Cosmetic Surgery for Fall and Winter - Repair Summer Skin Damage

The summer months are the perfect time for people to go outdoors and enjoy the sunshine on a daily basis. Now that fall is here and winter is on the way, it is time to deal with the damage the sun did to the skin such as clogged pores or UV damage. Ready to address the changes to the skin due to summer fun in the sun? If so, the answers can be found in this educational article.

Protecting the Skin – Regular Skincare is Important

The decision to have cosmetic procedures such as laser resurfacing and facial plastic surgery is a popular one in the months where people often spend more time indoors. Since damage to the skin from the sun is being treated, it is best to have minimal exposure to the sun after the treatment.

Once the summer sun is gone for another year, the appearance of the skin can include sunspots, fine lines, and clogged pores. Even though the public should take the necessary steps to protect the skin during the summer, this does not always happen which is why fall and winter are popular times to repair the skin. The best skincare routines are performed on a regular basis, and this includes adjusting the routine to fit the amount of exposure to the sun that will likely happen during certain times of the year.

When it comes to treating the skin, the procedure performed by a doctor depends on both the condition of the skin and the amount of downtime the patient has to recover. In general, if the treatment is very invasive or intensive, a greater amount of downtime will likely be necessary. Patients who are looking for a quick way to reduce the look of sunspots might decide to simply use foundation and concealers before they commit to a minimally invasive or more invasive treatment option.

Cosmetic Surgery for Fall and Winter – Getting a Holiday Party Look

Due to the desire to look their best at holiday gatherings and events, many patients spend the fall months planning for the procedures they will have during the winter and the holiday season.

Another popular reason that patients have treatments to get a holiday-ready look is that part of the treatment of choice might be covered by insurance, so they do not have to make as big an investment as other patients.

Cosmetic Surgery for Fall and Winter – Popular Choices and Their Downtimes

During the consultation appointment with the patient, the surgeon will walk them through the entire process including how to prepare for the procedures, what will happen during the actual treatment, and how to care for the skin during the recovery period. It is important that the person knows what is involved in the recovery process and how long the recovery period will take so they can decide if they want to have the procedure.

While the following information is not a comprehensive list of treatment options available to patients, they are some of the most popular minimally invasive and invasive procedures requested by patients along with their normal recovery times.Heading 2

Minimally Invasive Options

• Botox works to reduce or eliminate the look of wrinkles on the face. The results will start to be seen within three to five days and there is no downtime involved with the treatment.
• Dermal fillers are injected to restore volume that patients have lost as they have continued to age. There will be some swelling and bruising but these conditions will resolve on their own in about five to seven days.
• The recovery process after a chemical peel depends on the depth of the peel. A light peel usually results in a few days of skin sensitivity and flaking while a medium peel goes deeper into the skin so there will be some swelling, crusting, and flaking for around three to ten days. Deep peels can cause skin peeling, stinging, redness, and even some skin discoloration for several days to several weeks. Plus, the skin can remain red in appearance for two or three months after a deep peel.
• Microneedling can produce some swelling and redness, but these conditions will resolve on their own in about seven days.
• CO2 laser resurfacing is sometimes considered to be a moderately invasive treatment as it uses a laser to rejuvenate the look of the skin by reducing the amount of fine lines on the face. The procedure can be performed with either an ablative laser (to remove the outer layer of the skin and heat the underlying skin to stimulate collagen) or a nonablative laser (that stimulates collagen using a less aggressive approach to the treatment). Swelling can be present for about three days after the treatment and there can be some redness that lingers for several months.

Invasive Treatment Options

• Liposuction eliminates stubborn and hard to remove fat from the body and there will be some bruising that resolves around three weeks after the surgery. Any swelling will resolve after three to four weeks but these conditions can be concealed by wearing winter clothes that cover the body.
• A facelift gives the face a younger and more rejuvenated look with bruising being present for about ten to fourteen days. The majority of the post-surgery swelling will resolve after two or three weeks.
• Rhinoplasty makes changes to the size, shape, and look of the nose and the majority of the swelling will resolve within three months. There can be some lingering swelling that can take up to a year to disappear.

Anyone who is considering having a procedure before holiday activities start in full force are advised to contact a cosmetic surgeon as soon as possible to discuss having a treatment that can improve the look of damaged skin from the summer.

- MA