When to start, what to book at each stage and — just as important — what not to try in the final fortnight.
Twelve to nine months out
This is the window for anything that works over a course: microneedling for scarring and texture, peel programmes for pigmentation, or regenerative treatment for overall skin quality. Starting now means there is room to adjust if your skin responds differently than expected.
It is also the point to get your home routine right. Sunscreen every day, a retinoid introduced slowly, and nothing new added in a panic later on.
Six to three months out
Continue the course and begin monthly maintenance facials so your skin has a rhythm. If CACI is part of the plan, the ten-session course sits comfortably here, finishing with monthly top-ups.
Injectable treatment, if it is part of your plan at all, belongs in this window rather than later, so there is time for review and adjustment.
The final month
No new treatments and no new products. Stick to what your skin already knows. A prescription facial three to four weeks before is ideal, and Dermalux LED can be added freely since it has no downtime.
The last fortnight
Book a HydraFacial three to seven days before the day, not the morning of. Avoid peels, microneedling, waxing of newly treated areas and any experimentation with actives.
If something flares in the final week, call the clinic rather than treating it aggressively at home. Calming it is nearly always the right move.