Timing can be one of our greatest stressors and favourite scapegoats. We tend to worry about timing in our relationships, our careers, our morning commutes — and for many, our cosmetic dermatology programs.
But the reality is that, oftentimes, we give too much time to timing.
When our team is developing customized 360° plans for our patients, timing is of course a major factor. Optimal cadence between treatments, complementary procedures, and recovery periods all play a role in the plans and programs we design — but timing isn’t everything.
Clinical timing is typically most important in the early stages of a 360° plan. This is when you’re setting the groundwork for preventative and cumulative results, and (just as importantly) building new habits that you can practice long-term. But that doesn’t mean committing to a treatment plan that causes you stress.
This is the best opportunity to voice your timing concerns so that your physician can design a program that fits into your lifestyle and maximizes results. It’s far more important to build a program with realistic expectations — both of outcomes and implementation — than to focus on a down-to-the hour routine.
Concerns about timing seem to multiply come summer. Patients have certain treatments scheduled to maintain their regular cadence that suddenly interfere with a family vacation, or necessary recovery time overlaps with an upcoming wedding.
The beauty of conservative, minimally-invasive programs is that changes are subtle, gradual, and natural — and that the exact specifics of each visit become more and more flexible over time. It’s about the journey towards looking and feeling your best, and enjoying life outside of your cosmetic dermatology program is a huge part of that. Once you’re on a maintenance regimen, for instance, receiving IPL two or three times a year, there’s likely a lot more flexibility around timing than you might realize.
What’s always more important than timing is feeling comfortable and confident with your personalized program. Cosmetic dermatology shouldn’t feel like it’s getting in the way of your life, it should feel like it’s adding value to your life. If ever that’s not the case, it’s time to reassess — whether that means bumping a single treatment, or adjusting your overall program, I guarantee our team can find a solution that fits.