Tips to feel good and look great this holiday season and into the new year

I think we will all agree that 2020 has been a challenging year and many of us are looking forward to ringing in a New Year. As we head into the holiday season, we have a few tips on how to look and feel your best.

Great skin care

First and foremost, we recommend that you get your skin in tip-top shape by visiting your local board-certified plastic surgeon to get advice on the best products and treatments for your skin.

Procedures like microdermabrasion, dermaplaning, microneedling and chemical peels are a great way to exfoliate your skin and stimulate collagen to get a nice rosy glow and smoother appearing skin. Combining these office-based procedures with the right at-home products can help you maximize skin health and appearance.

The best thing about these treatments is that there is no downtime and you can get back to Zoom meetings immediately!

Laser-based therapies

To get a bit more aggressive, and to address specific skin concerns like loose sagging skin, rosacea, sun damage or scarring, laser-based treatments can be very effective. These treatments include BroadBand Light, SkinTyte, Halo or ablative therapies.

Depending on the problem and your skin type, your board-certified plastic surgeon can help determine the best treatment plan for you. For these kinds of treatments, downtime ranges from a couple of hours to two weeks.

Injectable treatments

To smooth the fine lines and wrinkles associated with expressions such as "smile lines" or "crow's feet," neuromodulators like Botox and Dysport can be used. A tiny needle is used to inject the areas of concern on the face and the treatment can usually be done in less than five minutes. Sometimes there is redness or bruising that can occur, but typically there is very little downtime expected with this treatment. The neuromodulators will take effect in 3-7 days and will last anywhere from 3-6 months.

To fill in deeper lines like nasolabial folds, hollow areas in the cheek or under the eyes or lines around the lips, dermal fillers can be injected. Depending on the location of the "defects" and the surgeon's preference, different kinds of fillers can be used, but they are typically either hyaluronic acid or collagen-based treatments. These treatments usually take 20-30 minutes to perform and can cause bruising or swelling at the treatment site that can last 2-10 days depending on the patient and the amount of filler used.

Getting ready for the holiday season

Our advice as you head into this holiday season wanting to look and feel better is to set up a consultation with your local board-certified plastic surgeon to find the treatments that are right for you. Stay safe and stay healthy! Best wishes for a happy new year!