The Bridal Glow Blueprint: A Skincare Guide with MD Skin Lab

Your journey to perfect skin is about embracing your unique beauty – healthy, well-nurtured skin that makes you feel confident and beautiful on your wedding day. As you prepare to walk down the aisle, achieving that bridal radiance requires more than just flawless skin; it's about nurturing your skin to its best state.

This journey begins by establishing a dedicated skincare routine well in advance – a ritual designed to address your specific concerns and conditions. Working with a skilled aesthetic physician who can tailor a skincare regimen perfectly suited to your skin type and individual needs is beneficial before your wedding day. At Toronto’s MD Skin Lab, together, we’ll craft a plan to ensure your skin blossoms with health and luminosity as you enter your new chapter! Here is the MD Skin Lab pre-wedding skincare guide to the perfect glow.

"Your wedding day is a celebration, and as you prepare every intricate detail, your skin deserves the same dedication. Skin health relies on consistent care, not last-minute remedies. We always recommend starting a trusted skincare routine and treatment regimen well ahead of your big day to avoid unexpected reactions. Remember, it's about enhancing your natural radiance, ensuring that you not only feel but also look your best in those cherished moments." – Dr. Vishaal Govan, Aesthetic Medicine Doctor

10-12 Months in Advance: Getting Your Skincare Journey Started 

Step 1: Goal-Setting

When achieving your perfect pre-wedding skin, meeting with MD Skin Lab to determine your goals and how they will be achieved is essential. This helps our experts create a tailored treatment plan to help you achieve your dream skin. With that said, we recommend starting your skincare journey with a Visia Skin Analysis. As the name says, this treatment is an in-depth analysis that reveals the actual state of your skin’s health. The state-of-the-art device has a built-in camera that thoroughly analyzes the skin at multiple layers and depths for pores, wrinkles, fine lines, sun damage, skin bacteria, texture and pigmentation. This analysis performed by MD Skin Lab helps reveal what the naked eye can’t see, which allows us to formulate an optimal skincare and treatment plan for your desired outcome.

Step 2: Investing in Medical-Grade Skincare

Next, as a part of your pre-wedding skincare journey, MD Skin Lab will recommend medical-grade skincare; skincare products take time to show results, so the earlier you get started, the better it is for your desired skin goals. Medical-grade skincare is essential for achieving skin goals, as these products are formulated with a focus on scientific research, clinical efficacy and optimal results. What makes medical-grade skincare special is its commitment to utilizing high-quality, potent ingredients in precise concentrations while adhering to strict standards. Your skincare expert at MD Skin Lab will recommend the best skincare regime from our Skin Store based on your analysis and skin goals.

Step 3: Natural Collagen Production

As we all know, collagen production is an important part of healthy skin, so we recommend Morpheus8, a facial and neck treatment, for a youthful glow at your wedding. Also known as Radio-Frequency Microneedling, this treatment helps you achieve long-lasting and youthful-looking rejuvenated skin, making it a patient-favourite at MD Skin Lab’s clinic. This treatment is well-known for improving skin texture, reducing acne and acne scar appearance, treating sun damage, improving the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and uplifting sagging skin. How Morpheus8 works is it delivers Radio-Frequency heat energy to the dermis (the skin’s deeper layer) paired with tiny silicone-plated needles in short intervals. This process stimulates collagen and elastin production, and the skin becomes firmer and tightened over time. The dermal layers also become thicker, improving the skin’s overall appearance. 

Step 4: Dealing with Acne Struggles

We understand how difficult it can be to deal with acne. Many acne sufferers wish they could relive moments they missed due to acne. No bride deserves to deal with this during the wedding season, so our skin experts recommend AviClear, a revolutionary treatment. AviClear is the first and only Health Canada and FDA-cleared laser treatment to treat all types of acne, whether mild, moderate or severe. Let us give you a breakdown of how AviClear works: The laser treatment selectively targets acne at its source and down-regulates the oil glands known as sebaceous glands. Sebum is the substance that forms an atmosphere for bacteria to develop, which causes inflammation, resulting in painful and cystic acne. This is where AviClear comes into play, damaging the sebocytes and reducing sebum production. After the treatment, you will produce less oil, decrease acne, and see improved skin. AviClear can treat multiple areas on your body, including the face, shoulders, chest and back. Depending on the severity of your acne, MD Skin Lab recommends AviClear as results improve over the course of a year. Say goodbye to acne with AviClear!

