It used to be that all the bride worried about was getting the perfect dress and making sure that the bridesmaids were dressed in some unsightly colour that wouldn't take the spot light off themselves. While the dress is still an important part of the bride's day, making sure they have the body of a super model and glowing radiant skin is becoming just as important. For many though this obsession means plenty of botox to get rid of those unwanted wrinkles, implants for the perfect cleavage, liposuction to get rid of the unsightly pot belly and an even more expensive wedding bill than the bride's father had expected.

Brides are even getting themselves in to debt to pay for what they see as essential procedures. Victoria Mcloughlin from Brisbane borrowed a whopping $15,000 on a range of surgeries all with the aim of gaining that perfect body for the perfect photo that she will be able to admire for years to come "I didn't see the point of spending thousands of dollars on a dress I would probably end up looking back on with my kids and laughing at" she said "but a good cleavage and perfect skin is something that will never go out of fashion".

Some Brides are even demanding that their bridesmaids join in to help get the perfect photo by paying for them to get botox. Jill Freeman from California did just that, hiring a Dr to come to her house to perform the procedures and turning it in to a bit of a shin dig or botox party "We all had a few champagnes and it became a bit of a rehearsal for the Hens night. And everyone loved the results" Mrs Mcloughlin agrees that this is a fantastic idea, that would have only added to her perfect day "if I could have afforded it I would have paid for my bridesmaids to get whatever they needed done as well".

By far the most popular forms of self improvement for the bridal parties are the ones that have little if any recovery time and that show instant results such as botox, teeth whitening and microdermabrasion, which is a facial treatment that is said bring out the inner glow of your skin while reducing fine lines and wrinkles. But what is involved in these procedures? and how much will they add to the cost of your already expensive special day?

 

Botox

Botox or botulinum toxin type A to give it its full name has become the must have procedure in the battle against aging. Botox blocks the release of a neurotransmitter (a chemical messenger) known as acetylcholine from nerve cells. It is this neurotransmitter that tells the nerves in the muscles to contract, over the years these contractions cause folds or wrinkles in the skin especially around the eyes and on the forehead that are one of the unmistakeable signs of aging. Without acetylcholine, the affected nerve is unable to send a signal to the muscle it supplies, resulting in a weakened or paralysed muscle that is unable to contract and create the folds we all so hate, therefore giving the appearance of younger smoother skin. The effect of Botox injections is restricted to the area being treated, and because the nerve fibres usually regenerate after a couple of months, the effect is only temporary. The cost of this procedure will vary depending on how many units of botox you actually use but they start at around $18 each for the first 20 and you will need around 20 to do your forehead and another 30 to get rid of the crows feet around your eyes.

Tooth Whitening

Whitening your teeth is all about getting that perfect smile. There are many different products out there that claim to give you a brighter smile from toothpastes and mouth washes that cost pennies to home bleaching kits at around $100 and more specialist clinics where you can expect to pay around $1000. The most popular way and bar far the most effective way of gaining those pearly whites is bleaching. There are many different techniques that vary a great deal in price, but for a professional job you should always visit your dentist for what's known as a power bleach. The procedure will take around 30 minutes to 2 hours depending on the specific technique that your dentist uses and the colour change you wish to make. And as far as cost goes does it really matter if you get the wedding photo you have always dreamed of.

Microdermabrasion

Microdermabrasion has gained the nickname "The Lunch Time Peel" because it can be performed in such a short space of time and patients can to return to their everyday lives straightaway. It is used to rejuvenate skin, lessen the signs of scaring, and remove fine lines and the effects of acne by removing the top layer of dead skin and promoting the production of new skin cells. To achieve this the skin is literally sandblasted with aluminum oxide crystals through a wand-like device that suctions itself to the skin. The treatment is relatively painless meaning anesthetic is generally not needed and should only take around 30 minutes. A course of microdermabrasion usually consists of 4 - 8 treatments at 1 - 2 week intervals. They are so simple to perform that treatments can be administered at your doctor's office, salon, or spa. The cost of microdermabrasion varies a great deal but you can usually expect to pay around the $150 mark.

There is no doubt that looking good on your wedding day is very important, but you can achieve many of the results mentioned above by following a healthy lifestyle and looking after yourself properly. But if you must go for the quick fix to get the perfect smile, skin and cleavage just make sure you do your research to find the Dr that is perfect for you, remember if it costs you an extra few hundred to achieve the results you want it will be well worth it.

 

Flickr Photo credits to:

http://flickr.com/photos/dawninmanswedding/550254791/

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