The holidays are coming! The holidays are coming! I need to do something to look my best! That person in the mirror looks tired and has dull, wrinkly skin. They are going to be taking pictures. I want to look as great as I feel! What am I to do?

Well, there is a lot that can be done to enhance your appearance before the holidays, but for best results, you should schedule an evaluation now so that you can reap the full benefits. The following is a brief description of some of the options that may be helpful to you.

Skin care products and sunscreen used regularly are the essential first steps. Medical strength cosmeceuticals help renew skin cells to give a youthful glow. Microdermabrasions, a “buffing” of the skin, or mild chemical peels, such as glycolic acid, are the next step in surface rejuvenation and allow the skin care products to work more effectively. Improvement in skin can often be seen within a few weeks.

Facial fillers are FDA approved to reduce mild to moderate wrinkles, like the ones from your nose to your mouth and around your mouth. “Offlabel” use means using these products in areas not formally tested. This is a commonly accepted use of fillers; areas frequently treated include the lips, lines by the mouth and even the cheeks, to restore contour. In addition, jowling can be made less obvious and droopy eyebrows can be elevated.

Fillers have come a long way from bovine collagen that required skin testing, to the now popular and user-friendly hyaluronic acids (HA). Other types of fillers also exist, all having their pros and cons. HAs require no skin testing and last between 4 to 12 months, according to which one and how much is used. Effects are immediate! Some initial redness, swelling, and bumps usually resolve within 2-7 days. Botox Cosmetic and Dysport softens wrinkles from movement (lines between eyebrows [FDA approved]) and beside eyes (off-label) usually for 3-4 months. The use of Botox or Dysport and fillers together can help you achieve a softer, more youthful appearance.

Brown spots and redness can be reduced with light (broadband light) or laser treatments. You may need several sessions for the best results. They have no true “downtime” but dark spots get darker before they flake off, so you need to allow at least 2 weeks before an “event”. A MicroLaserPeel usually has 3-4 days of downtime but can reduce brown spots and fine lines, while refreshing your complexion.

Saggy skin can be treated surgically or nonsurgically, although results will be less dramatic with the nonsurgical approach. Surgery may have excellent results but requires some downtime. The nonsurgical modalities, such as SkinTyte (infra-red light) or Thermage (radio-frequency) can provide firmer skin in the proper candidates. SkinTyte is a kinder, gentler treatment divided into several sessions minimizing discomfort. Thermage is usually done in one treatment and may have higher pain level. Repeat treatments of Thermage may be recommended in 6 months.

If excess skin on your eyelids makes you look tired, or bags under your eyes make you look old, then eyelid surgery may be what you need to brighten your face! This surgery can often be done under local anesthesia. You can expect some bruising and swelling, with often minimal pain after surgery (pain tolerance is individual). You should feel fine even in the first day or two but downtime varies according to how well healed you want to be before being seen. As all of the abovementioned are medical treatments, all have potential risks, complications, and other treatment options, which should be discussed at your consultation.

You may feel better now, just knowing that you still have time to look as good as you feel for the holidays. There are many options available to you, ranging from skin care products, to lasers and light treatments to surgery. Take the time now to schedule an evaluation with a physician to help you decide what is right for you!

by Sharon M. Napier, MD