When it comes to aesthetic treatments during wedding season, many new patients will be consulting with their medical providers to find the ideal option for them according to their objectives. We’re sharing our insider knowledge so you can best prepare to offer the treatments that are right for them and give guidance on the best moments to suggest booking a session leading up to the big day.
In this article, we’ll cover popular treatments you can offer to different wedding clients other than the bride — including the:
- Groom
- Mother of the bride
- Bridal party
- Wedding guests
These treatment suggestions will ensure every attendee looks and feels their best on the wedding day, while also driving additional bookings to your practice.
What does the ideal pre-wedding treatment & timeline look like?
The best philosophy for all wedding participants is to start as early as possible. Staying ahead gives medical aesthetic providers time to make adjustments, ensure patients are happy, and allow additional sessions to achieve the desired result. “I treat a lot of brides, bridesmaids, mothers of the brides, and grooms,” said Kristen Doezie, MSN, BSN, RN. “And my advice is basically the sooner you start, the better because you can really hone in on what the client’s goals are. What's bothering them? What's going to look best in photos?”
Groom
Botox® (wrinkles)
Targeted objective: Many grooms turn to Botox® injections to help smooth out visible facial wrinkles and fine lines — including frown lines, crow's feet, and laugh lines.
What it is: Botox® injections use a toxin called onabotulinumtoxinA to temporarily prevent a muscle from moving. The most common use of these injections is to temporarily relax the facial muscles that cause wrinkles in the forehead and around the eyes.
Treatment timelines + pro tips: Keep in mind that while Botox® can be performed quickly in a single 15-minute session, patients won’t see effects instantaneously. The general rule of thumb for Botox® is that it takes three to five days to see the effects and a full two weeks for the complete results to be visible. Its effects will then last for three to five months. Plan treatments well in advance and administer them two months before the wedding for new clients. Three to four weeks in advance can suffice for a client who has been through treatment with you many times before.
Botox® (underarms)
Targeted objective: Men are increasingly seeking Botox® injections to avoid excessive sweating on the big day.
What it is: Botox® uses a toxin called onabotulinumtoxinA to block a chemical in the body that activates sweat glands.
Treatment timelines + pro tips: Injecting Botox® in the underarms works by temporarily blocking the chemicals that signal a patient's sebaceous glands to produce sweat. It doesn't affect touch or sensation in the underarm area. Grooms will only need one office visit to complete Botox® treatment for underarm sweating. The procedure typically involves 25 injections in each armpit, yielding results that last three to six months.
Kybella®
Targeted objective: Kybella® is an FDA-approved injectable for submental fat (the groom’s double chin).
What it is: Kybella® is a solution injected below the chin that works to destroy excess fat in the area. Each session with Kybella® is different for each patient, depending on how much fat they aim to lose. For men with excessive breast fat, Kybella® can also be effective in the breasts (Armbella or Brabella treatments).
Treatment timelines + pro tips: Kybella® requires two to three treatment sessions at least one month apart. Each session requires two vials of Kybella® on average. However, many patients may need up to four treatment sessions (this is something you can scope during an initial consultation with a patient to set proper expectations). Patients can expect to see results after the second treatment. Each session takes about 30-60 minutes, which includes the time to apply a topical anesthetic.
Since swelling may occur for up to ten days following treatment, be sure patients plan for their final session to be at least two weeks out from the wedding day.
Jawline filler
Targeted objective: Jawline filler is a treatment to help grooms achieve a slimmer and more defined jawline and neck.
What it is: Jawline fillers are for patients looking for more of a sculpting effect. Since Kybella® only works to remove fat and not define the jaw, filler becomes the best option in cases where patients desire more definition.
A double chin is not always about excess fat — sometimes it’s an issue of bone or muscle dysfunction, in which case filler is the best option. Filler can provide more instant results and works as an excellent second step for added definition after removing fat through Kybella®.
Treatment timelines + pro tips: For the jawline, use Juvéderm® Voluma®, Radiesse®, or any structural filler that doesn't bind water and mimics bone. Many medical providers also use Botox® or Sculptra® for this area. For patients wanting to enhance their jawline, we recommend administering two syringes. For those wishing to build more of a jawline, you can expect to use four to five syringes of filler. Each session lasts about forty minutes to an hour and requires a single session. Since it can take up to two weeks to see results, patients should arrange their treatment three to four weeks before the wedding.
Mother of the bride
Sclerotherapy
Targeted objective: When spider veins start to become visible, they can be a source of insecurity. It’s very common to see patients ask their medical provider to help them address this.
What it is: Sclerotherapy is an injection that helps remove visible spider veins by using a detergent-like solution that allows these veins to collapse. A leading sclerosing agent is FDA-approved Asclera® (aka polidocanol).
Once administered, Asclera begins to budge the inner lining of the spider veins. The cells around the veins can then catch on the lining and form a clot in the vein, forcing it to seal off and close. The body is then able to metabolize it within six weeks naturally.
Treatment timelines + pro tips: The ideal time for sclerotherapy is in the winter. The aftercare involves compressive support hosiery, which is hot and difficult to wear during the summer months. Treatments occur six weeks apart, so suggest the first appointment at least several months before the wedding, depending on how many treatments the patient needs. “I would say you're looking at between one and four treatments for most people. The challenge is they need to be really in compression for weeks afterward to get the best result,” shares Dr. Patrick Blake, MD. When it comes to the recovery period, Dr. Blake also suggests “staying out of the sun to avoid pigmentation afterward.”
