Big Day Beauty Countdown
They say here comes the bride, but we say here comes the stress. With all the decisions to be made, it’s easy to put your own self-care on the back burner. But achieving that happy glow might be just what the doctor ordered. We consulted a top team of experts from SWS Aesthetics, Synergy MedAesthetics, and Dr. Kimberly Donnellan’s Skin and Laser Center to create the ultimate countdown to looking fresh-faced and radiant as you walk down the aisle. Of course everyone from bridesmaids to mothers of the couple, tune in, too. With locations from Fairhope to Midtown to the burbs, you don’t have to travel far to get to glowing.
By Amber Wielkens
Before we start the clock, get to know just a bit about our fabulous experts. Amber Cherry, Director of Aesthetics and Master Aesthetician at Synergy MedAesthetics has been in the industry for over six years, carries a dual licensure in Master Aesthetics, and is certified in every treatment we can name. SWS Aesthetics’ Drs. Christy J. Guepet and Angela McCool-Pearson were trained under renowned Drs. Arthur Swift and Sebastion Cotefana in the fundamentals of facial anatomy and injection. In addition to being top-notch surgical gynecologists, they treat the whole woman and take a holistic approach to individualized treatment plans. Dr. Kimberly Donnellan has a cult-like following and is a double-board-certified facial plastic surgeon. She has published numerous times and is a sought-after speaker at national conventions. And now, let the countdown begin!
12 Months Out
Dr. Donnellan
Planning ahead prior to the big day allows for some meaningful improvements. Collagen is the key to youthful skin and we begin losing it around age 20. As we lose collagen, you will notice more fine lines, wrinkles, and sagging of the skin. Luckily, we have many options to promote collagen regeneration. Combination treatments are the most sought-after right now. My favorite treatment to address fine lines and wrinkles as well as targeting unwanted pigmentation and scars is using radiofrequency microneedling combined with CO2 laser resurfacing. I recommend a series of three treatments every four weeks with the maximal benefit seen 3–6 months after the third treatment. We’ve seen remarkable benefits with patients of all ages, so this treatment is perfect for both the bride and mother of the bride. The downtime is minimal, only slight redness for 24 hours. If you are considering surgical procedures like a facelift, neck lift, or eyelid surgery, it’s important to plan ahead. I recommend coming in for a consultation to discuss surgery 6–12 months prior. The recovery time may be only a few weeks, but you want to allow time for scheduling and optimal healing.
SWS Aesthetics’ Dr. Pearson
One of our newest and most exciting programs we offer at SWS Aesthetics is our VIP Membership Silver and Platinum plans. Patients come in once a month for a service, including the popular Hydrafacial, VI Peels, laser hair removal, and Forma skin tightening. (These are only some of the treatments offered.) Additionally, Platinum patients receive 20% off of Morpheus8, vaginal rejuvenation, and O-Shot. You also receive 40 units of Dysport or Xeomin, a $460 value! This is the time to begin your neuromodulator treatments like Dysport, to be repeated every 3–4 months. Beginning now will establish a relationship with your injector and ensure that fine lines have plenty of time to resolve and soften.
Synergy’s Amber Cherry
Changing the appearance and health of the skin can take time. This is why we suggest starting as soon as possible. Don’t wait until the last minute if you are looking for a transformation. Skin, Botox, fillers, and body contouring are a process and one we know and do very well. While a cosmetic procedure might sound scary, our board-certified facial plastic surgeon, Dr. Blake Raggio, uses the latest techniques for subtle, natural-yet-beautiful results. He even has the ability to combine in-office procedures if you’re looking to achieve a slimmer face, nose alteration, or lid lift.
6 Months Out
SWS Aesthetics’ Dr. Guepet
Depending on your skin concerns, now would be the time to tackle any issues. We provide VI Peels to address pigmentation, acne, acne scars, and fine lines and wrinkles. Lumecca IPL helps erase redness and sun damage, and we proudly offer Morpheus8, the powerhouse that addresses almost any skin concern on the face and body.
