Every year there is a point somewhere around December when people suddenly realise Christmas parties, photographs and family gatherings are much closer than they thought.
And that is usually when somebody asks me whether they can squeeze in several months' worth of skin treatments in the next ten days.
Sometimes yes.
Usually, I would rather you planned earlier.
If you would like your skin or aesthetic treatments looking their best for Christmas, here is how I would think about timing.
Start skin treatments early
Treatments that rely on collagen stimulation and gradual skin improvement need time.
Microneedling is the obvious example.
The aim is to stimulate a biological response in the skin, not simply create an instant cosmetic effect. A course of treatments spaced over time will generally make far more sense than booking one session immediately before an event.
If Christmas is the goal, October and early November are an excellent time to start thinking about your plan.
Chemical peels
Timing depends on the type and strength of peel.
Some superficial peels have minimal downtime, while others can cause visible dryness, shedding, redness or sensitivity for several days.
I would not try a new peel for the first time immediately before a Christmas party.
Give the skin time to settle and make sure you know how your skin responds.
Skin boosters and injectable skin-quality treatments
Again, these are not something I would judge the day after treatment.
Some injectable skin treatments can cause small bumps, swelling or bruising initially, and the final benefit develops over time.
Courses may also involve more than one appointment.
If you want the benefit by Christmas, plan the course rather than only the final appointment.
Dermal filler
Dermal filler can give a more immediate change than collagen-stimulating skin treatments, but immediate does not mean “book it the day before the party”.
Swelling and bruising are possible.
Lips in particular can swell considerably after treatment, and the result should be allowed time to settle before deciding what it actually looks like.
I would always leave a sensible buffer before an important event.
Don't experiment immediately before Christmas
This might be my biggest piece of advice.
The week before an important event is not the moment to suddenly introduce three new skincare actives, have an unfamiliar treatment and decide to change your entire routine.
I learned versions of this lesson myself in the run-up to my wedding.
Boring skin is sometimes exactly what we want immediately before photographs.
Work backwards from the event
If you have something important coming up, tell me the date at the consultation.
We can work backwards and decide what is realistic.
Sometimes the right plan might be a course of treatments beginning months beforehand.
Sometimes it is one carefully timed treatment.
And sometimes the safest advice is not to do anything new until after the event.
Christmas skin planning at DR JACKSON SKIN
If you are thinking about treatments before Christmas, now is a sensible time to start.
At DR JACKSON SKIN in Alderley Edge, consultations are used to build a personalised plan around your skin, your concerns and — importantly — your diary.
Because the best time to discover that you bruise dramatically is not three days before the office Christmas party.