term care, especially for engaged couples looking for a pre-wedding skin care plan.
Once you find a clinic you trust, narrow down your desired outcomes in order to communicate what you want from your doctor. For example, are you hoping for glowing skin? Want to calm any redness? Reduce shine in your T-zone? Be specific! Additionally, be sure to ask for a treatment plan that consists of an at-home routine, and don’t be shy about asking for treatments you may have wanted to try in the past.
According to Dr. Imber, you should also remember to include your wedding details (this includes honeymoon plans). “If you’re having a fall wedding, you want to avoid laser skin resurfacing, IPL, or deep chemical peels in June and focus more on skin tightening and lighter, more superficial chemical peels,” she shares. This is because extreme heat or cold, sun exposure and cold can adversely affect the skin when you receive treatments such as deep chemical peels, dermaplaning, microneedling with PRP (platelet rich plasma), laser and IPL (intense pulsed light).
Skin treatments to book 9 months before the wedding
At this stage, you can now undergo treatments that require downtime, such as a deep chemical peel, which starts the process of exfoliating the skin and encourages faster skin cell renewal. The end result? Flawless skin, smooth and radiant. Microneedling with PRP is another good option. This somewhat scary treatment works for almost everyone. It uses cell elements from your blood to promote cell growth for an even complexion.
Again, regardless of the treatment you receive, be sure to remind your doctor/esthetician of the results you want to achieve. Open communication ensures that you really maximize every appointment.
Skin treatments to book 6 months before the wedding
Did you miss the above? You still have time to undergo some skin rejuvenation treatments such as microneedling with PRP, laser or IPL. Your first treatment may require more downtime, but six months gives you plenty of time to shock your skin, followed by one to two more peels before you say “I do.” It’s also important to use this time to focus on a maintenance and hydration routine in order to maximize the results of what you’ve done. Be sure to consistently use mild cleansers, moisturizers, and plenty of SPF after your treatments.
Skin treatments to book 3 months before the wedding
Three months marks the last time you should consider trying anything new in case your skin reacts negatively. “Being so close to the big day, focus on treatments you’ve already taken and don’t introduce anything new into your routine,” advises Dr Imber. It’s better to be safe than sorry, so focus on gentle skin preparation rather than something harsh and invasive.
Skin treatments to book 1 month before the wedding
If you do not absolutely need to receive treatment, it is best to stay away from visiting your doctor’s office. By now, if you started early, you should be getting the results you planned to achieve at the beginning of this schedule.
However, for those looking to squeeze in one last skin visit, avoid anything intense like extractions and deep peels, and zero in on mild exfoliating treatments and products that nourish and enrich your skin. Finally, ask your doctor for specific advice on how to prep your skin in the week leading up to your celebration—plus, how they’d recommend dealing with any stress-induced acne if something unexpected pops up.
