It takes many months to plan a dream wedding, and just as many to make sure your skin is bright and glowing on the big day. We round up five tried-and-tested treatments that future brides must get for a natural glow
Fraxel
Wedding countdown: One year
The problem: Pigmentation, fine lines and a dull complexion
The solution: Fraxel
How it works: A popular, non-invasive laser skin resurfacing treatment, Fraxel harnesses the power of light to encourage your skin to produce more collagen and speed up cellular turnover. New cells replace old cells after the procedure and a fresh layer of skin comes to the surface, revealing a radiant and glowing complexion. The treatment is used to address fine lines, wrinkles, pigmentation, scarring, sun damage, stretch marks and melasma (a type of pigmentation that can occur during pregnancy). Fraxel can also be used for the neck, chest, hands and arms to encourage skin rejuvenation.
Pain scale: 6/10
Downtime:
Seven days—redness, swelling, pain and discomfort can be common. In addition, skin will flake away as a form of exfoliating as it heals. Skin is sensitive to light post-treatment, so you must stay out of the sun for a few months and apply a strong SPF product twice daily.
Where: Hong Kong Dermatology and Laser Centre
Who: Dr Henry Chan
Ultherapy
Wedding countdown: Six months
The problem: Loose skin around the face, neck and chest
The solution: Ultherapy
How it works: The only non-invasive FDA-approved treatment that’s proven to lift and tighten skin, and improve lines and wrinkles on the face, neck and décolletage, Ultherapy harnesses the power of ultrasound to create small injuries to deep layers of skin, which sets a wound-healing response into motion. This encourages cell regeneration and collagen creation over an extended period of time, a process that firms and plumps the skin over the course of three months to a year. The treatment smooths complexions with zero downtime. The Ulthera machine that administers Ultherapy can also be used on a different setting to minimise pore size.
Pain scale: 5/10
Downtime: None
Where: Dr Lauren Bramley and Partners, laurenbramley.com
Who: Stephen Kirkham, MD
Liquid rejuvenation
Wedding countdown: Three months
The problem: Large pores and a dull complexion
The solution: Liquid rejuvenation
How it works: Also known as hydro-injection, liquid rejuvenation is a technique that originates from South Korea. A single-use, multi-needle injection system is used to
deliver a cocktail of Botox, hyaluronic acid, placental serums, stem cells, vitamins, amino acids and more. It’s minimally invasive and virtually painless, thanks to a mixture of painkillers and topical numbing cream delivered pre-treatment. Skin looks brighter, whiter, tighter, hydrated and more youthful after three to five days.
Pain scale: 5/10
Downtime: Less than 24 hours
Where: MediSpa, medispahk.com
Who: Dr Winnie Mui
Stem-cell rejuvenation therapy
Wedding countdown: One month
The problem: Tired-looking skin around the eyes
The solution: Stem-cell rejuvenation therapy
How it works: This involves directly injecting eco-ultrafiltrates (stem cells) around the eye area. Eco-ultrafiltrates are a combination of four different tissues: skin, collagen, mesenchyme (a connective tissue) and placenta that encourage the body to produce new and younger skin. Treatments are customised to address issues such as pigmentation, deep lines, loss of elasticity or radiance, and scarring. It’s also effective at improving the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, under-eye bags, dark circles and heavy upper lids.
Pain scale: 4/10
Downtime: Usually no downtime, but you may experience a small amount of bruising from the injections.
Where: Dr Lauren Bramley and Partners, laurenbramley.com
Who: Stephen Kirkham, MD
Microdermabrasion
Wedding countdown: One week
The problem: Last-minute skin-tone issues
The solution: Microdermabrasion
How it works: A non-chemical, non-invasive procedure, microdermabrasion uses a mechanical device to exfoliate and remove a superficial layer of dry, dead skin cells. It improves the appearance of acne scars, fine lines, pores and reveals a new, smoother layer of skin to replace the skin that’s been treated.
Pain scale: 1/10
Downtime: Virtually none, but your skin may be slightly pink for one to two days.
Where: Bliss Spa at the W Hong Kong, w-hongkong.com
Who: Joyce Tong