Step 5: Let’s Deal with Stubborn Pockets of Fat

Along with the perfect pre-wedding skin, many of us also want our desired pre-wedding body! That is where a customer-favourite, fat-dissolving injection comes into play. Deoxycholic fat dissolving injections target stubborn pockets of fat, which need 3-6 treatments spaced 8 weeks apart to see results. Using products like Lipodissolve or Belkyra®, these fat-dissolving injections reduce subcutaneous fat in areas such as the chin (also known as the double chin), the abdomen area, back, hips, arms, and thighs. A benefit of fat-dissolving injections is that they do not require surgery and, instead, use a minimally invasive procedure to help target fat cells. Once the treatment has taken place in the injection site, fat cells are broken down and naturally eliminated from the body over time.

6-8 Months in Advance: Taking Your Skincare Journey to the Next Level

Step 6: Time to Smooth Out Fine Lines and Wrinkles

Dealing with fine lines and wrinkles on your face and/or neck? MD Skin Lab’s downtown Toronto clinic is here to help. If you are new to neuromodulators and anti-wrinkle injections, we recommend scheduling your first session of Botox/Dysport to smooth out fine lines and wrinkles. This treatment lasts 3-4 months on average. If you haven't experienced this treatment previously, it's crucial to become familiar with it and determine your personalized dosage rather than experimenting with it right before your wedding. Additionally, initiating the treatment earlier, as opposed to waiting, serves the purpose of understanding your muscle's response, granting more than enough time to refine the recommended dosage instead of attempting it for the first time only three months before your wedding day.

If you are new to this treatment, allow us to explain how it works. Anti-wrinkle injections enhance the appearance of your skin due to aging, stress, or simply a desire for rejuvenation. They provide a non-surgical and minimally invasive approach to facial skin by softening and reducing existing wrinkles and preventing future wrinkles and lines. Additionally, these neuromodulators offer therapeutic solutions for pain disorders like chronic migraines, hyperhidrosis for excessive sweating and masseter muscles for jaw clenching.

At MD Skin Lab, the following can be treated with the use of Neuromodulators:

• Forehead
• Frown Lines (Number “11’s” or Glabella)
• Crow’s Feet
• Brow Lift
• Bunny Lines (Side of Nose)
• Lip Flip
• Chin Dimpling
• Gummy Smile
• Crepey Neck
• Downturned Mouth 
• Calf-Slimming
• Trapezius Size Reduction (also known as Swan Neck Botox)
  
  

These are specific medical and therapeutic areas that can be treated with the use of Neuromodulators:

• Masseter/Jaw Clenching
• Migraines
• Excessive Sweating (Hyperhidrosis)
  
  

Step 7: The Perfect Lashes for You

Who doesn’t want the perfect natural lashes for their wedding day? With our eyelash growth serum, you can achieve fuller, longer and thicker lashes without extensions or mascara!  If you want to go from minimal lashes to longer and fuller lashes, eyelash growth serum is the perfect choice. This serum is approved by Health Canada to enhance eyelash growth. It contains a compound called bimatoprost which extends the growth phase of hair while simultaneously increasing the percentage of hair in the active growth phase. Scientific studies demonstrate that eyelashes become longer and thicker when this eyelash growth serum is applied on the upper lid lash line nightly. An increase in eyelashes is expected, along with more added volume, making the perfect lashes for your wedding day!

Step 8: Enhance the Brightness, Texture, and Evenness of Your Skin

Prepare to improve your skin texture and appearance for your wedding day with PRP microneedling! This cosmetic treatment helps with skin brightening, texture, and evenness and diminishes hyperpigmentation or scarring. PRP Microneedling utilizes the powerful growth factors of platelet-rich plasma (PRP), a substance derived from your own blood that is rich in growth factors. These growth factors promote healthy and radiant skin by stimulating collagen production and tissue repair. This treatment combines the benefits of PRP with the precision of the Health Canada and FDA-approved SkinPen device. It is administered by our skilled aestheticians, who deliver microneedling treatments targeting specific skin depths that trigger the body’s natural healing process. This all-natural treatment is the perfect skin enhancement.

4 Months in Advance: Enhancing Your Facial Features and Glow

Step 9: Getting a Plump and Beautiful Look

Seeking a way to enhance facial volume, define facial features or plump thin lips before your wedding day? If you said yes, dermal fillers are an excellent treatment for you! This cosmetic procedure is popular as it enhances the appearance of the face by adding more volume, definition and structure. Dermal fillers such as Restylane®, Teosyal®, Juvederm®, Stylage®, and Prollenium® are produced with hyaluronic acid, which gives the skin and the injected areas plumpness, smoothness, youthfulness, and a healthy glow. Hyaluronic acid is a naturally occurring sugar molecule in the body. The molecules can attract and retain up to 1000 times their weight in water. When injected under the skin, the product will fill in hollow areas, lift sagging skin, brighten areas of shadowing and plump desired areas. Dermal fillers are administered by our physician injectors.

