As Summer fades and the weather starts to cool down, it’s time to dig out your warmer clothes from the wardrobe and get ready for the lovely Autumn weather. It’s also a great time to treat your skin to some TLC after a long summer in the harsh Aussie sunshine.
In Australia, we are blessed to live in a beautiful country with sandy beaches and practically year round sunshine. On a negative side, exposure to the harsh Australian sun, particularly during the sunshine-filled Summer months, can work to ‘speed up’ the visible signs of ageing. Exposure to UVA and UVB rays contributes to the formation of fine lines and wrinkles (as a result of reduced elasticity and a degradation in the overall condition of the skin), as well as pigmentation.
As a doctor, I am a firm believer in the motto ‘prevention is better than a cure’ when it comes to sun damage, and advocate the year round use of a broad spectrum sunscreen of at least SPF 30 that protects from both UVA and UVB rays. I also help to tackle the visible symptoms of ageing, whether linked to overexposure to the sun or not, without making you feel guilty about the condition of your skin, or your skincare regime.
Best Aesthetic Treatments to Get in Autumn
So why is Autumn such a great season for aesthetic treatments? First of all, many treatments – including dermal fillers, anti-wrinkle injections and laser treatments require that you avoid intense heat and/or sun exposure in the days or weeks following a treatment to improve the efficacy of the procedure. The pigmentation that can occur following a Picosure or Emerge laser treatment, for example, may take longer to fade if it is exposed to the sun in the 4 weeks following a treatment.
Following a skin-resurfacing treatment like MDerma skin needling or a signature facial or peel some patients experience a warmth or ‘tingling’ sensation in the treatment area, as well as some short-term redness of the skin – both side-effects that tend to be short-lived and resolve themselves in the days immediately following a treatment. However, it is likely that patients will feel more comfortable in the cooler weather of Autumn if they are undergoing a treatment of this nature.
If you feel you are in need of some body contouring to get rid of unwanted pockets of fat on your body or double chin, Sculpsure laser fat reduction is a perfect treatment to get in Autumn for two reasons; one, it destroys fat cells through heating, and although it is a comfortable treatment, the cooler weather will make it even more tolerable; secondly, Sculpsure generally requires at least two treatments, six weeks apart and the final results will not be achieved until 12 weeks after your second treatment. This is due to the time it takes your body’s lymphatic system to gradually clear out the dead fat cells. So if you think about the time it takes from first treatment to final results, that 18 weeks brings us quite close to next spring and summer….so start planning and treating now to look fantastic for next party season!
Advantages of Undergoing Aesthetic Treatments in Autumn
Finally, Autumn is a great chance to ‘cover up’ a treatment area immediately post-treatment, whilst the skin recovers, without overheating! Wearing trousers or a long skirt over legs that have been treated with IPL or wearing your hair down following a Silhouette Soft Threadlift treatment to disguise where the threads have been inserted into the skin can help you to feel more confident as your body heals post-treatment, and are both far more comfortable to do in the cooler days of Autumn than in the full heat of the summer.
So if you have been considered a non-surgical aesthetic treatment, but weren’t sure when was the best time to undergo a procedure, then consider this Autumn!
