It may not seem like it, but wedding season is right around the corner. With the average couple paying between $2,500 and $10,000 for wedding photos, the pressure to look your best can be pretty intense. That’s why many men and women are turning to plastic surgery to fix imperfections before their big day. After all, wedding photos aren’t just any old snapshots – they’re heirlooms to be treasured for generations to come.

Whether you’re on the fence about a pre-wedding procedure or you’re ready to say yes, check out this guide and make sure you’re getting exactly what you want.

How soon is your wedding?

The first thing you need to think about is: When is your big day? If you are getting married in two months, now is probably not the right time to get a rhinoplasty, because chances are you will still have significant swelling and maybe even some bruising for your big day. But if your wedding is still six months away, a procedure done in the next few weeks should be healed quite nicely by your wedding, though it could still be another six months before healing is complete.

For procedures on body parts that will be covered by clothing, such as breast augmentations or abdominoplasties, you may not see any scarring or bruising in your photos, but we recommend you book your surgery at least three months prior to your event so you have time to properly heal and for any residual swelling to go down. The last thing you need is to feel swollen and uncomfortable on the biggest day of your life!

What other modifications are you making?

Are you currently trying to tone up or lose weight? If so, you may not want to rush into a surgical procedure until you have achieved your weight-loss or body-transformation goals, as this could change the appearance of your results. For dieters, we recommend you book your procedure once you have reached and are able to maintain your goal weight. Remember, procedures like liposuction are not diets and may not lead to permanent weight loss. In fact, most surgeons will only remove a maximum of 15 pounds of fat in one procedure, so if you have more than 15 pounds to lose, we recommend waiting.

Who are these changes for?

Will it make you happy to have larger breasts or a smaller nose? Or are you seeking these procedures to make someone else happy? If you are interested in plastic surgery because it’s what you want, then you should definitely go for it. But if you are doing it because someone is telling you to do it, it may be time to reconsider that relationship. Nobody should be coercing you to permanently change your body to make them happy. The decision should be completely yours.

Will it break your budget?

Weddings are expensive. In fact, in 2016 the average wedding cost over $35,000. That’s a new car, or a down payment on a house! If you add in the cost of plastic surgery, that number can easily climb to over $50,000 depending on the procedure. If you have room in the budget for plastic surgery, great! But if you are already struggling to pay for a big soiree, it may not be the right time to invest more money in cosmetic procedures. After all, plastic surgery isn’t going anywhere. You can always get your procedure done later.

Don’t experiment too close to your wedding

Have you been dreaming of fuller lips for that magical first kiss as husband and wife? Hyaluronic acid fillers could be a perfect solution. But if you’ve never had fillers before, make sure you allow yourself enough time to experiment before walking down the aisle. We recommend you start slowly and gradually increase the amount of filler as needed, once initial swelling subsides. This will allow you to fine-tune your lip size and get the look you desire without looking unnatural. Swelling and bruising from lip injections can last up to a week after the first injection, so be sure to give yourself plenty of time to heal before your big day.

Book now!

When you’re ready to make a commitment, be sure you book your appointment as soon as possible. Appointments in the spring months fill quickly, and you definitely don’t want to cut it too close! If the time is right, give Dr. Chau’s office a call at 888-966-9471.