At MD Skin Lab, we offer dermal filler injections for the following areas: 

• Lips
• Cheeks
• Tear Troughs / Under Eyes
• Nose 
• Nasolabial Folds (laugh lines) 
• Mid-face
• Marionette Lines
• Jaw Line
• Chin
• Horizontal Neck Lines
• Acne Scars
• Temples
• Plump Skin Texture
  
  

Step 10: Get that Glow!

We all want the perfect glow before our wedding day! That is where the Hydraglow Chemical Peel Facial comes into play. This facial is a patient favourite for special events to give the skin a beautiful glow. The Hydraglow Chemical Peel Facial is made to hydrate and rejuvenate the skin through different techniques like exfoliation, soothing hydration, a refreshing icy lymphatic massage and deep moisturization. The Hydrawglow Chemical Peel can also treat the chest, back, and face. The Chemical Peel addresses specific skincare concerns such as uneven skin tone, acne, or rough texture and is tailored to provide optimal results. Our luxurious and effective medical-grade treatment gives the skin a healthy glow, ultimately leaving it feeling refreshed for your wedding!

Step 11: Aim for a Refreshed Look

With your wedding just four months away, you want to aim for a refreshed look. This is where microneedling with the SkinPen helps. This cosmetic procedure is excellent for helping improve skin texture and appearance by smoothing out fine lines and wrinkles, fading acne scars and evening out hyperpigmentation. It results in a refreshed look, as it helps stimulate your skin’s natural healing abilities. Our experienced aestheticians at MD Skin Lab perform microneedling with the SkinPen with utmost care and precision, offering a safe and comfortable experience!

6 Weeks in Advance: Time for Touch-Ups

Step 12: Smooth Out Fine Lines and Wrinkles

It’s time for a touch-up! You had your neuromodulators and anti-wrinkle injections at the 6-month mark, and now it’s time for a touch-up, with your wedding day only 6 weeks away! As mentioned, Botox/Dysport is used to smooth out fine lines and wrinkles. This treatment lasts 3-4 months on average, making it an important time for a touch-up at MD Skin Lab’s downtown Toronto clinic. Getting your treatment at the 6-week mark gives it enough time to kick in, resulting in an enhanced appearance.

Step 13: Glowing Skin is a Must

So you got the Hydraglow Chemical Peel Facial at the 4-month mark, and it’s time for another one to have glowing skin before your special wedding day! This enhancing treatment will help hydrate and rejuvenate your skin before your wedding day. As mentioned, an array of techniques are used during the process, including exfoliation, soothing hydration, a refreshing icy lymphatic massage and deep moisturization. It’s also a great time to treat your chest and back for an improved overall appearance in your wedding outfit!

1-2 Weeks in Advance: The Finishing Touch

Step 14: The Final Step to Achieving that Bridal Glow

The time has come when you’ve finally reached that final step before your wedding day! One to two weeks in advance, we recommend investing in the Hydraglow Dermaplaning Facial, which helps with glowing skin, with the huge added benefit of allowing smooth makeup application. This treatment gives you the perfect healthy glow by using exfoliation, hydration, massage, deep moisturizing and removal of dead skin cells. It results in a picture-perfect look.  

"Wedding planning involves meticulous preparation, and your skin's journey should mirror that dedication. As we consider less invasive treatments like facials and chemical peels or more advanced treatments such as Botox or fillers, our goal is to highlight your natural beauty, ensuring it stands the test of time in photos and memories. We cannot stress enough to start the journey early to ensure optimal results” – Dr. Soreya Dhanji, Aesthetic Medicine Doctor

Let’s Get Your Pre-Wedding Skincare Journey Started with MD Skin Lab!

As you prepare to walk down the aisle, achieving that enchanting bridal radiance involves nurturing your skin to achieve its best state. MD Skin Lab is here to help make that happen. Start by booking a skin analysis with our skin specialists, so we can help you with a tailored plan to achieve your perfect bridal glow.

At MD Skin Lab, we truly value your individuality and take a bespoke approach to all aesthetic treatments. If you’re seeking a cosmetic clinic in downtown Toronto, book an appointment with us. We can’t wait to meet you!