Michigan Brides Turn to Plastic Surgery to Look Radiant on Their Wedding Day

According to the 2012 trend statistics released by the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, many brides head to a facial plastic surgeon before their wedding day. The three most requested surgical procedures are rhinoplasty, blepharoplasty, and facelifts. When it comes to non-surgical procedures, the most requested are Botox, hyaluronic acid filler injections, and chemical peels.

For Michigan brides considering these procedures, timing is everything. Scheduling a procedure too close or too far from the wedding can lead to complications. Learn more about each of the procedures and the recovery times.

Surgical Procedures

According to the AAFPRS report on plastic surgery for brides, rhinoplasty is the most popular option. Also known as a nose job, rhinoplasty is used to help correct breathing issues or correct flaws in the symmetry or shape of a nose. It can fix a drooping tip or reduce the size of a nose that is too wide or large. One thing brides need to consider is that it can take up to a year for all of the swelling to subside and for the true final results to appear.

Double chins and drooping skin along the jawline and upper neck are the nemesis of many women. For brides with these issues who want to look their best, a facelift may be the best solution. Incisions are made in the temple and in front and around the ear. Skin is lifted from the underlying tissue so that the surgeon can manipulate the tissue and muscle to form a new frame. When the base is perfected, the skin is placed over the new facial form, excess skin is trimmed away, and the incisions are closed. Following the procedure, bandages are wrapped around the head. Swelling subsides in a few days, but bruising can last for several weeks, so brides should keep that in mind when scheduling a facelift.

Women who do not like the drooping and sagging on the eyelid area benefit from blepharoplasty. An eyelid lift starts with the administration of anesthesia. Incisions are made in the natural creases of the eyelids and along the eyelash line on the lower eyelid. This makes it easy to hide any scars. Following the surgery, there will be swelling and bruising. Ice helps reduce swelling, but you need to avoid wearing makeup and contact lenses for at least a week. Therefore, it’s best to plan this surgery a month or more in advance.

Non-Surgical Procedures

Just a few injections of Botox Cosmetic are all it takes to help relax muscles in the face that can cause dynamic wrinkles. The best use is for the lines and creases at the side of the mouth and between the brows. Botox injections take no more than 10 or 15 minutes to perform. It takes a few days to a month for the improvements to be clearly visible, but the effects tend to last just four months, so don’t get the injections too early.

Hyaluronic acid fillers (Juvederm and Restylane) help add volume to areas of the face. This helps ease the appearance of wrinkles and plumps hollows and sunken spots. Following injections of hyaluronic fillers, there may be some swelling. The fillers are  long-lasting with longevity of six months up to a year. Brides do need to time the filler injections so that they occur at least a week before the wedding. Because some fillers need maintenance at six months, don’t get the fillers too far in advance.

Chemical peels do wonders to freshen skin, improve acne and wrinkles, and reduce sun spots. The healing time depends on the strength of the chemical peel. Glycolic peels are mild enough that you can do them weekly. They’re best for fine lines and acne. You may have some redness, but it clears up in a few days. Jessner and Hydroquinoine peels also leave\ your skin red, but again this fades in a few days. If you need a medium to deep chemical peel, you need to schedule this procedure weeks or even months before your wedding. The recovery time for Phenol and TCA peels is two weeks or more, so make sure you tell your plastic surgeon that you’re getting married.

Before scheduling any cosmetic procedure, read the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery’s Tips for Brides-to-Be. Call the Masri Clinic for Laser and Cosmetic Surgery to get an idea for the best time line for the cosmetic procedures on your list. Dr. Masri is a board certified facial plastic and reconstructive surgeon and a board certified otolaryngologist. Reach his clinics in Birmingham and Dearborn by calling 866-487-3223.