Published
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Some treatments need weeks or months. Here's why planning now gives you more options.
September may seem early to start talking about the holidays. It isn't.
Before we know it, calendars will fill with Thanksgiving gatherings, holiday parties, family photographs, travel, and New Year's celebrations.
If you've been thinking about looking a little more rested, improving your skin, addressing something that has bothered you for years, or finally considering surgery, now is the time to have that conversation.
Not because you need to rush. Quite the opposite.
Starting early gives you choices.
One of the most common mistakes in aesthetic medicine is waiting until just before an important event to seek treatment.
Some treatments work quickly. Others need weeks or months.
Surgery requires healing. Laser treatments require recovery. Injectables need time to settle. Skin treatments often work best as a series.
That's why holiday preparation should begin with a calendar, not a procedure.
If summer left behind pigmentation, uneven texture, or sun damage, fall gives us an opportunity to begin repairing it. Depending on your skin, we may consider:
A personalized plan allows us to choose the appropriate treatment and recovery time.
Sometimes the goal isn't looking younger. It's simply not looking tired.
Options might include:
Small changes can make a noticeable difference while still looking completely natural.
If facelift surgery, breast surgery, abdominoplasty, liposuction, or another procedure has been on your mind, September is an excellent time to begin planning.
A consultation now gives you time to understand the procedure, consider your options, arrange your schedule, and plan recovery without feeling rushed.
There is no obligation to proceed.
Good surgical decisions should never be made under pressure.
Hair restoration requires a different kind of planning because new growth develops gradually.
Early evaluation allows us to assess your hair loss, donor area, and long-term goals.
Our hair restoration options include scarless FUE procedures using ARTAS robotic technology and NeoGraft, with treatments available for the scalp, eyebrows, and beard.
Think backward from the event rather than forward from today.
If you have an important holiday gathering, family photograph, vacation, or celebration ahead, adequate planning allows time for:
✅ Bruising and swelling to resolve
✅ Skin treatments to settle
✅ Injectables to look natural
✅ Surgical healing to progress
✅ Your skincare program to begin working
The best compliment during the holidays isn't, "What did you have done?"
It's simply, "You look great."
Every year as the holidays approach, I see patients who wish they had come in a month or two earlier.
My advice is simple: come in before you think you're ready.
A consultation doesn't commit you to anything. It gives us time to talk.
We can discuss what bothers you, what you'd like to accomplish, how much downtime you're comfortable with, and when you need to look your best.
Sometimes we'll recommend doing something now. Sometimes we'll recommend waiting until after the holidays.
After more than 35 years of doing this, I've become a strong believer that good aesthetic medicine isn't only about knowing what to do.
It's also about knowing when to do it.
Patrick Felice, M.D.
Founder, Youthful Images
Double Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon
Not every aesthetic treatment should be performed immediately before an important event. Some procedures can temporarily cause swelling, bruising, redness, or peeling. Planning your consultation well in advance gives your provider the flexibility to recommend treatments based on your event date rather than trying to work around a deadline.
The holidays may still feel far away, but the best time to plan is before your calendar becomes crowded. Whether you're considering surgery, facial rejuvenation, skin treatments, body contouring, or hair restoration, we can help you develop a plan that fits your goals and your schedule.
Visit our website or call to schedule your complimentary consultation.
