What Are the Best Anti-Aging Procedures for Winter?

When you’re planning a cosmetic procedure, one of the things you might be trying to determine is the most suitable time of year to have it done. Although minimally invasive treatments like injectables can be done at any time of the year without being affected by changes in heat and humidity, the colder winter months are ideal for surgical procedures, especially in a pandemic. If you’re thinking of having a facial plastic surgery procedure like a rhinoplasty, the Philadelphia area’s Dr. Timothy Greco recommends having it done in the wintertime for several reasons.

Your results are likely to be optimized and the recovery process will be smoother, because the sun’s rays are weaker, the days are shorter, and temperatures are cooler. This is gentler on your skin, which tends to be prone to be sensitive after surgery. Not to mention, the heavy coats, scarves, hats, and sweaters we wear make it easier to disguise tell tale signs of surgery like swelling and bruising. Most people also spend more time resting at home. During this time, so you have the opportunity to recover without too many distractions.

It usually takes several months for the full results from surgical procedures to show, so it’s best to start early if you want to flaunt your enhanced appearance by summer. Having plastic surgery at this time can also motivate you to keep up with your New Year’s resolutions. A fresh new look is a great catalyst for change. Here’s a basic outline of the benefits of some of the most common procedures performed in the winter.

Facelift

Youthful skin is plump, with an abundance of collagen and elastin to keep it supported. Normal aging and damage from the environment eventually cause the skin to thin out and lose its elasticity. Along with forming deep wrinkles, your skin might begin to droop around the cheeks and jawline area. If you’re concerned about sagging skin, depressions, and a loss of facial contours, facelifts offer the most extensive improvement. After this surgery, you’ll feel tired and experience bruising and swelling, so you’ll need to give yourself at least two weeks to recuperate.

Brow Lift

A brow lift, also sometimes called a forehead lift, involves lifting the skin and tissue around the brow and forehead area to address a low, sagging brow or asymmetry. This is often combined with other facial plastic surgery procedures to fix sagging skin that may create a tired, angry, or older appearance.

Rhinoplasty

Your nose is a central aspect of your face that’s essential for creating harmony and attractiveness. A nose job, also referred to by the medical term rhinoplasty, allows you to alter parts of your nose to create a more balanced appearance. Although your nose will heal just as well in any temperature, many patients choose to have their procedure done between December and February, as it takes a few months for the nose structure to settle into shape after surgery. The cold air outside won’t affect healing, but it’s generally easier for managing inflammation compared to being exposed to hot temperatures. The nasal skin also won’t be exposed to as much sunlight during these months so there will be less redness in the nose.

Laser Skin Rejuvenation

Our skin often becomes dry, dull, and bumpy in cold weather. Laser resurfacing and light treatments revitalize the overall tone and texture of the skin during the winter months while minimizing irregularities on the surface. Some of the common skin complaints that lasers work best on include wrinkles and fine lines, broken capillaries, sagging skin, sun damage such as hyperpigmentation, and scars. Lasers involve one, focused wavelength of light that targets a specific skin concern, while light treatments like IPL improve a broader area and a wider range of skin concerns. The controlled injury they cause stimulates collagen regeneration.

Planning a rhinoplasty or other plastic surgery procedure? Talk to the team at Dr. Timothy Greco’s Philadelphia-area practice to find out more about what’s involved. Call (610) 664-8830, or submit a contact form online to request an appointment.