Winter really is the prime time to book pretty much any type of cosmetic treatment you can think of. The very things that are irksome about the season—lack of sun, not being able to leave the house without layers of clothing, not wanting to leave the house at all—make it a great time to undergo everything from lasers to body sculpting. Doctors know this, which is why they’re currently scheduling the procedures they’ve waited all year to do for themselves. Below, seven RealSelf Verified plastic surgeons and dermatologists share what they’re getting for winter and why.
Laser resurfacing, PRP, and LED light therapy
“This winter, I’m really looking forward to utilizing a mix of regenerative medicine and laser resurfacing to improve my skin and fat pad quality, targeting mostly dyspigmentation, fine lines, and subtle contours. Just as I do for my patients, I will customize a laser ‘cocktail,’ to address specific amounts of redness, pigmentation and photo damage. I’ll be combining a fractional, non-ablative, 1565 nm wavelength laser with a fractionated CO2 laser.
I’ll pair that with a regenerative medicine protocol using PRP, PRF, and stem cell–rich nanofat, to create more elastin. I will finish it off with some hyperbaric oxygen therapy, IV nutrition, and LED light therapy, to expedite my brief recovery time, which I will spend in the mountains snow skiing. I love the long-term results that come with this treatment and the completely autologous and powerful nature of the regenerative protocol. And because I’m doing everything in one setting, I’ll have only one period of downtime.” —Dr. Cameron Chestnut, board-certified dermatologist in Spokane, Washington
Revlite
“I’m excited to get Revlite on my sunspots, primarily on my hands, since I will have the time to be out of the sun this winter. This innovative new procedure treats brown spots, which then exfoliate off after a few days. It uses 532 nm and 1062 nm wavelengths for non-ablative skin resurfacing, so it’s going to help remove my sunspots, reduce pores and fine lines, and stimulate the production of collagen in the skin. The procedure is quick, and it doesn’t burn or sting. I won’t need any anesthesia, so I can do the treatment in the morning and still see patients all day. I’m choosing Revlite over other procedures primarily for the fact that there will be no downtime but I’ll still see the results I want.” —Dr. Bruce Katz, board-certified dermatologist in New York City
LaseMD and Emsculpt Neo
“Winter is a great time to reflect, recharge, and regroup for many of us. I personally focus on rejuvenating my skin. I want to rebuild healthy, glowing skin that has suffered some sun damage from the summer. My go-to treatment is the Lutronic LasedMD Ultra laser. Using this breakthrough laser every four weeks during the winter months helps turn over damaged skin, to bring back a youthful glow.
While working on my skin, I also focus on my core. No matter how hard I work in the gym, I find I can always improve my core strength. I love using Emsculpt Neo for this. Once a week, I have a 30-minute session that focuses on strengthening my core muscles, which impacts every aspect of my day-to-day life. And with the implementation of radiofrequency energy, I can burn off that little bit of extra fat that always finds a way to accumulate during the winter.” —Dr. Ryan Neinstein, board-certified plastic surgeon in New York City
Qwo, Fraxel, and Vbeam
“I am planning on doing Qwo for a few cellulite dimples on the back of my legs. I want to do this now because I won’t be in a swimsuit. For this Qwo treatment series, you need to have a two to three month period where your legs won’t be showing.
I am also planning on doing a winter chest treatment where I’ll use multiple modalities to smooth the skin, decrease redness, and help with sunspots. I’ll start with a series of two Fraxel treatments, spaced four weeks apart, to smooth and remove pigmentation. I will then do a series of two Vbeam treatments, also spaced four weeks apart, to remove redness. All together, this will be a total of four months of treatment, and now’s a good time to do that because I won’t be getting any unexpected sun exposure.” —Dr. Jennifer Reichel, board-certified dermatologist in Seattle
SculpSure and Morpheus8
“I’ll be looking for a treatment with little or no downtime that doesn’t interfere with work or play. I have a snowboarding trip planned and don’t want the risk of not being able to enjoy myself due to discomfort or looking like I just had something done. SculpSure uses heat to kill fat cells and works very well, with no downtime. I did my love handles a year ago and went to the gym the same day. I liked the results and plan on getting a refresher this winter.
I also plan on getting Morpheus8, as I found it delivered really nice results on my forehead, lower eyelids, and neck. It is radiofrequency microneedling, so [it] can create collagen growth by way of localized injury. I got three treatments last year, and I plan on getting my yearly Morpheus8 ‘booster’ this winter too.” —Dr. Robert Schwarcz, board-certified oculoplastic surgeon in New York City
Thermage and Emsculpt
“I just had my annual Thermage treatment on my face. I usually schedule it around my birthday, in January, but missed it last year. It’s treatment, maintenance, and prevention, promoting healthy collagen and skin tightening. What I need to focus on next is Emsculpt, especially on my abdomen and butt. The pandemic squashed my usual exercise regimen, and I need a kickstart. I’m looking forward to looking and feeling better. A stronger core means better posture and less back pain in addition to a tighter tummy and better behind! I may also add in my arms before sleeveless season returns.
While you could do these treatments any time of year, part of the reason I do them in the winter is that both take time to see results, so I think of them as preparation for spring. Also, as soon as the weather turns cold and it gets dark early, I go into hibernation mode. Like a lot of people, I get sluggish and turn to comfort food. Thermage tissue tightening helps keep my face contoured, no matter whether I gain or lose weight. Emsculpt builds my core, to help keep me active, and reduces the shoulder slouching I invariably do when it gets cold. And then, when spring comes, I don’t have to play catch-up on my face and body!” —Dr. Heidi Waldorf, board-certified dermatologist in Nanuet, New York
Botox
“I always plan to get my Botox in the winter. Things are busy with patients, the practice, and the team. Those stressors can increase those wrinkles right before visits to family and friends. It’s the perfect time to get rid of the 11s to make it seem like I’m the master of all the holiday stress!” —Dr. Steven H. Williams, board-certified plastic surgeon in Dublin, California
