The big day is coming, and you know you want to look your absolute best. You’re hitting the gym and putting in the time on the treadmill. You’re maintaining a good skincare routine, and really working hard to make sure your skin is clear. The only issues you’re noticing are those wrinkles and fine lines creeping around your eyes and mouth. And as the big day comes nearer and you start to stress, those lines seem to get deeper and longer. Can you get rid of those wrinkles in time to look stunning on your most important day?
The answer to that would depend on the type of treatment you want to go with. And there are several options. From plastic surgery, Botox, dermabrasion, chemical peels, and anti-wrinkle silicone pads, you have the option to choose what you feel works the best for you. To help you get started, let’s look at these different solutions a little more carefully.
PLASTIC SURGERY
Laser resurfacing and injectable products can improve the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles on your face, especially those developing on your upper lip and around the eyes. These treatments are also helpful in treating pigmentation disorders such as sun and age spots. Most of these procedures require a series of treatments for good results, and while some are pretty long-lasting, there are obvious risks associated with them. 
Individuals without a robust immune system, for instance, may get exposed to infection, bleed easily or experience other complications. Allergic reactions might also make a person look worse than before the treatments, and the cost of plastic surgery may deter people from completing the necessary series of treatments.
BOTOX
Botox injections seem to be everywhere, and many people opt to use them for facial wrinkles. If you are thinking of Botox, you should be aware of its limitations and disadvantages. Yes, Botox is used for wrinkles, but NOT ALL wrinkles. There are two types of facial wrinkles — dynamic and static, and each should be treated differently.
Dynamic Wrinkles: Caused by muscle movement, like when you laugh, squint or smile. This type of wrinkles can be found around your eyes and the lines on your forehead. Botox temporarily paralyzes and/or relaxes muscle activity and is a good option for dynamic wrinkles. 
Static Wrinkles: Caused by a loss of collagen in your skin, which leads to less elasticity. The skin is unable to spring back, and wrinkles and fine lines start to form. The skin becomes thinner and drier. Though Botox is used, a combination of fillers like hyaluronic acid and Botox may produce better results.
Botox has its downsides. It’s not going to make wrinkles “disappear.” Also, the older you get, the less effective Botox doses are going to be. Botox requires multiple injections, which may be painful for some, and specific activities should not be undertaken. For approximately 6 hours after treatment, the patient should not exercise, lie down or take blood-thinning medications such as Ibuprofen, increasing bruising at the injection site. Botox can be pricey as well, depending on the amount of treatment you need.
DERMABRASION
Also known as dermaplaning, dermabrasion is a procedure that can decrease the appearance of facial lines and improve the appearance of your skin. It can be effective against acne scars, surgical scars, age spots, and wrinkles. Dermabrasion can be performed alone or in conjunction with other cosmetic procedures. During dermabrasion, the doctor will numb your skin with anesthetics and removes skin wrinkles through controlled scraping using a rapidly rotating device. 
Dermabrasion can cause various side effects:
> Skin treated with dermabrasion will be sensitive and blotchy for several weeks, and it could take up to 3 months for your skin tone to return to normal.
> Treated skin can also get red and swollen and sensitive, and swelling may last weeks or even months.
> The treated area of your skin can also become darker or lighter than average, and these changes can sometimes be permanent.
> Scarring can also be an issue — dermabrasion that’s done too deeply can cause scarring.
The preparation for a dermabrasion procedure can also be quite involved. Typically before a dermabrasion procedure, you might need to do the following:
> Stop using certain medications such as aspirin, blood thinners, and certain other medications.
> If you smoke, your doctor might ask you to stop smoking for a week or two before and after dermabrasion. Smoking decreases blood flow in the skin and can slow the healing process.
> Take antiviral medication. Your doctor will likely prescribe an antiviral medication before and after treatment to help prevent a viral infection.
> If you have acne, your doctor might recommend taking an oral antibiotic to help prevent a bacterial infection.
> Have onabotulinumtoxinA (Botox) injections. These are usually given at least three days before the procedure and help most people achieve better results.
> Avoid sun exposure. Too much unprotected sun exposure can cause permanent irregular pigmentation in treated areas.
> If you’ll be sedated or receive a general anesthetic during the procedure, arrange for a ride home.
CHEMICAL PEELS
In a chemical peel, acidic chemicals are applied to the skin, which reacts and causes the skin to blister and eventually peel off. This procedure raises the skin’s acidity, from an average pH of about 3.8 to around 5.5. Changing the pH level chemically loosens the cells that form the “glue” between the dead skin and healthy skin.
Chemical peels can be used on the face, neck, and/or hands and are used to:
> Reduce fine lines around the mouth and underneath the eyes.
> Reduce the appearance of wrinkles caused by sun damage and aging.
> Reduce the appearance of scars.
> reduce the appearance of age spots and freckles
Chemical peels also have their challenges. Some of the detriments are:
> Excessive peeling can occur.
> Redness. The deeper the peel, the more substantial the amount of redness.
> Numbness, which is temporary.
> Crusting or scabbing after deep peels. This is usually temporary.
> Prohibitive cost. Chemical peel procedures can get quite expensive.
ANTI-WRINKLE SILICONE PADS
Silicone has been used in the medical industry for years to treat scarring. According to Joshua Zeichner, the director of cosmetic and clinical research at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City, “Silicone sheeting has four primary functions in treating scars.” He recommends starting treatment with silicone pads as soon as the original wound has healed. “It improves skin hydration, protects the scar from the environment, promotes healthy collagen production, and can help reduce itching.” Scar tissue becomes less stretchy when it’s not hydrated well. Applying silicone topically mimics the skin’s natural moisture barrier, trapping the moisture the body loses against the skin’s surface. With a proven track record against scars, silicone has been used to treat wrinkles. SilcSkin first started using this method of treating wrinkles more than twenty years ago and has become the industry standard for reducing the appearance of wrinkles and scars through their medical grade, platinum cured silicone pads. These pads have been specially developed to target the areas of the face where wrinkles form the most — around the eyes, around the mouth, and the forehead area. SilcSkin’s other pads have been designed for the chest and neck, and because they can be interchanged, other areas of the body can be targeted. For example, the Collette Pad can be used for maternity scars, and the Decollette Pad can be used on the buttock area. Unless you’re allergic to silicone, it does not pose many disadvantages when applied topically.
The main issue seems to be the quality of the silicone. Avoid silicone pads that have been manufactured abroad and instead opt for ones made in the USA. SilcSkin anti-wrinkle pads are manufactured in California using a platinum curing process that further refines the silicone, removing any impurities. The good news is that there are no doctor visits, the pads are non-invasive and can be applied when going to bed, AND they’re relatively inexpensive. A package can set you back around $32, but buy them on sale, and you can stock up. They’re also reusable for up to 30 days. The best results are achieved through continuous use. The pads work by increasing the hydration in the skin and pulling that moisture to the surface, plumping out the skin and reducing the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines.
So to look and feel your best on your wedding day and at the same time minimize a health risk, medical grade silicone pads have an advantage. Now you just need to work on relaxing and making the most out of your special day.