Synergy’s Amber Cherry
To reverse the effects of aging and skin discoloration, we offer SkinPen microneedling, which creates a cascade of healing, making your body produce collagen and elastin. Downtime is minimal and thanks to professional-grade numbing, the treatment is very comfortable. VI Chemical peels can help with any number of conditions and the downtime is roughly a week. Laser treatments aid hair reduction, eliminating pigmentation, and spider veins, resulting in beautiful glowing skin. We often combine these treatments and do them in succession for the best results. Laser Genesis is a fan favorite! It’s a gentle laser that can help make skin glowing and vibrant with zero downtime.
Dr. Donnellan
If pigmentation, rosacea, or pore size is your main issue, consider a series of Broad Band Light (BBL) therapy. Another consideration is your chest, neck, and hands. These areas are often an afterthought, but pictures may show you went great lengths to address facial aging but neglected other areas. Laser treatments and chemical peels can be quite effective for targeting sun damage in those areas. There is minimal recovery time but you may require multiple treatments, so six months out is a good time to start.
3 Months Out
Synergy’s Amber Cherry
Dr. Raggio suggests dermal fillers and neuromodulators like Botox as a temporary but powerful tool to reverse the signs of aging. By restoring volume and softening wrinkles, injectables represent an affordable alternative to surgery with fast results, minimal discomfort, and little to no downtime. When investing time and money into treatments, it's important to understand why a medical-grade skincare line, corrective and preventative procedures are the key to long-term lovely skin.
Dr. Donnellan
Three months prior to an event is still adequate to see some significant skin improvements. Be diligent about using a medical-grade skin regimen. These products are far more likely to create noticeable changes to the skin texture. Neurotoxins like Botox are game changers with respect to addressing wrinkles. If you are new to the neurotoxin world, start off with a conservative treatment and then complete your final treatment a month prior to the wedding. Dermal fillers should also be completed one month prior, as bruising is much more likely with this treatment Remember to be conservative. You want to look like a rested version of yourself, not someone with filler.
SWS Aesthetics’ Dr. Pearson
Now is the time to treat yourself! Enjoy a series of HydraFacials to hydrate and brighten the skin. These treatments are about an hour long in the most relaxing spa setting. With a heated bed and lavender diffusing, you will enjoy an hour to decompress and zone out before you head back to wedding planning.
1 Week Before
SWS Aesthetics’ Dr. Guepet
A HydraFacial and dermaplaning are absolutely the two things I would do the week of the wedding. Dermaplaning shaves the peach fuzz off of the face as well as exfoliates the skin to leave it flawless and radiant. Dermaplaning will make your makeup look airbrushed the day of the wedding!
Synergy’s Amber Cherry
Facials! We offer a variety of facials to deep clean and decongest your skin prior to your big day.
Dr. Donnellan
Dermaplaning is a great procedure to do one week prior. This procedure can be combined with a light chemical peel. Dermaplaning removes the excess fine hairs on the face and makes your makeup application flawless!
At-Home Use
SWS Aesthetics’ Dr. Pearson
We offer three skincare brands because of the immense science behind each brand. Investing in your skin and protecting the investment you have made is key for maintenance. Our favorites are Alastin Restorative Skin Complex for anti-aging benefits. Latisse is always a crowd pleaser for eyelashes. And finally, sunscreen. We cannot emphasize this enough. Even if you work indoors you still must protect your skin against harmful UV and blue light damage.
Synergy’s Amber Cherry
A medical-grade skincare line is going to be the scaffolding upon which your ideal results are built. At Synergy, we believe in a multilevel approach to skin health. Getting skin ready with products appropriate for you specifically is like taking your skin to the gym when used regularly! Cleanse, exfoliate, tone, antioxidants, vitamin A’s, and SPF!
Dr. Donnellan
Retinoic acid is a scientifically proven ingredient to reverse the signs of aging and promote collagen production. Other than sunscreen, it is the most important cosmetic product which everyone can benefit from. Another important product is antioxidants. They reverse DNA damage and promote collagen stimulation. My personal favorite brands are SkinBetter Science and Skinceuticals. Invest in medical-grade products as they have higher concentrations of active ingredients and are backed by clinical studies that show proven benefits.
SWS Aesthetics | 7540 Cipriano Court, Suite C, Fairhope | 251.990.1985
Synergy MedAesthetics | 720 Oak Circle Drive West, Mobile | 251.999.6691
Dr Kimberly Donnellan Skin and Laser Center | 2505 Old Shell Road, Mobile | 251.341.4094
USAHealthSystem.com/Providers/Kimberly-Donnellan
