Your Pre-Holiday Skin Calendar: What to Book, and When
Most pre-holiday treatments go wrong on timing, not on choice. A good laser booked too late leaves you pink at the party, an injection given the week before has not finished working, and a facial booked a month ahead has faded by the night itself. The answer is to plan backwards from the date, putting each treatment where its recovery and its result both fit.
Most pre-holiday treatments go wrong because of timing, not because of the treatment. A good laser booked too late leaves you pink at the party. An injection given the week before has not finished working. A facial booked a month ahead has worn off by the night. The answer is to count back from the date and put each treatment where its healing and its result both fit.
Pre-holiday timing: the essentials
The short version
Skin tightening and low-downtime lasers such as Fraxel FTX or a Pico facial, which need time to heal and to build
Skin firming and gentle lasers such as Fraxel FTX or a Pico facial. They need time to heal and time to work.
Thermage FLX or Exilis leave you free to go straight back to work; the firming then builds over months
Thermage FLX or Exilis. You go straight back to your day, and the firming builds over the next months.
Wrinkle relaxers and fillers, so the effect has fully developed and any swelling or bruising has settled
Wrinkle injections and fillers, so they have fully worked and any swelling or bruising has gone.
A DiamondGlow facial, a few days before, for a smooth, bright and luminous surface on the night
A DiamondGlow facial a few days before, for smooth, bright, glowing skin on the night.
Anything new, deep resurfacing, a first ever injection, or a strong peel in the final fortnight
Trying anything new, deep laser work, your first ever injection, or a strong peel in the last two weeks.
Dr. Gallacher, a board-certified dermatologist, plans the calendar and performs every laser treatment herself
Dr. Gallacher, a board-certified dermatologist, plans it with you and does every laser treatment herself.
Why timing matters more than the treatment
Why the timing matters more than the treatment
Every cosmetic treatment has two clocks. The first is recovery: the hours, days or weeks in which the skin looks treated. The second is the result: how long the effect takes to arrive and how long it lasts once it has. A good plan puts the event after the first clock has finished and while the second is at its peak.
Every cosmetic treatment has two clocks. The first is healing: the hours, days or weeks when your skin looks like it has just been treated. The second is the result: how long it takes to show and how long it lasts. A good plan puts the party after the first clock has stopped and while the second one is at its best.
The two clocks run at very different speeds. A DiamondGlow facial has almost no recovery and a result that looks best within days. A wrinkle relaxer has little visible recovery but takes about two weeks to reach its full effect. Fraxel FTX leaves several days of pinkness and flaking and keeps improving for weeks. Thermage FLX shows almost nothing on the day and builds firmness over two to six months. Booked in the wrong order, each of these can disappoint, even when the treatment itself was right.
The two clocks run at very different speeds. A DiamondGlow facial has almost no healing time and looks best within days. A wrinkle injection shows very little afterwards but takes about two weeks to fully work. Fraxel FTX leaves several days of pink, flaky skin and keeps improving for weeks. Thermage FLX shows almost nothing on the day and builds firmness over two to six months. Booked in the wrong order, each of these can disappoint, even when it was the right treatment.
The holidays make this sharper, because the dates are fixed and close together: Thanksgiving at the end of November, then office parties, family gatherings and New Year. Working back from the first important date, rather than the last, is usually the safer way to plan.
The holidays make this matter more, because the dates are fixed and close together: Thanksgiving at the end of November, then work parties, family get-togethers and New Year. Counting back from your first important date, not your last, is usually the safer way to plan.
Six weeks or more ahead: firming and renewal
Six weeks or more before: firming and renewing
The treatments that change the skin itself belong at the start of the window, because they need time to heal and time to build.
The treatments that change the skin itself go at the start, because they need time to heal and time to work.
For a firmer jawline and neck without time off, Thermage FLX heats the deeper layer of the skin from the surface while cooling the top, and Exilis does something similar with a gentler course of visits. Neither leaves visible marks for most people, but both work by prompting new collagen, and that takes weeks to months to show. The detail is in Skin Tightening With No Downtime.
For a firmer jawline and neck with no time off, Thermage FLX warms the deeper layer of your skin from the surface while keeping the top cool. Exilis does something similar with a gentler course of visits. Most people show no marks afterwards, but both work by getting your skin to make new collagen, and that takes weeks to months to show. The details are in Skin Tightening With No Downtime.
