Every December, the clinic hears from people planning a trip home or a holiday in Ghana who would like to fit in a treatment while they are here. Some want a refresh before family gatherings and weddings. Others have simply found it easier to see a practitioner they trust during the weeks they spend in the city each year.
The question is almost always the same. What can I realistically have done in two or three weeks, and how do I make sure I am not flying home with swelling, a fresh peel or no chance of a follow-up?
This guide walks through how to plan it, from booking before you land to the treatments that suit the start, middle and end of a trip. It is general guidance. Amanda Fourie will advise you individually once she has seen your skin and heard your history.
Work out your treatment window first
Before you think about treatments, look at your dates. Count the days between landing and flying out, then take off the first day or two for jet lag and the last two or three days for packing, goodbyes and the journey to the airport. What remains is your realistic treatment window.
For a two-week stay, that is often around ten days. For three weeks, it may be a little over two weeks. The window matters because several treatments need time to settle and a review appointment, and you want both to happen while you are still here.
It also helps to list the fixed points in your trip: the wedding, the family party, the weekend away, the beach day. Treatments then slot around those dates, rather than the other way round.
Book your consultation before you land
December is the busiest month of the year in Accra. Flights fill, families arrive, and appointment diaries fill with them. If you hope to be seen in your first few days, it is worth getting in touch a few weeks before you travel.
When you contact the clinic, share your arrival and departure dates, what you would like to change, and any treatments you have had before. That allows the team to suggest a sensible consultation date and to hold time for a follow-up if one is likely to be needed. If you are staying with family across the city, our page on areas we serve in Accra will help you plan the journey to Cantonments.
Traffic in December can turn a short drive into a long one, especially in the evenings and around festive events. Allow extra time, choose morning appointments where you can, and avoid booking a treatment just before a dinner or wedding on the same day. The clinic is open Monday to Saturday, 09:00 to 18:00, at 6 Wuogon Road.
Bring your treatment history with you
If you have had aesthetic treatments elsewhere, the details matter. Note down what you had, when you had it and, if you know it, the product used. Photographs of how you looked before and after previous injectables can be useful too, because they show how your face responds.
Also bring a list of your medications and supplements, any allergies, and the skincare you use at home. Some products, including retinoids and exfoliating acids, may need to be paused before certain treatments. If you are under a doctor's care for a medical condition, are pregnant or breastfeeding, or have recently started a new medication, speak to your doctor before travelling with treatment plans in mind. Amanda may ask for this too. Our guide on how to choose an aesthetic clinic explains why a careful consultation is a good sign rather than a delay.
Early in your stay: anti-wrinkle and fillers
Injectables belong at the start of a trip, not the end, because they benefit from time to settle and a review.
Anti-wrinkle injections
Anti-wrinkle treatments relax the muscles behind expression lines. The effect usually begins within a few days and is fully visible after around two weeks. Having treatment in your first few days gives you the best chance of seeing the settled result, and of a follow-up check, before you leave. Our honest guide to Botox in Ghana covers safety and what to expect in more detail.
Dermal fillers
Dermal contouring and volume restoration can restore volume or refine shape in areas such as the cheeks, lips and jawline. Swelling and bruising are common in the first days and can take a week or two to settle fully, which is why filler is best booked early in a stay of two weeks or more. For a short trip, Amanda may suggest a more conservative approach, or waiting until your next visit. Our dermal fillers guide explains how to stay safe.
Mid-trip: treatments with little downtime
Once any injectables are underway, the middle of your stay is a good time for treatments that freshen the skin without much recovery. A signature facial can help skin that has been dried out by a long flight and a change of climate look rested again. Dermaplaning or a gentle peel may suit some people, if Amanda feels your skin is ready and you have no beach plans straight afterwards.
Small grooming treatments fit easily too. A lash lift can make eyes look more defined in photographs without daily mascara, which is useful when the heat makes make-up hard to keep in place. If you are considering semi-permanent brows or lips, read about planning permanent make-up before December first, because healing and a top-up visit both need time you may not have.
What not to book just before a long flight or beach day
Some treatments need a margin before you board a plane or spend a day in the sun.
Try not to schedule injectables in your final two or three days. If bruising or swelling appears, or something needs a small adjustment, you want to be able to come back. Long flights involve dry cabin air and hours of sitting still, and most practitioners prefer fresh treatment to have had a little time to settle first.
Peels, micro-needling and laser treatments leave skin more sensitive to the sun for a while afterwards. December in Accra brings strong sunshine, beach trips and outdoor events, so these are best kept away from a day by the sea or the pool. Swimming in chlorinated or salt water too soon after a skin treatment can also cause irritation. Whatever you have done, wear a high-protection sunscreen every day; our article on choosing sunscreen for the Accra climate has practical suggestions.
Sample plans for a two- or three-week trip
These are examples, not prescriptions. Your own plan will depend on your skin, your goals and Amanda's advice.
A two-week visit
Days one and two: rest, drink plenty of water and get over the journey. Day two or three: consultation, with anti-wrinkle treatment the same day if Amanda feels it is suitable. Around day seven or eight: a signature facial or lash lift. Around days ten to twelve: a review appointment if needed. Final days: nothing new, just sunscreen and moisturiser.
A three-week visit
Week one: consultation, anti-wrinkle treatment and, if planned, filler. Week two: a facial, dermaplaning or a gentle peel, kept well away from beach days. Early in week three: a review of injectables and any small adjustments. Final few days: let your skin rest before the flight.
If your stay is shorter than ten days, it is usually wiser to choose one priority, such as a facial, or a consultation to plan treatments for your next visit, than to squeeze in everything.
Looking after your results at home
Results depend on aftercare once you are back home. Ask Amanda to write down what to use and avoid in the weeks after your treatment, and when you might be due another appointment, so you can plan your next trip around it. If she recommends home care from the clinic's Lamelle range, buy it before you fly so you are not hunting for an equivalent elsewhere.
If anything unexpected develops after you return, such as swelling that worsens, increasing pain or signs of infection, contact your local doctor promptly and let the clinic know too.
Questions visitors often ask
Can I have a consultation and treatment on the same day?
Often, yes, for treatments such as anti-wrinkle injections, if Amanda feels it is appropriate after assessing you. For some treatments she may suggest preparing your skin first or waiting until your next visit.
What if I need a follow-up after I have flown home?
That is exactly why timing matters. Book injectables early so any review happens while you are still here. If you cannot come back before you fly, Amanda may recommend a lighter treatment.
How do I know what my treatment will cost?
Our treatment price list shows current prices, so you can plan before you travel. Your consultation is where you agree a plan that fits both your budget and the length of your stay.
Can I combine several treatments in one visit?
Sometimes. Amanda will tell you which combinations make sense and which are better spread out, especially with events and a flight coming up.
Planning your visit
If you are flying in this December, the most useful thing you can do now is share your dates. Send the clinic a message with when you arrive, when you leave and what you are hoping for, and the team will help you find a calm, realistic plan that leaves time to enjoy the rest of your trip.