The Winter Skin Reset: Why Cold Weather Is the Secret Season for Transformative Treatments

Some of us have an instinct to retreat into the warmth of our house, get out our fluffiest socks and snuggle next to the fire as soon as the first layer of snow is on the ground. Maybe it is an innate urge to hibernate or an appreciation of the simpler things in life, but between the quiet, snowy evenings and time off from work or social activities, winter can often bring opportunities for self-care that the summer months cannot. 

We have an idea for the perfect addition to your self-care list this winter in Lake Forest. Aesthetic treatments are particularly suitable for this time of year because the weather outside, while not great for sunbathing, is perfect for treatment recovery. This applies both to our less invasive treatments at Terrasse Aesthetic Surgery, like lasers and microneedling, and to our surgeries. If you have been considering rejuvenating procedures, now could be the perfect time to put a treatment on the schedule.   

Why Winter Is the Best Time for Skin Transformation

One of the biggest challenges with aesthetic treatment recovery is protecting the skin from the sun. After a laser treatment, your skin is more sensitive to heat and UV rays. When we perform these treatments on our patients, we always recommend staying out of direct sunlight as much as possible while the skin recovers. In the summer, it can be very hard to say “no” to a hiking trip or a day on the lake, but in the winter, most people are busy enjoying indoor activities.

Winter is also perfect because most people have more long weekends and vacations scheduled during this time. You can take advantage of a treatment that comes with two or three days of downtime over New Year’s weekend or schedule a chemical peel before Christmas and have plenty of time to heal.  

If you are planning on spending the next weeks and months hibernating indoors with your favorite cozy sweaters and holiday films, you might as well be rejuvenating your skin at the same time with holiday glow skin treatments and greet the new year with a fresh start for your skin.

Treatments That Thrive in Cold Weather

Laser Treatments

Winter is the best time for laser resurfacing. This treatment, which can be more or less intensive based on the option you choose, requires careful treatment of the skin to avoid post-treatment pigmentation changes. Reduced sun exposure and less time outdoors make this much easier. After your laser treatment, you can focus on moisturizing and nourishing your skin to calm inflammation and help it heal smoothly and evenly. 

Chemical Peels

Many of our patients also choose winter for a chemical peel in Lake Forest. These treatments remove the outer layer of your skin and leave the underlying skin more vulnerable to irritation from UV rays and other environmental factors. Depending on how deep and intense your peel is, you may have one or two weeks of downtime while the old layers flake away and the skin heals. 

During this time, we recommend not wearing makeup so your skin can breathe properly, so it’s best to schedule it during a time when you don’t have a lot of social events. Once the holiday gatherings have settled down and everyone is ready for a little peace and quiet, you can schedule your peel and recover at your own pace.

RF Microneedling

The Vivace RF microneedling device features tiny needles that puncture the skin, along with radiofrequency energy that heats the tissue. While the process is highly controlled, your body registers both manual stimulation and heat as an injury and responds immediately. Mild inflammation is a natural part of this healing process, and your skin may be tender and pink for several days after the treatment. 

We recommend Vivace RF microneedling in winter because healing is more comfortable in cooler temperatures. This also gives your skin time to heal and produce more collagen before summer. 

Surgical Options

Surgical options like facelifts, eyelid surgery and body contouring surgery are also more comfortable during the winter. We require compression garments for many of our surgeries to encourage swelling to go down and promote better results, but these garments can be more sweaty and oppressive during hot summer weather. Cool winter temperatures also help with swelling after a surgery, and our patients often feel more comfortable having downtime in the winter when they are less active anyway.  

Investing in the Health and Appearance of Your Skin

Just as you might invest in a well-made coat or spruce up the decorations in your home to match the season, cold weather creates an opportunity to focus on intentionally refreshing your skin and prioritizing its health and appearance. Seasonal skincare can become a powerful and purposeful ritual during the winter. Your skin is likely recovering from sun damage, even if you were diligent about applying sunscreen. Winter treatments are a way to reverse this damage before spring.  

Timing Your Treatments

Every treatment or surgery we offer has a different timeline, both in terms of the recovery and the spacing between treatments. Certain options, like deeper chemical peels, are only performed once. Others offer the best results as part of a series. If your doctor has recommended a series of winter skin treatments in Lake Forest, IL, you can expect to go in every four to six weeks for another treatment. If you start earlier in the winter, you can fit in a full series of three or four treatments before spring. 

Why We Love Midwest Winters for Aesthetic Treatments

Longer winters can be a challenge in some ways, but we love the extra time that it gives our patients to heal. We find that Midwest patients are more consistent during the winter months, and they are intentional about slowing down and caring for themselves during a season that naturally has fewer pressures. If you have never tried focusing on your skin while the pace of daily life is calmer and more predictable, we recommend giving it a try this winter!

Smart Winter Skin Habits for a Fresh Start

The biggest problem with skin care during Midwest winters is the dry air. While it can sometimes still be humid, the cold continental air tends to hold less moisture, and most indoor heating dries out the air even more. One of our winter skin rejuvenation tips is to find a good moisturizer and apply it every day. You should also still use sunscreen, even on cloudy days, since UVA rays (the type that cause premature aging) are present year-round. 

Schedule a Little Winter Self-Care in Lake Forest, IL

We would love to discuss our winter skin treatments in Lake Forest, IL, with you. At Terrasse Aesthetic Surgery, we spend time with each patient to get to know them and their skin. Dr. Anthony Terrasse offers skilled hands to perform aesthetic treatments and good ears to listen to his patients’ concerns. 

If you are ready to slow down and do a little self-care this winter, give us a call at 847-234-2400 or book an appointment online.