The holiday photos are coming whether you're ready or not. Thanksgiving at your mom's, the office party, a Christmas card, New Year's Eve. If you'd like to look rested in those pictures, the timing of your treatments matters more than which treatments you pick.
Book too late and you show up to dinner with a little bruise, or a forehead that hasn't settled yet. Book on time and nobody can tell you did anything. They just say you look great.
Here's the calendar we walk patients through, counted back from the date you care about.
How far ahead should you book holiday treatments?
Short answer: start with the slowest treatments first and save the quick ones for last. Light and laser treatments need the most lead time. Tox and filler need about two weeks. Facials can happen a few days before.
One local note. We see patients Monday to Thursday, 9 to 4, by appointment, and the weeks before Thanksgiving and Christmas can fill up. If you have a specific date in mind, book the whole plan at once.
Eight or more weeks out: light and laser
If brown spots, sun damage or uneven tone are what bother you, BBL HEROic is where to start. A full series is three to six sessions about four weeks apart, so the earlier you begin, the more of that series you get in before the holidays.
The same goes for texture and fine lines with MOXI laser. It builds results over a short series, and each session leaves a few days of dry, rough skin while it heals.
Plan your last light or laser session at least two weeks before the event. BBL leaves small dark specks on treated spots for about five to seven days before they flake off. That's the treatment working, but it's not what you want in a family photo.
The good news is that fall and winter are the right time for this anyway. Less sun means safer treatments and easier aftercare. We explain why in why fall and winter are laser season.
Three weeks out: chemical peels
A VI chemical peel is a great pre-holiday treatment, with one catch. You peel. Most people start shedding around day three, peel the most on days four and five, and are done by about day seven.
The brighter, more even tone shows up after that, in weeks two to four. So a peel is a three-weeks-before treatment, not a week-before one. If you only have two weeks, it can still work, as long as you're fine with the peeling falling on a work week.
Two to three weeks out: tox and filler
Tox takes time to settle. Most people start to notice a change within a few days, but the full effect takes about two weeks. That's why Sarah checks in with every tox patient at the two-week mark. If anything needs a small adjustment, that's when it happens.
So book tox at least two weeks, ideally three, before your event. We use Xeomin, Jeuveau and Dysport, the same type of treatment most people call Botox. If it's your first time, what to expect from your first tox appointment walks through the visit.
Filler follows the same rule for a different reason. Swelling and the occasional bruise can take up to a week or two to fade. We check in the next day and see you again in person at two weeks, so give yourself that full window before the party.
Not sure where to start? That's normal, and it's exactly what the first visit is for. Book an appointment and Sarah will look at your dates and tell you honestly what fits and what doesn't.
One week out: facials and dermaplaning
This is the fun part. A Glo2Facial or dermaplane session gives your skin a fresh, smooth look with little to no downtime for most people. Book it three to seven days before your event so any pinkness has calmed down and your makeup goes on smoothly.
Our facials also pair well with everything above. A Glo2Facial a few weeks after a peel series, or between laser sessions, keeps skin feeling comfortable through the dry months. Ask about timing when you book, since there's a right order and a wrong one.
The week of your event: nothing new
Please don't try something new the day before a big event. Not a new treatment, not a new product, not a new at-home peel. If your skin reacts, you don't have time to recover.
The week of, stick to the basics:
Wear SPF every day, even in December.
Use your usual gentle cleanser and moisturizer.
Drink water and get some sleep.
Skip the heavy exfoliating at home.
A sample holiday timeline
If you're aiming for Christmas, start a BBL HEROic or MOXI series as early in November as you can. Plan a chemical peel or your last light session for early December, followed by tox and filler around December 7 to 11 so your two-week check-in lands before the holiday. Finally, schedule a Glo2Facial or dermaplane treatment between December 17 and 22, and keep Christmas week strictly for SPF, hydration, and rest with no new treatments.
Your plan will look different, and that's the point. Sarah builds it around your dates, your skin, and what you're comfortable with. You decide.
Frequently asked questions
How long before an event should I get Botox?
At least two weeks, and three is better. Tox takes about two weeks to fully settle, and we do a check-in at two weeks in case anything needs a small touch-up.
How long before an event should I get filler?
Two weeks is the safe minimum. Swelling and any bruising usually fade within that time, and we see you for an in-person follow-up at two weeks.
Can I get a chemical peel right before a party?
We don't recommend it. Peeling peaks around days four and five and lasts about a week. Book your peel at least two weeks ahead, ideally three.
What's the best last-minute treatment before the holidays?
A facial like the Glo2Facial or dermaplaning, three to seven days before. Both have little to no downtime for most people.
Can I do more than one treatment before the holidays?
Often, yes. The order and spacing matter, so Sarah plans them together at your visit.
I'm nervous about looking overdone. Is this for me?
Yes. Our whole approach is to start where you're comfortable. The goal is that people say you look rested, not that they wonder what you had done.
Let's plan your holidays
Pick the date that matters most, then work backward. Or let us do it with you. Sarah will look at your calendar, talk through what bothers you and tell you what's realistic before anything starts. Check our Facebook for this month's offers, and new patients get 10% off their first treatment with our code.
Book an Appointment or call us at (918) 212-5732. You'll look refreshed, and still completely like yourself. Want to see everything we offer first? Browse all of our treatments.
