The choice of non-invasive aesthetic treatments is arguably wider than ever before. There have been many new and exciting innovations over the past few years, allowing for an even more tailored approach to tweakments.

If a few different treatments have piqued your interest, the thought of how best to order them has probably crossed your mind. As EV Expert, Aesthetic Doctor and Founder of Ashley Aesthetics, Dr Emmaline Ashley puts it: “The best results aren’t just about what you do, they’re also about when and how you do it. Timing can be very important!”

While your chosen practitioner will be able to help you build a treatment plan that’s tailored to your skin and goals, having an idea of where you might start and how much time you may need to allow is very beneficial, before you start an aesthetics journey, both from a planning perspective and getting great results. As such, we asked two EV experts to advise on roughly where in the treatment plan some of the most popular services should sit—from injectables to skin tightening treatments.

Why is it important to see a qualified professional? 

No matter the treatment, it’s incredibly important to see someone who is qualified, insured and with medical training so that they can treat you accordingly, should something go wrong. They’ll also be super knowledgeable in how treatments can compliment one another.

“A qualified medical practitioner will tailor a treatment plan to your skin’s needs, goals, and recovery time, avoiding overlaps that could reduce efficacy or increase risk,” confirms Dr Ashley. "It’s also important from a patient safety point of view, that you see someone who truly understands the science behind these treatments, and who can [therefore] minimise the risk of any complications.”

Should you see the same professional for treatments?

Though you may not be able to see the same practitioner for all treatments—for example, they may not offer a particular treatment you are interested in trying—it’s beneficial to do so where possible.
 
“Consistency builds trust and leads to better outcomes,” says Dr Ashley. “When a clinician knows your treatment history and anatomy, they can plan appropriately and adjust over time. It’s also important to note that everyone’s skin will respond a little bit differently to different treatments, so letting someone get really familiar with your skin can be incredibly beneficial.”

EV Expert, GP, Founder of The Aesthetics Doctor clinics, Dr Ahmed El Muntasar, agrees. “Continuity of care is the most important thing—they know you, your face, what you like and what's been done before, so they're able to build on [treatments and results] properly.”

The following isn’t a fixed list—again, your practitioner would tailor your timeline—but a rough chronological order for some popular treatments. "The rule of thumb is that you need to space most cosmetic treatments at least 2–4 weeks apart,” says Dr Ashley.

A general guide to ordering your aesthetic treatments 

LED treatments
LED treatments are quite flexible in terms of where they can sit, so you could start with these and enjoy them later in your aesthetics journey, too. “LED is gentle, has no downtime or risks, and can enhance skin healing and results from other treatments,” says Dr Ashley. “This can be done on the background of a treatment plan or at home (although at-home LED masks may not deliver the same results as in-clinic lights). They can also be a beautiful add-on to the end of most treatments.”

Skin boosters
Skin boosters, also sometimes referred to as “injectable moisturiser”, include popular treatments like Profhilo and Juvenus, for example, and work to improve the skin’s hydration and glow. "I would start skin boosters early to the middle of a plan so they give the most impact,” confirms Dr Ashley. “They improve hydration and elasticity, often after any barrier-repair or resurfacing treatments."

Microneedling 
Involving tiny needles that create little wounds in the skin, microneedling is great for targeting a range of things, such as fine lines and uneven skin texture. “This could be introduced mid-plan,” confirms Dr Ashley. “It is excellent for texture, scarring and collagen, but can cause short-term inflammation. Allow two weeks before and/or after injectables or lasers.”

Biostimulators
These include treatments like polynucleotides or collagen stimulants. “These can be later-stage or ongoing,” says Dr Ashley. “They work subtly and long-term to rebuild collagen. Minimal downtime is needed, but they need layering over months.” Dr El Muntasar echoes this: “These work over time, so they take up to 12 weeks to really see an improvement.”

Chemical peels 
Chemical peels may come early or mid-way through your treatment journey, really depending on what you’re hoping they’ll target. "You should start this early in your journey if skin texture or pigmentation is a concern,” advises Dr Ashley. “Downtime depends on depth: light peels may need no downtime, deeper peels can need 5–10 days."

Skin tightening  
Skin tightening treatments involve technologies like ultrasound, radiofrequency and EMS – think Sofwave or Ultherapy, for example. Dr El Muntasar notes these “typically come mid-way through a treatment plan. These procedures work best on healthy, well-prepped skin, so if your skin isn't in optimal condition at the start, we usually focus on improving its health first. The treatments can cause mild swelling and redness, but they are generally well tolerated by most patients.”

Laser and IPL 
Laser treatments are an incredibly broad category that means their position in a treatment journey really depends on the type of laser and treatment intensity. Dr Ashley says this and IPL might come early on to help “get the skin to a great baseline” for further treatments. “I find that with lasers, IPLs and things like that, it depends on how invasive you go,” says Dr El Muntasar, who suggests they can also come later in a treatment plan. “With a laser, you can really take off the whole skin, such as with a CO2 laser, but that's obviously a lot more invasive than a simple IPL.”

Anti-wrinkle injections and dermal filler
Anti-wrinkle injections such as botulinum toxin and dermal filler, tend to come later on, after treatments that have targeted the skin’s condition. "Once our canvas is in its healthiest and best state, then we can focus on injectables like fillers and toxin,” Dr Ashley confirms.