New trends emerge for 'The Big Day'

Nowadays preparing for a wedding has radically changed, in the last ten years we have seen a shift towards hiring in help for the big day such as wedding planners, caterers and stylists. An increasing trend that has emerged in the last four years are pre-wedding plastic surgery treatments, research indicates that in the last 2 years alone plastic surgery for a bridal party has increased by roughly 25%.

These are not necessarily full surgical procedures but more commonly 'quick fixes' such as Botox or fillers and fat injections. Dr. Luiz Toledo, with a career spanning over 30 years, has seen this trend surface, and as a specialist in plastic surgery has helped to perfect the look of many brides, bridesmaids and even grooms ahead of the big day.

"Pre-wedding surgery is a fast emerging trend, four years ago this was relatively unheard of but today we see both women and men opting for procedures ahead of large celebrations. The most common of these treatments being Botox and fillers, in the US alone, last year saw over 2 million people undergoing Botox and 1.5 million receiving fillers,"

said Dr. Toledo.

With a wide variety of treatments available, patients no longer have to go 'under the knife' in order to improve their appearance. SkinCeuticals, which is now available in Dr. Toledo's Dubai surgery, is a range of prescription-only products - although not a substitute to Botox or fillers - work to rehabilitate, firm and clarify the skin.

Patients wishing for a more drastic change can opt for a face lift. The pre-wedding surgeries that have proven popular with more mature men and women are face lifts directed at the lower two thirds of the face and the neck, as well as eye lid rejuvenation surgery (blepheroplasty), where the excess skin from the upper and/or lower eyelids is removed.

Precision liposculpture can also be helpful when fitting into that figure hugging gown. This version of liposculpture is used to remove specific troublesome "fat pockets", which are usually "love handles" or excess fat lying on the tummy.

When considering any surgery before a wedding the most important thing is to take into account the amount of time necessary for these procedures to be performed successfully.

"I have had clients come to see me the day before a wedding and have had to turn them away as they have not considered the time it will take for any bruising and swelling to subside," said Toledo.

Ideally treatments such as fillers or fat injection should be performed 2 to 3 weeks before the wedding, Botox can be 7 to 10 days before, and liposculpture should be undertaken 3 to 4 weeks before, face lifts need a minimum of 4 weeks recovery time, and eyelid rejuvenation 10 to14 days.