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A seasonal guide to cosmetic procedures

When it comes to cosmetic procedures, timing can make a difference. While most treatments can be performed all year long, there is value to planning certain interventions during specific seasons. Here is a practical guide to help you navigate the world of cosmetic procedures and choose the perfect season for your cosmetic intervention. Keep in mind, a consultation any time of year with one of our cosmetic dermatologists, can set you on a treatment plan to achieve your desired skin goals, whether it’s for the coming year, or even the next decade!

All-Season Treatments

Fortunately, common and popular cosmetic procedures can be done year-round.

• Injectable-based treatments like Botox, Dysport, Daxxify and soft tissue fillers (i.e., Juvéderm, Restylane, RHA) are safe and effective regardless of the season. They also show results quickly (within hours to weeks) making them popular in the weeks leading up to any travel, holidays and special events.
• Skin tightening and body contouring procedures can be done throughout the seasons as well, though there may be strategic reasons to time these at certain points of the year as explained below.
• Miradry tackles excessive underarm sweat with lasting results and can be performed throughout the year.
• Dermaplaning, a manual and gentle facial exfoliation technique, can refresh your look safely and year-round.

Summer

In New England, the summer season is when most of us spend quite a bit of time outdoors. Despite sunscreen, hats and sun-protective clothing, UV rays still make their way to our skin. While these harmful rays are hard to avoid, summer is the ideal time to fit in procedures for which post-treatment risk will not increase with subsequent sun exposure.

• Tightening devices relying on radiofrequency (Thermage) or ultrasound (Softwave) are suitable even for patients spending more time outdoors.
• Microneedling targets localized problems such as acne scars or fine lines around the mouth. It can be done safely on slightly tanned skin, but avoiding sun exposure for 1-2 weeks post-treatment while the skin is healing is important.

Fall

As temperatures cool and tans disappear, opportunities arise for specific treatments:

• Laser Hair Removal, an extremely popular treatment, requires a series of treatments at 4-6 week intervals, on untanned skin. This makes mid to late fall the perfect season to start a series and provides ample time to fit in all sessions over the winter and spring months.
• Tattoo Removal, like laser hair removal, cannot be done on tanned skin and requires a series of treatments. Schedule during the season when you are least likely to be tanned.

Fall, Winter, and Early Spring

As summer tanning subsides and cooler days settle in, consider the following treatments:

• Laser treatments for brown and red discoloration generally cannot be performed on tanned skin and post treatment recommendations include no sun exposure for days or weeks depending on the device. That is why fall, winter and early spring are better times for many lasers, including VBeam (pulsed dye laser) and Excel V for redness, such as that seen in rosacea; Fraxel for diffuse brown pigmentation and the Ruby and Enlighten lasers for focused brown spots.
• Sclerotherapy, an intervention reducing the appearance of spider veins, requires wearing compression socks and sun protection post treatment. Therefore, the procedure is generally more comfortable when it is cooler and less sunny outside.
• Cellulite procedures, such as Aveli a one-time minimally invasive treatment, are best done ahead of the summer months as results may take a month to begin showing, swelling and bruising may last up to a month, and patients should wear compression garments.

Winter

Embrace winter for body-focused treatments:

• Body contouring with CoolSculpting and truSculpt Flex are well suited for the winter months. CoolSculpting, our most popular device for non-invasive fat reduction, may necessitate more than one session, and truSculpt Flex, a muscle strengthening and toning treatment, requires 4-6 sessions over 2-3 weeks. With results for both procedures emerging over time (2-3 months for CoolSculpting and a few weeks for truSculpt Flex) starting treatments during the winter will help prep your body for the early summer.

Spring

Think of spring as your time for finishing touches before the summer.

• Fit a Dysport and/or filler treatment before your summer travel plans.
• Treat yourself to a hydrafacial to pamper your skin after a dry and cold New England winter.

No matter the season, remember that some procedures necessitate down time and patience to see results, and others don’t like tans or come with the risk of bruising and swelling. With thoughtful timing and help from an experienced and skilled cosmetic dermatologist, you can enhance your natural beauty throughout the year and achieve your unique skin goals. SkinCare Physicians near Boston is ready to partner with you to plan your cosmetic journey. Book a consultation with one of our board-certified dermatologists.