Toward the end of the year the same question comes up again and again in my practice: “Doctor, I have a wedding (or a graduation, or an end-of-year trip) in December, what can I do?”. Often the question arrives too late, because the treatment that patient needed takes longer to show than the time she has left. That is why I wrote this timeline: so you know what to start now and what to leave for the last weeks.
The timeline: how long each treatment takes to show
| Treatment | When you see the result | Start no later than |
|---|---|---|
| Sculptra | Noticeable between months 2 and 3; optimal around month 6 | October |
| Thread lift | Immediate effect; optimal at 3 months | October or early November |
| Radiesse | Immediate volume; collagen between weeks 4 and 12 | 3 to 4 weeks before |
| Botulinum toxin | Starts between day 2 and 7; peaks at 14 days | 2 to 3 weeks before |
| Lip filler and hyaluronic acid | Immediate; settles in about 2 weeks | 2 weeks before |
| Chemical peel | After peeling: from 3 days to 2 weeks depending on depth | 2 to 4 weeks before |
| Facial cleansing | Same day; best 2 to 5 days later | 2 to 5 days before |
October: the treatments that need time
Sculptra: the slowest to show and the longest-lasting
Sculptra doesn’t fill: it stimulates your skin to make collagen. The first changes, in texture and radiance, appear around the first month; the improvement other people notice arrives between the second and third month, and the optimal result around the sixth. I walk you through it in the month-by-month Sculptra evolution.
If you start in October, by December you will already have a visible, natural change, and you will keep improving over the following months. If you start in December, the result will arrive in February or March. The protocol is usually 2 or 3 sessions 4 to 6 weeks apart; I explain it on the Sculptra in Bogotá page.
Thread lift
Threads give an immediate supporting effect, but the best part arrives around the third month, when the collagen they stimulate finishes forming. In the first days there may be some swelling or small bruises. If you have them done in October or early November, any swelling will be long gone by December and the effect will look settled, even though the optimal point arrives a few weeks later. More information in thread lifts in Bogotá.
What is Radiesse, what is it used for and how long does it last
Radiesse fills from day one and, over the following months, prompts your skin to produce its own collagen. What it is used for, how long it lasts and when it is not recommended.
Read moreNovember: support, volume and expression
Radiesse
Radiesse gives volume from day one and also stimulates collagen between weeks 4 and 12. I recommend having it done 3 to 4 weeks ahead: that way the swelling and any bruising have passed, and the result already looks settled. If you are not familiar with it yet, here I explain what Radiesse is and what it is used for.
Botulinum toxin
It is the treatment most people leave until the last minute, and they shouldn’t. Toxin starts to show between day 2 and day 7, peaks at 14 days, and it is wise to leave room for a touch-up if needed. My recommendation: at least two weeks before, ideally three. Details and prices in botulinum toxin in Bogotá.
December: the ones that show in days
Lip filler and hyaluronic acid
The volume shows instantly, but in the first days the lips are swollen and look bigger than they will end up. The result settles completely in about two weeks. That is why I schedule it at least two weeks before the date. More in lip fillers in Bogotá.
Chemical peel
It depends on the depth: a superficial peel recovers in 3 or 4 days, a medium peel in 5 to 7 and a deep peel in up to 14. For an important date, I prefer superficial peels with at least two weeks of margin. See chemical peel in Bogotá.
Facial cleansing
It is the “last week” treatment. The skin looks brighter, with cleaner pores, from the same day; there may be slight redness for a few hours, and the skin keeps improving over the following days. The sweet spot is 2 to 5 days before the event, never the same day. More in deep facial cleansing in Bogotá.
What about laser hair removal?
Laser hair removal isn’t solved in a few weeks: the initial protocol is usually 6 to 8 sessions, 4 to 6 weeks apart. If you start now, you will reach December with 2 or 3 sessions done and a visible reduction in hair, and the protocol will keep progressing in January. More information in laser hair removal in Bogotá.
Three mistakes I see every year-end
- Leaving everything for the last week. Combining Botox, filler and a peel a few days before the event is a recipe for arriving swollen.
- Trying a new treatment right before an important date. If you have never had a filler, the first time shouldn’t be the week of the wedding.
- Choosing by speed rather than need. If what worries you is sagging, a filler won’t solve it even if it shows the same day.
My recommendation
Count backward from your date. If you have more than two months, it is time for the treatments that build collagen. If you have two to four weeks, you can work on expression and volume. If you have one week, prepare your skin. In the assessment we build that timeline with you so you reach December the way you want.
Dr. Tatiana Leal is an aesthetic medicine specialist in Bogotá, Colombia.
Sculptra Evolution: The Month-by-Month Progress Clinics Don’t Show
How does your skin really change with Sculptra each month? The documented evolution that shows why this biostimulator works differently from anything else.
Read more
Frequently asked questions
Which aesthetic treatment takes the longest to show results?
Sculptra, because it is a pure biostimulator: the first changes appear around the first month, the result becomes noticeable between the second and third month, and the optimal result arrives around the sixth month. If you want to reach December with a visible change, it is best to start in October.
How long before an event should I get Botox?
At least two weeks before. Botulinum toxin starts to show between day 2 and day 7 and reaches its full effect at 14 days. That margin also leaves time for a touch-up if needed.
How long before an event can I get a lip filler?
I recommend at least two weeks before. The volume shows immediately, but the swelling of the first days makes the lips look bigger than they will end up; the result settles completely in about two weeks.
Can I get a facial cleansing the day before a party?
It is better to do it 2 to 5 days before. The skin looks brighter from the same day, but there may be slight redness for a few hours, and the skin keeps improving over the following days.