Get on the right track to a perfect visage with this trusty get-gorgeous plan by Dr Felix Li.

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Caught in the excitement of wedding planning, many brides overlook the most important thing: themselves! All that running around, late nights, irregular meals and skipped gym sessions in what can seem like a race against time show up on the skin, hair and body, and no bride should walk down the aisle looking less than her best. A top make-up artist and a gown designer known for silhouette-flattering cuts could help to an extent but they can’t give a bride that natural confidence and glow that comes from knowing that her face and body are in top form.

(Related: 7 Things You Should Have On Your Wedding Checklist)

Dr Felix Li from The Face Aesthetic Clinic, who has helped countless women put their best selves forward on their big day, suggests that brides start on a get-gorgeous action plan 12 months ahead of their big day.

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Make lifestyle changes

If you do not already eat with a conscience, 12 months before your big day is not too late to establish good eating habits. Cut out deep-fried, fatty and junk food and opt for more lean protein, complex carbohydrates and lots of vegetables and fruit. Getting the most out of your expensive gym membership, regulating your sleep pattern, applying sunblock daily and being religious about your skincare regime are equally essential. Singapore’s humid climate, coupled with wearing make-up daily makes skin greasy and more susceptible to pimples and blackheads. 

According to Dr Li, many brides also fret over blemishes and dark spots due to skin sins of the past. Even if you weren’t born with good skin genes, you can break the cycle of acne and control and lighten pigmentation problems with a combination of medications, topical formulas and laser treatments. Unsightly keloids or scar tissue, meanwhile, can be corrected using “triple therapy”, a combination of laser treatments, steroids and micro-Botox injections. Twelve months to the big day is also the right time to start hair removal, so you can have silky smooth skin.

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The Golden Ratio

After six months, the results of your disciplined workouts will show, and regular sleep cycles will regulate hormone production and keep energy levels high. You’ll feel lighter and look trimmer—just in time for gown fittings. In addition, you’ll notice fewer and less severe breakouts and your new, balanced skin means all you’ll need is light make-up before stepping out—farewell, thick concealers and foundations! But, are those signs of skin ageing such as sunkenness and sagging here to stay? Dr Li says, “It is possible to reverse the signs of ageing by lifting and rejuvenating the face, and tightening the skin with threadlift, filler and HIFU (high-intensity focused ultrasound) procedures.”

The mid-face lift is suitable for attaining the look of high cheekbones that models are blessed with. If you are concerned that your naturally round or square face shape makes you look chubby, the V-lift, as the name of the procedure implies, can help to give you a narrower jaw which in turn will slim the face. Since your neckline will be the focus of cameras when the groom leans in for a kiss, consider a neck lift to eliminate a double chin appearance and attain a slender, more graceful neck. “Sunken or hollow areas such as the temples, cheeks, tear troughs and nasolabial folds and jowls can be lifted and rejuvenated with dermal fillers,” says Dr Li.

During this time, acne scars of your youth can be resurfaced with laser treatments while skin-plumping collagen can be regenerated with Ultherapy, a safe, non-surgical ultrasound facelift treatment that gently and gradually lifts the face and neck.  

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Sculpt and hydrate

Three months to your big day, your sculpted, more defined face will draw compliments about how youthful you look. If you always dreamed of having a fuller pout or a higher nose that draws attention to the centre of your face, Dr Li can recommend a suitable treatment with fillers or threads. He says, “Facial contouring allows better manipulation of light and shadows so you look your best under the spotlight.” 

To combat the drying effect of air-conditioning and over-washing, moisturise regularly and give skin a hydration surge with Skinboosters, micro-injections that deliver lasting moisture and smoothen skin from within. Lines and wrinkles such as crow’s feet, frown lines and forehead lines can make you look old, tired, harsh or angry. Botox injections can safely and effectively improve the appearance of these areas, giving you a younger, more energetic and softer look.

Dr Li points out that when considering undergoing aesthetic treatments, it is crucial to note that different procedures have different downtimes, and that they come with inherent risks. “Some procedures show maximal results within days while others take months. Some can be reversed or adjusted while others cannot. And not every procedure is suitable for every individual or every face.” 

So, what looks good on your favourite Korean star may not necessarily sit well on your face. Another tip: “Plan early. A procedure that is ideal for an individual six months before her wedding could be disastrous one month before the big day.” 

While brides may be tempted to do multiple treatments at a go, it is better to first formulate a treatment plan with your doctor. Whether you have had aesthetic treatments done before or it’s your first time, always choose a reputable doctor you feel comfortable with. He or she should take a detailed approach to designing a treatment plan best suited for you, and advise if your expectations can be realistically met. “It is vital to have a full grasp of how a procedure will improve your looks and be sure that is what you want. Understand the downtime involved, and the potential
risks before deciding if you can accept them.”

(Related:  6 Travel-Inspired Beauty Treatments For Brides-To-Be) 

That is why The Face Aesthetic Clinic utilises only products and machines from industry leaders, with Health Sciences Authority (HSA) approval in Singapore. Even then, Dr Li advises, “Avoid procedures and products you have not personally used before in the month leading up to your wedding, as everyone reacts differently to them, and even the safest procedures carry inherent downtime or risks, which may be distressing right before your wedding.” 

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Maintenance and pampering 

If you’ve kept to the plan after 11 months, congratulate yourself. With one month until you say “I do”, you will reap the rewards of skin that doesn’t even hint of the stress you’ve encountered from juggling work and wedding preparations. Facial hairs are less visible, freckles removed, skin hydrated from within, and your more contoured face allows light to reflect in such a way that you appear more radiant, so you will be confident of wearing any make-up style. Maintain that charming glow with gentle and light treatments, treat yourself to hydrating facials, and stick to your sunblock-plus-good skincare regime. You’ll also love your svelter body that gives you the confidence to wear daring and skin-baring gowns you shied away from previously. The only thing left do: put on a smile and glide down the aisle. 

The Face Aesthetic Clinic
20 Malacca Street
01-00 Malacca Centre
Tel: 6223 6788

thefaceaestheticclinic.com.sg 

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