Sclerotherapy works best on vessels between 0.05 to 1 millimeter in diameter. Treatable veins must be on the smaller side while still large enough for the needle to penetrate them. This treatment should not be performed on veins larger than suggested, as it can put a patient’s circulatory system at risk. Small veins are less risky as they aren’t responsible for being a transportation path. In the case of more prominent veins, refer the patient to a vascular surgeon for laser ablation or vein stripping.
PDO threads
Targeted objective: Patients that want a lifting or contouring treatment without the extended recovery time of a surgical procedure should try threads.
What it is: According to clinical research, PDO threads, thread lifting with polydioxanone (PDO) sutures, is a “cosmetic procedure where lax tissue is lifted and repositioned to create a more youthful-looking facial contour.” This procedure uses injectable and dissolvable surgical sutures to rejuvenate facial tissue across the temples, forehead, nose, cheeks, under-eyes, and chin, depending on patient need.
Treatment timelines + pro tips: You can also choose between PDO mono threads that offer the most support for tightening the skin. Another option is a PDO cog or screw with barbs, which creates a general facelift effect. PDO procedures typically take around 15 minutes, with results lasting between 12 and 15 months. In most cases, a single session is enough to achieve desired results.
To read more about PDO threads, visit this previous blog post.
Bridal party
Dermal fillers
Targeted objective: Dermal fillers can help to correct concerns like wrinkles, volume loss, an undefined chin, or thin lips.
What it is: Dermal fillers are gel-like substances injected under the skin to restore volume, smooth lines, or enhance facial contours. Ingredients found in popular fillers include hyaluronic acid, calcium hydroxylapatite, poly-L-lactic acid, and polymethylmethacrylate.
Treatment timelines + pro tips: Before the wedding, members of the bridal party will likely seek out medical aesthetic providers for fillers to enhance their lips. Lip filler, in particular, is an increasingly popular solution to adding volume and creating a more defined pout, but fillers help to enhance facial beauty overall. Unlike plastic surgery, filler treatments are performed in just minutes in an outpatient setting. As a general rule of thumb, the earlier a patient starts getting filler, the better the result.
Botox®
Targeted objective: Botox® is an injectable that softens muscle movement to reduce and prevent the formation of fine lines and wrinkles. This world-renowned injectable works by preventing the release of acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter found in nerve fibers that are responsible for triggering muscle movement.
What it is: Botox® injections use a toxin called onabotulinumtoxinA to temporarily prevent a muscle from moving. The most common use of these injections is to temporarily relax the facial muscles that cause wrinkles in the forehead and around the eyes.
Treatment timelines + pro tips: It’s wise to start Botox® injections as soon as possible before the wedding, especially if the patient is having it done for the first time. For members of the bridal party, “It depends on what they want, but ideally start at least three months before the wedding because if you're going to do toxins, you need to know their face,” shares Melissa Gorden, RN. The latest a patient should get Botox® is one month before the wedding, which would offer two weeks to see the full results, plus an extra two-week buffer.
Insider tip: consider Botox® parties
Medical aesthetic providers can offer “Botox® parties,” which is one of several ways to promote and expand their clientele base, perfect their skills, and efficiently offer a multitude of services. To incentivize patients, providers can choose to offer volume discounts for parties of 6 or more people.
Botox® parties are ideal for offering a comforting environment for patients to receive their treatment in a fun and social setting. They can be hosted at someone’s home, at a medical aesthetic practice, at a vibrant event that involves music and catering, or anywhere that’s safe to do so. In recent years, Botox® parties have become increasingly popular during the wedding season.
Want to learn more about how you can best utilize Botox parties for your business? Read this article.
Wedding guests
Neurotoxin
Targeted objective: Neurotoxin injections, like Botox®, work to smooth out facial lines and wrinkles, as well as prevent the formation of new ones. Neurotoxins target facial muscles and enhance the appearance of the face overall. Other common uses are to make pores appear smaller (micro Botox®) and lift the brows (brow lift).
What it is: A neurotoxin is an injectable solution that temporarily blocks nerve receptors in the muscle, preventing them from contracting. Using active ingredient botulinum toxin type A, the best-known neurotoxin brand names are Botox®, Dysport®, and Xeomin®. Neurotoxins are the single most popular cosmetic treatment in the United States.
To read more about neurotoxins, check out our previous blog post.
Treatment timelines + pro tips: Neurotoxin injections require a quick treatment that usually takes about 15 minutes. Most patients only need a single session but can benefit from a second if they have very deep-set wrinkles. The results are visible after three to five days but not fully visible until two weeks. We recommend telling patients to start injections at least six or more months before the wedding date, so they have time to get comfortable with how it looks and feels. It also allows extra time for providers to make any necessary adjustments.
Dermal filler
Targeted objective: Fillers are injectables used to help achieve volume in specific areas of the face. They are used to correct concerns like wrinkles, volume loss, an undefined chin, or thin lips. The most common areas treated include the nasolabial folds, cheeks, and lips.
What it is: Dermal fillers are gel-like substances injected under the skin to restore volume, smooth lines, or enhance facial contours. Ingredients found in popular fillers include hyaluronic acid, calcium hydroxylapatite, poly-L-lactic acid, and polymethylmethacrylate.
Treatment timelines + pro tips: In most cases, a single session is all that’s necessary to achieve the patient’s desired results. The ideal timing for a filler appointment is one month before the wedding to anticipate enough time for the swelling to dissipate and see the full effects.
Conclusion
In short, treatments during wedding season can vary from person to person. Everyone has a personal image of beauty and preference for what makes them look their best. These treatment suggestions involve different frequencies and recovery periods, which should be kept in mind leading up to a big event. Offering these treatments will give you the variety to satisfy versatile patient needs before the wedding day and have everyone looking their best.