There are many things that come to mind when planning a wedding. Choosing the wedding colors, the flowers, the band, the invitations, caterer, dress, shoes accessories and more. But brides are also making a beauty check list leading up to their Big Day. Entire wedding parties are taking steps to look their best for the wedding, from erasing wrinkles and smoothing hands to eliminating love handles.
All brides (and most grooms) want to look their best when they walk down the aisle. Losing weight and getting into shape are par for the course, but options can go far beyond regular sessions with a trainer or a devoted diet regimen.
Whether one’s looking to plump lips, clear up skin or stop nervous sweating from getting in the way during high-stress moments, there are a variety of quick fixes that may be worth taking up in the weeks before your wedding date. But most take more planning.
Botox. Fillers. Lasers. Not too long ago these injectables were used by older women wanting to combat the fine lines and wrinkles that come with age. In the past few years more Millennials are embracing the world of injectables, making them part of their beauty regimen.
According to the American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, in 2018, injections of Botox (the No. 1 aesthetic procedure since 1999) were up 16.3 percent from the year before. Fillers were up 12 percent in the same timeframe.
Dr. Kenneth Rothaus, a Manhattan-based cosmetic surgeon and industry expert, gave SIGNATURE BRIDE the low-down on everything from pre-wedding lasers and lipo to Botox and breast augmentation.
SIGNATURE BRIDE: According to RealSelf, Botox is becoming one of the most popular non-invasive treatments — with 14.8 percent of future brides admitting to getting it within a month of their wedding day.
Dr. Rothaus: Botox isn’t quite as straightforward as having a spray tan or an eyebrow wax. It must be planned as you would with any aesthetic treatment. If done incorrectly or overdone, the bride will have a frozen face, showing few emotions on the most important and happiest day of her life.
SB: What do you recommend time-wise for Botox treatment?
KR: I have many ladies who come for treatments a few weeks or even a few days before their wedding, wanting to have some sort of treatment. I have to turn them away, as ideally, one needs at least one month to work some pre-wedding magic.
SB: How long does a treatment typically last?
KB: While it is a quick and easy treatment, Botox takes a minimum of two weeks to work and lasts four to six months. I advise brides-to-be to have Botox at least one month before the wedding. They can just add their aesthetic agenda to the list of things they need — or want — to do before the wedding.
SB: What are brides-to-be obsessing about when they come to see you?
KB: Every bride is obviously concerned with how she is going to look in her wedding dress and in the photos. For most women, the concerns are focused on skincare, Botox and fillers, and body sculpting.
SB: Every skin is different. What should Black women be aware of and look for in treatments?
KB: Black women should look for a medical professional with experience. The melanin (pigment) in black skin obviates against treatment with many of the lasers that can be used in patients with lighter skin colors. The 1064 laser is an exception to this and can be used on Black patients. That said, there are a new generation of aesthetic machines that do not use laser, but instead employ radio frequency. This new option is ‘color blind’ energy and can be used on women of color for skin rejuvenation, tightening and minor body sculpting. In addition, procedures such as the medical grade HydraFacial (HydraFacial MD) can also be used on Black patients.
SB: Brides are busy juggling the day-to-day responsibilities of life and planning their wedding. What do you recommend for the bride who just has no time to plan but wants something a few weeks out form the Big Day?
KB: There is not much that can be done two weeks before a wedding. Brides should not try aesthetic options late in the game. We generally will do a light laser facial or a HydraFacial. It gives the skin a glow or increased tone but is so light that not much else can be expected. Even Botox and fillers should be given a bit of time to settle in the skin.
SB: What about the groom? Any treatments you recommend?
KB: Grooms most commonly come in for treatment for their shaving bumps, which we treat with a 1064 laser. Occasionally, we get the request for Botox because the patient’s fiancé thinks he should have it. The most common surgical procedure we do is liposuction for the love handles. This procedure is generally done no sooner than four to six months before the wedding.