Kelsey Wilson went from an A-cup to a C-cup two months before her wedding, but she says she didn’t do it because of the impending nuptials; getting breast augmentation was a decision she made over a long period of time.
“It’s a permanent decision, much like marriage, so I didn’t want to rush into it because I was going to be in front of people and be in a bunch of pictures,” she said. “I didn’t want to do it just because the timing was right.”
A small sample survey of cosmetic surgeons revealed that only about 4-6 percent of their business is related to weddings. But considering there are approximately 10.2 million cosmetic surgical and nonsurgical procedures performed annually, and about 2.1 million weddings in the US every year, roughly 25 percent of weddings have at least one member of the bridal party that has been enhanced if not for, then before, the occasion.
“Most folks that come in with a wedding in mind have pretty much convinced themselves to get the surgery before they even step foot in the door,” Dr. Eric Desman, a cosmetic surgeon for more than 13 years. “I think people are in spend mode.”
Even Wilson admits the wedding “helped her decide a little bit quicker.”
Every spring Dr. Desman watches his clinic, the Virginia Center for Plastic Surgery, fill up with ebullient brides-to-be. He says the increase in wedding-related business starts in February and lasts through mid-July.
The influx of brides prompted Dr. Desman to offer a special package called the ‘Bridal Makeover’ that includes services for the bride as well as members of the bridal party, who are invited to come in at their leisure for nonsurgical procedures. The website touts, “many bridesmaids would gladly have fuller, sexier, kissable lips from a Restylane injection rather than another robe or tote bag.”
He says its not a huge part of the business but those who take advantage of it really get a kick out of it.
Dr. Desman says that women in their 20s are most interested in breast augmentation and will sometimes ask for some body contouring procedures such as liposuction. A small number of women in their 20s request Botox injections or skin peels.
He went on to say that older brides in their 30s and 40s are more likely to get body contouring procedures and that the most popular procedure is Botox and other injectable fillers used to cover up signs of aging in the face.
Wilson’s biggest concern with having surgery so close to her wedding was being able to recover with no signs of anything having been done (besides the obvious increase in the size of her breasts). She had the surgery two months before her wedding and was able to fully recover because she planned so far ahead.
Brides interested in anything surgical need to meet with a doctor at least four months before the wedding, not just because they want ample recovery time, but also because schedules can be difficult to coordinate. Brides are already taking time off from work for the wedding and the honeymoon so taking additional time off can be problematic. Meeting with the doctor early can alleviate many of these problems.
For non-surgical procedures, brides generally meet with the doctor about a month in advance of the wedding. The most popular wedding procedure, Botox, doesn’t show effects for at least three days, so the timing of that procedure is particularly important.
EndlessBeauty.com advocates spending your time and money on diet and exercise, but if cosmetic surgery is a route you'd like to explore, a chart follows to help you with timing the treatments before your wedding (or any other big event).
*estimated costs do not include anesthesia fees or facility fees
Stay tuned to EndlessBeauty.com for ways to get fit before the big day, including an article on the effectiveness of bridal boot camps and bridal boot camp demo exercises!
Mark Collins is a freelance writer in Austin, Texas.
Comments
I agree that lifestyle management is the best approach to looking good and would have never considered plastic surgery... until I had kids. Still back and forth, your information is helpful.