For tone, texture and brown spots, Fraxel FTX and a Pico facial are the low-downtime choices. Fraxel FTX usually means five to seven days of pinkness and up to two weeks of fine bronzing and flaking after each session, so the last one should sit at least two weeks before the event, and ideally more. A Pico facial is gentler still, with redness that usually settles within hours to a few days. How to choose between them is in Fraxel or a Pico Facial Before the Holidays?.
For tone, texture and brown spots, Fraxel FTX and a Pico facial are the gentle laser choices. Fraxel FTX usually means five to seven days of pink skin and up to two weeks of light bronzing and flaking after each visit, so the last one should be at least two weeks before the event, and ideally more. A Pico facial is gentler still, with redness that usually goes within hours to a few days. How to choose between them is in Fraxel or a Pico Facial Before the Holidays?.
Two weeks before: injections
Two weeks before: injections
Wrinkle relaxers and fillers are best done about two weeks before an event. That is not caution for its own sake. It is how long these treatments take to settle into their real result.
Wrinkle injections and fillers are best done about two weeks before an event. This is not just being careful. It is how long these treatments take to settle into how they will really look.
| When | Treatment | Why it sits there | Visible recovery |
|---|---|---|---|
| Six weeks or more ahead | Thermage FLX or Exilis | Collagen firming builds over weeks to months | Little or none; brief warmth or redness |
| Six weeks or more ahead | Fraxel FTX | Usually a series; each session needs time to clear | Pink for 5 to 7 days, bronzing and flaking up to 2 weeks |
| Three to six weeks ahead | Pico facial | Brightens tone and texture with a short recovery | Redness for hours to a few days |
| About two weeks ahead | Wrinkle relaxers and fillers | Effect fully developed, swelling and bruising settled, time to adjust | Small bumps for minutes to hours; possible bruise or swelling for days |
| Two to five days ahead | DiamondGlow facial | Surface at its brightest and smoothest on the night | Usually none; brief redness or tightness |
| When | Treatment | Why then | What you might see |
|---|---|---|---|
| Six weeks or more before | Thermage FLX or Exilis | Firming builds over weeks to months | Little or nothing; some warmth or redness |
| Six weeks or more before | Fraxel FTX | Usually a few visits, each needing time to clear | Pink for 5 to 7 days, light flaking for up to 2 weeks |
| Three to six weeks before | Pico facial | Brighter, smoother skin with short healing | Redness for hours to a few days |
| About two weeks before | Wrinkle injections and fillers | Fully working, swelling and bruising gone, time to adjust | Small bumps for a short while; maybe a bruise or swelling for days |
| Two to five days before | DiamondGlow facial | Skin at its brightest and smoothest on the night | Usually nothing; maybe brief redness |
Wrinkle relaxers such as BOTOX Cosmetic, Dysport and Jeuveau begin to work over several days and reach their full effect at around two weeks. Fillers show at once, but swelling can change how they look for the first days, and a bruise, if there is one, can take a week or more to fade. Two weeks gives the result time to settle, and leaves room for a small adjustment if one side needs it. The reasoning is in Botox and Fillers Before an Event: Why Two Weeks Matters.
Wrinkle injections such as BOTOX Cosmetic, Dysport and Jeuveau start working over several days and are fully working at around two weeks. Fillers show straight away, but swelling can change the look for the first few days, and a bruise, if you get one, can take a week or more to fade. Two weeks gives the result time to settle, and leaves room for a small top-up if one side needs it. Why is explained in Botox and Fillers Before an Event: Why Two Weeks Matters.
A first ever injection is best not left to the final fortnight at all. Starting earlier lets you see how your own face responds before the date that matters.
If you have never had injections before, do not leave your first one to the last two weeks. Starting earlier lets you see how your own face responds before the day that counts.
The week of the event: the red carpet facial
In the week of the event: the red carpet facial
The final step is the one that adds glow rather than change. DiamondGlow buffs away the dull outer layer of dead skin and puts a serum onto the fresh surface in the same pass, so skin looks smoother, brighter and better hydrated.
The last step adds glow, not change. DiamondGlow buffs away the dull top layer of dead skin and puts a serum onto the fresh surface at the same time, so your skin looks smoother, brighter and better hydrated.
Because the effect is on the surface and most people have no downtime, it suits the days just before an event, which is why it is often called a red carpet facial. Two to five days ahead is a sensible window: close enough for the glow to be at its best, with a day or two in hand in case of brief redness. It is not a medical treatment, and it is not done on sunburnt, irritated or broken skin. More is in The Red Carpet Facial: DiamondGlow in the Week of Your Event.
