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Getting Ready for the New Year in Dubai: Where to Start
New Year's Eve is approaching, and the best time to start planning depends on your treatment and how much time is left before your event. Every year, the same thing happens in my clinic: in the last week of December, people call wanting to look rested, fresh and like themselves for the holidays, and by then some of the best options are no longer realistic.
Six weeks is a good amount of time. It is enough to settle Botox and fillers properly, to start a skin course, to correct something that has bothered you for a long time, or to begin looking after your health more seriously. It is not enough to do everything at once, and it should not be. This page is my honest guide to what to start now, what to book later, and what to leave alone.
The short answer: if a treatment needs more than one session, or time to heal, start it now. Botox and fillers can wait until the end of November or the first days of December. Nothing new in the last week before an event.
Living in JBR, JLT, Dubai Marina or Palm Jumeirah?
If you live or work in JBR, JLT, Dubai Marina or on Palm Jumeirah and you are getting ready for the New Year, it is worth passing by for a visit. Apogee Clinic is inside Address Beach Resort Hotel, JBR, a few minutes from JLT and the Marina and a short drive from the Palm.
A first visit does not commit you to anything. We look at what bothers you, I tell you honestly what will be ready in time and what will not, and we plan backwards from your date.
Never had a treatment before? Start here
Many of the people who contact me in December have never had any aesthetic treatment. If that is you, the most useful thing you can do is not to choose a treatment yet. Choose a consultation.
- Tell me what bothers you, in your own words. "I look tired", "my skin looks dull", "I don't like my arms in photos". I will not go through your face telling you everything that could be done. I treat what bothers you.
- Pick one priority. One well-planned treatment almost always looks better than five rushed ones.
- Plan it backwards from your date. Most treatments look their best two to four weeks after they are done, not the next day.
For many first-timers, a small amount of Botox, a skin treatment, or simply a skin assessment and the right home routine is enough to look noticeably fresher by the New Year, without anyone being able to say what you did.
Your New Year Countdown Planner
Choose your event date and your main concern. We plan backwards from the date so there is time for assessment, healing and any necessary review.
Plan my event with Dr Shiva's team on WhatsApp
This is an educational planning guide, not an individualized treatment recommendation. Timing, suitability and recovery vary.
Your six-week timeline
| When | What to do |
|---|---|
| Now (six weeks or more before) | Consultation and plan. Correcting or dissolving old filler. Renuva. Microneedling course for acne scars or pigmentation. Removing skin tags and moles. Forza endolaser for arms or chest. Collagen stimulators. Longevity tests. Stem cell treatment. |
| Three to four weeks before (end of November, early December) | Botox. Fillers, including lips and hands. Skin boosters if the course has already started. |
| Two weeks before | Botox review and small touch-ups. A final, gentle skin session if your skin is used to it. |
| The last week | Nothing new. Hydration, sleep and sunscreen. If you are travelling, an IV drip for hydration can help. |
Start now: treatments that need time
Old fillers that bother you every time you look in the mirror
This is the one I most want people to hear. Many of my patients have filler from years ago, sometimes from another clinic, that has moved, looks heavy or simply no longer suits their face. They have been hesitant to deal with it, and every time they look in the mirror, it shows.
Before the New Year is a very good time to fix it. I start with ultrasound to see exactly where the filler is and what type it is. Hyaluronic acid filler can usually be dissolved; other fillers are managed case by case. Under ultrasound guidance, I can target the dissolving enzyme to the identified filler deposit while assessing nearby vessels. In uncomplicated cases, I may reassess after about three days and consider new filler if the tissues have recovered sufficiently. Timing varies between patients; persistent inflammation, swelling, residual product or complications may require a longer interval. Even so, correcting and refreshing takes two visits and some settling time, so start now, not in late December. Read more on my filler complication page.
Acne scars, pigmentation and dull skin
I treat acne scars and pigmentation with Dermapen microneedling, combined with a solution chosen for the problem: fresh exosomes for acne scars, and specific products for pigmentation and fine lines. It works as a course, usually two to four weeks apart, and the skin keeps improving for weeks after each session.
To be honest about timing: if you start now, you will have one or two sessions before the New Year. You will see a fresher, smoother skin, and the deeper scar improvement continues into January and February. That is still the best possible start.
Skin tags and moles
If you have skin tags or benign moles you have wanted to remove for a long time, do it now rather than in the week before a party. I remove them with laser under local anaesthetic, usually in one to three sessions depending on size and depth. Fair skin tends to heal quickly; darker skin can get temporary darkening, so I work more conservatively and it may need more than one session. Any lesion that does not look clearly benign is referred to a dermatologist first. More on my skin tags and moles page.
Arms, for the dresses you want to wear
If your arms are what stops you from wearing the dress you want, especially after weight loss, this is the time to start. I use Forza endolaser under the skin to reduce fat and tighten, often combined with Sculptra or Lanluma to improve the quality of the skin. Improvement is visible within weeks; the final result takes a few months, so starting in November means you see progress for the holidays and the full result in the new year. Read more on my arm page. Hands give age away too, and they are easy to include: see my hand rejuvenation page.
Volume that builds gradually: Renuva and collagen stimulators
Renuva and collagen stimulators such as Sculptra and Lanluma do not give an instant result. They work with your body over weeks: Renuva helps rebuild a layer of your own fat, and collagen stimulators help the skin make new collagen. If you want a natural, gradual change that nobody can pin on a single appointment, November is exactly when to start.
