PLASTIC SURGERY

Q:Can I still get plastic surgery in time to look better for the holiday season?

A:Many people want to look their absolute best during the holidays. In fact, the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery says the demand for cosmetic enhancement procedures and surgeries jumps about 25% between Thanksgiving and New Year’s. They also acknowledge that gifting yourself or loved ones with plastic surgery and aesthetic treatments is becoming a huge trend, from gift certificates for facial rejuvenation treatments to more significant surgical procedures or makeovers. The short answer to your question is “yes,” but there are many considerations. First, I urge you to understand all of your options and not feel rushed to make a decision. Don’t allow yourself to be influenced by seeing a picture of yourself from holidays passed, or a celebrity who recently had plastic surgery. If you want to get more information, you should contact a plastic surgeon’s office and tell them you want the earliest consultation and surgical scheduling. Successful practices like mine are especially busy during the holidays, so openings are more limited. Lastly, you should consider your own levels of activity and visibility during this busy season. While a vacation might allow personal healing time, other people may just be too busy to allow post-surgical healing to go unnoticed. In such cases, you may consider non-surgical treatments, such as injectables, skin resurfacing with lasers and peels, and lip, chin and cheek enhancement with fillers and fat transfer before the holidays. These will allow you to look better through the season, and then you can take your time to make final decisions.