10 Oct 2025
The holidays are a time to dust off those fancy clothes, embrace the twinkle lights and enjoy seeing faces both old and new. Whether it’s an office party, New Year’s Eve get-together or fun filled night with family and friends, the last six weeks of the year are a time to see and be seen. Embracing an appropriate facial rejuvenation procedure can be a fantastic way for you to really shine. There is something about looking and feeling your best as you head into the new year that helps set that positive tone that we all want for the next 12 months. But the holiday season also has a tendency to sneak up on you. And as we’ve discussed in prior blogs, aesthetic procedures, particularly surgery, require time for your body to recover and heal. So, how do you plan your facial rejuvenation in order to be holiday ready? Here are my thoughts.
Ideal Time to Schedule Non-Surgical Treatments for the Holidays
I am the first to admit that I am a perfectionist. It’s a big part of what makes me so good at my job as a double Board-Certified Facial Plastic Surgeon. This is why, ideally, even with a non-surgical procedure, I tell patients to schedule 3 months in advance. This gives us plenty of time to determine the best treatment plan for your needs which may include:
- Laser Skin Resurfacing
- Dermal Fillers
- Botox®
- Chemical Peel
- Biostimulators like Sculptra® or Radiesse®
- Microneedling
Generally, in order for non-surgical facial rejuvenation to pack a real punch, the treatment plan will include more than one of the above as aging is always multifactorial. In a perfect world, I want to give your skin plenty of time to settle into its new youthful glow so that you are photo ready by December. But if it’s suddenly December 1 and you find yourself in need of a end-of-the-year pick me up, an appropriate dermal filler will help restore that youthful glow almost immediately while a neurotoxin like Botox® will require 2 weeks for your results to be revealed. Still, this is a fast turnaround in a pinch.
Reasonable Holiday Timeline for Surgical Patients in Boston
But what do you do if the rejuvenation you require means surgery? Can you schedule a:
And still make the family Christmas party? I generally tell patients to expect that it will take 6 months between a surgical procedure and their final, final results. However, most patients are socially ready and photo-confident at 10-12 weeks post-op. By this, I mean that you will not look like you “just-had-surgery” though you could still have some slight swelling that will be possibly noticeable to you but not really to someone else. During our initial consultation, I will go over exactly what to expect from your treatment plan in terms of recovery, and we will review photos so that you can decide what “photo ready” means for you.
Why Holiday Timing for Facial Rejuvenation Can Be Challenging
If the holidays take you by surprise, you are not alone. I’ve often heard women say that the day after Labor Day is Christmas. While this period is actually 4 months, there is something about the end of the year that flies by for everyone whether you have young children or not. Furthermore, many companies rely on a 4th quarter push. All of this is to say that it is fairly common to put yourself and your needs last. However, this is diametrically opposed to the desire to look refreshed when seeing family and friends during the holiday season. So, think now about giving yourself the gift of facial rejuvenation in whatever form works for you and your timeline. It is a present for your body and soul.
To find out more about a deep plane facelift, neck lift, rhinoplasty, or any other surgical or non-surgical procedure with Dr. Akshay Sanan at the Boston Center for Plastic Surgery, contact us today or call (617) 402-2768 to schedule a consultation.