Plan your holiday treatments
Not sure where to start? Send my team a message with what bothers you and the date you are planning for. I will tell you honestly what is realistic in the time you have.
Book for late November or early December
Botox
Botox takes up to two weeks to reach its full effect, and I like to see patients again at around two weeks in case a small adjustment is needed. So for Christmas and New Year, the ideal window is the end of November or the first days of December. I use only UAE-registered products, and I aim for a rested look, not a frozen one.
Fillers and lip fillers
Filler gives an immediate result, but swelling and occasional bruising can take a few days to settle, and the product continues to soften over about two weeks. Book three to four weeks before your event. For lips, I prefer natural, balanced enhancement; the week before a party is not the time for a first lip filler.
Starting your longevity journey
The New Year is also when many people decide to take their health more seriously. If that is you, start now rather than in January. I cannot make you younger. I can help you hold on to function for longer, and that starts with measuring where you are.
A longevity consultation begins with a proper history and tests, which can include blood markers, an inflammation panel and, where relevant, a food intolerance test. Some results take time to come back. If we start in November, you begin the year with a written plan instead of a resolution.
Stem cells: repairing some of the damage of the past years
Some patients ask whether this is the right time to consider stem cell therapy. Let me be clear: stem cells do not reverse ageing. What we aim for is different. Stem cells act mainly through the signals they release, which can help modulate inflammation, support the immune system and help repair some of the damage done over the years.
The evidence differs a lot from one condition to another, and it is not a standard treatment for ageing. That is why I only consider it after a full assessment and a frank conversation about what it can and cannot do. If you are thinking about it, November gives us time for the assessment, the tests and the treatment itself without rushing. Read more on regenerative medicine.
Men: the New Year is not only for women
More and more of my patients are men, and they usually want something different: not to look "done", just less tired and a little sharper, especially with a busy season of events, travel and photos ahead.
- Look less tired: a light dose of Botox for the forehead and frown lines, planned to keep your expression natural. Support for the cheeks can soften a tired under-eye area.
- Look sharper: a more defined jawline or treatment of a double chin.
- Chest: for male chest fat or gynecomastia, start now, as the result develops over weeks.
- Hair: thinning hair needs a course of treatment; the earlier you start, the better. See my men's hair page.
- Travel: if you are planning a lot of flights over the holidays, a doctor-assessed IV drip for hydration can help you start the trip feeling better.
What I will not do before the New Year
- Big changes close to the date. Anything that needs healing time should be done now or after the holidays.
- Too many treatments in one rushed visit. If combining treatments makes sense, I plan the order; otherwise, I spread them out.
- A first-ever treatment in the week before an important event. If you have never had a treatment, give yourself time to see how your skin responds.
- Treatments you do not need. Sometimes the honest answer is good skincare, sunscreen and sleep.
Visiting Dubai for the holidays? If you are coming to Dubai over Christmas and New Year and would like to have your treatments here, see my page on planning your treatments during your stay. Our clinic is inside Address Beach Resort, JBR.
Plan your holiday treatments
Book your consultation at Apogee Clinic, Address Beach Resort, JBR. Tell us your date, and we will plan backwards from it.
Frequently asked questions
Is it too late to start treatments before the New Year?
No. Six weeks is enough for Botox, fillers, a skin course to begin, removing skin tags, and correcting old filler. What it is not enough for is doing everything at once. Start anything that needs several sessions or healing time now, and book Botox and fillers for the end of November or early December.
I have never had any treatment. What should I do first?
Book a consultation before choosing a treatment. Tell your doctor what bothers you, choose one priority, and plan backwards from your date. For many first-timers, a small amount of Botox or a skin treatment is enough to look fresher without looking different.
When is the latest I can have Botox before Christmas or New Year?
Ideally two to four weeks before. Botox takes up to two weeks to reach its full effect, and a review at two weeks allows a small adjustment if needed.
Can I have lip fillers a week before a party?
It is possible, but I do not recommend it, especially for a first treatment. Swelling and bruising can take a few days to settle. Three to four weeks before is safer.
How many sessions do acne scars need?
Usually a course of several sessions, two to four weeks apart, depending on the type and depth of the scars. Starting in November gives you one or two sessions before the New Year, with improvement continuing into the new year.
Can I remove old filler before the New Year?
Often, yes. I first use ultrasound to see where the filler is and what type it is. Hyaluronic acid filler can usually be dissolved. After ultrasound-guided dissolving, I may reassess uncomplicated cases after about three days and consider new filler if recovery is satisfactory. Timing varies between patients and some need longer. It still takes two visits, so start early.
What treatments do men have before the New Year?
Men usually want to look less tired and sharper rather than different: light Botox, jawline definition, treatment of a double chin, hair treatments, and IV hydration before a lot of travel.
Do stem cells reverse ageing?
No. Stem cells do not reverse ageing. They act mainly through the signals they release, which may help modulate inflammation, support the immune system and repair some damage. The evidence varies by condition, and it is not a standard treatment for ageing, so it needs a full assessment first.
About the author. Dr Shiva Faramarzi, MD, is an aesthetic physician at Apogee Clinic, Address Beach Resort, JBR, Dubai, focused on aesthetic, regenerative and longevity medicine. She has trained doctors across the UAE for the past four years.
This page is for education and does not replace an individual medical consultation. Results vary between patients.
