A bride dreams of looking radiant on her wedding day. She wants flawless skin, the perfect dress, and a ceremony she’ll never forget. More brides are turning to plastic surgeons to help them look picture-perfect for their big day.
One glance at the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery’s report on wedding plastic surgery makes it clear that many brides-to-be are willing to undergo surgical procedures to look great. In fact, the AAFPRS report shows that blepharoplasty, facelifts, and lip enhancement are among the top five most popular wedding day plastic surgeries.
Blepharoplasty
Most people know blepharoplasty by its other name, an eyelid lift. The surgery helps correct sagging skin on the eyelids and the bags that form under the eyes. Incisions are made in the creases on the upper eyelids and/or just below the lash line on the lower lids. After the incisions are made, excess fat, muscle, and skin are removed. Once the eyelid lift is complete, the incisions are stitched shut.
Eyelids often feel sore, swollen, and tight following blepharoplasty. There will be bruising that can take weeks to fade. Stitches are removed after a week, and you can return to normal activities after two weeks so schedule your surgery accordingly.
Facelifts
A facelift corrects changes to the lower face and neck that are a result of aging. Women who undergo a facelift want to restore tightness around the jawline and neck. The surgical procedure can also help restore some volume in the cheeks.
During a facelift, incisions are made from the temple to the front of the ears, around the back of the ears and then up to the hairline behind the ears. Tissue below the skin is reshaped and tightened for form a new base for the skin. Skin is re-draped over the new form, extra skin is removed, and the incisions are closed. You don’t need to stay overnight, but it does take some time to recover.
The average healing time is 10 days. You leave the office in bandages that are removed on the day after surgery. There is going to be swelling and bruising that can take a few weeks to subside. Stitches are removed after a week, but plan for up to a month before all the swelling goes away. It can take half a year before you see the final results of your facelift.
Lip Enhancement
Surgical lip enhancement takes care of a number of problems. For brides with thin lips, a lip enhancement can add volume. If you dislike a long upper lip and hate how it hides teeth when you talk or smile, the surgery can fix that. Lip surgery also corrects issues with wrinkles around the lips and mouth.
With a lip lift, incisions are made along the bottom of the nose. Skin and soft tissue are corrected, and then sutures are used to draw the lip upward. The layers of skin and tissue are then closed with stitches to minimize any scars. It takes about a week to heal from a lip lift. Stitches are removed after five days. There may be some residual numbness to the lips that takes up to three months to disappear.
If your goal with a lip enhancement surgery is to have fuller lips or reduce the appearance of fine lines, implants are the way to go. Anesthesia is used to numb the lips and the area around the mouth. Silicone implants are inserted into the lips and then the incisions in the corner of the mouth are sutured. There will be bruising that lasts approximately a week, and swelling can last a few weeks. For less invasive lip enhancement, injectable fillers can be used.
Talk to a facial plastic surgeon months before your wedding. You need to time facial plastic surgery carefully in order to make sure you’re fully healed for your big day. Make sure you understand the instructions for before and after your surgery to help get the best possible results.
Dr. Jessica Kulak is unique in that her specialty involves the aging face. Talk to Dr. Kulak in either her Virginia or Maryland facial plastic surgery practice. To schedule a consultation in Reston, Virginia, call (703) 481-0002. If you prefer coming to the Chevy Chase, Maryland, location, call (301) 222-2020.