Because it only works on the surface and most people have no time off, it suits the days just before an event, which is why people call it a red carpet facial. Two to five days before is a good window: close enough to look its best, with a day or two spare in case of a little redness. It is not a medical treatment, and it is not done on sunburnt, irritated or broken skin. More is in The Red Carpet Facial: DiamondGlow in the Week of Your Event.
Retinoids and exfoliating products are usually paused for a few days beforehand. Make-up goes on beautifully afterwards, but if you can give the skin the rest of the day off, it will thank you.
Retinoid creams and exfoliating products are usually stopped for a few days before. Make-up goes on beautifully afterwards, but if you can leave your skin bare for the rest of the day, even better.
If your date is closer than you hoped
If your date is sooner than you hoped
A short window still leaves options. It simply narrows them to the treatments whose recovery fits.
A short window still leaves options. It just narrows them down to the ones whose healing fits.
With three to four weeks, a Pico facial and injections are still realistic, followed by DiamondGlow in the final week. With two weeks, injections and a DiamondGlow facial remain sensible, and firming treatments can start now for the events later in the season. With less than a week, a DiamondGlow facial and good skin care at home are the honest answer, and anything with a recovery belongs after the event, not before it.
With three to four weeks, a Pico facial and injections are still realistic, then DiamondGlow in the last week. With two weeks, injections and a DiamondGlow facial still make sense, and firming treatments can start now for the parties later in the season. With less than a week, a DiamondGlow facial and good skin care at home are the honest answer. Anything that needs healing time belongs after the event, not before.
What matters most is that the plan is made around your skin, not only around your diary. Active eczema, a flare of rosacea, a recent tan or a cold sore can each change what is safe to do, and some brown spots need to be looked at medically before anything cosmetic is done. That is the purpose of the consultation, and it is described in What a Good Consultation Asks.
What matters most is that the plan fits your skin, not just your diary. Active eczema, a rosacea flare, a recent tan or a cold sore can each change what is safe to do, and some brown spots need checking medically before anything cosmetic is done. That is what the consultation is for, and it is described in What a Good Consultation Asks.
Questions patients ask
What is the best treatment to have right before a party?
What is the best treatment right before a party?
A DiamondGlow facial two to five days before is the usual choice, because it brightens and smooths the surface with little or no downtime. Lasers, peels and first ever injections are better done weeks earlier.
A DiamondGlow facial two to five days before is the usual choice. It brightens and smooths your skin with little or no time off. Lasers, peels and first ever injections are better done weeks earlier.
How long before an event should I have Botox?
How long before an event should I have Botox?
About two weeks. Wrinkle relaxers take several days to begin working and around two weeks to reach their full effect, and that timing also leaves room for a small adjustment if needed.
About two weeks. Wrinkle injections take several days to start working and around two weeks to fully work. That also leaves time for a small top-up if needed.
Can I have Fraxel FTX before the holidays?
Can I have Fraxel FTX before the holidays?
Yes, if it is planned early enough. Pinkness usually lasts five to seven days and bronzing and flaking up to two weeks after each session, and a series is common, so starting six weeks or more before the first event is sensible.
Yes, if you plan it early enough. Your skin is usually pink for five to seven days and flaky for up to two weeks after each visit, and most people need a few visits. So start six weeks or more before your first event.
Is there skin tightening with no downtime?
Is there skin tightening with no time off?
Yes. Thermage FLX and Exilis heat the deeper skin from the surface, and most people go straight back to their day. The firming builds gradually over the following months, so these treatments are best started well ahead of an event.
Yes. Thermage FLX and Exilis warm the deeper skin from the surface, and most people go straight back to their day. The firming builds slowly over the next few months, so start well before an event.
Can I combine several treatments before one event?
Can I mix several treatments before one event?
Often, yes, as long as they are spaced so that each has recovered before the next and the skin is calm on the day. The order and gaps are set at the consultation.
Often, yes, as long as they are spaced out so each one has healed before the next and your skin is calm on the day. The order and the gaps are planned at your consultation.
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Where to go next
Talk it through with a physician first.
Every plan starts with an assessment of your skin, your anatomy and what you actually want to change.
This page is general health information, not medical advice. It cannot tell you whether a treatment is right for you. Approved uses, risks and results differ from person to person, and product labelling changes. Ask us at Dermatology and Laser Centre about your own situation, or make an appointment, and seek urgent care for any serious symptom.
