Book These Treatments Now for Your Best Skin by Summer

On a particularly cold, rainy week in L.A., I caught myself romanticizing my future summer self. She’s actually leaving the couch for carefree days about town and cute dinners with friends. The wardrobe? Immaculate. Her skin? Effortlessly glowy.

But on the way back down to reality, the beauty editor in me remembered that if I wanted that version of me to actually show up this summer, I would need a plan. And I knew exactly who would know — my Who Wants to Be a Millionaire lifeline on skincare, Vanessa Lee.

As a trailblazer of intentional beauty and founder of the rapidly growing The Things We Do clinics, Vanessa Lee is who I go to when I want a real answer. Her beauty philosophy is about strengthening what makes you you, with well-researched, science-backed treatments that support your best features rather than erase them. And fresh off another research-heavy trip to Seoul, she’s especially dialed into what’s actually worth your time (and money) right now.

So I met her at her downtown L.A. office to talk about the treatments that make the most strategic sense as we head into spring — and to try one of her newest obsessions myself: ONDA Pro, a body contouring and tightening treatment that’s been beloved abroad and is starting to gain traction here. Consider this your blueprint for booking smart now, so that by the time summer comes around, that romanticized version of you can strut her stuff. 

Making the Most of “Treatment” Season 

When late spring and summer roll around, everyone suddenly wants new skin by Friday. But waiting until the last minute will humble the best of us. Treatment downtime will interfere with plans, UV exposure lurks around every corner, and results will mean extra due diligence and patience.

“Winter is what I call treatment season because it’s when your skin and body can actually focus on repair instead of constant defense,” Vanessa tells me. “Cooler temperatures, less UV exposure, and fewer inflammatory triggers like heat and sweat create the ideal environment for in-office treatments that rely on controlled injury and regeneration.” 

In other words, calm skin heals better, and better healing means better results. And because collagen, metabolism, and pigment correction take time, the game plan starts now if you want payoff by June. 

Vanessa Lee’s Strategic Treatment Stack

When I asked Vanessa what she’s actually prioritizing right now, she didn’t name just one thing. She looks at skincare holistically, viewing it as a progressive system — how treatments build on each other, how recovery overlaps, how results compound over time. 

“I prioritize treatments that are going to give me the biggest impact and focus on combining or stacking these treatments for maximized effect and condensing downtime,” she explains, noting that the five she’s recommending are the exact ones she’s done herself this winter. “I’m obsessed with how my skin is glowing — and my arms, where I did ONDA Pro, are tighter and slimmer.” In other words, she practices what she prescribes. 

Below, the five treatments she believes are actually worth booking. 

1. PRFM Glass Skin Stamping

• Best for: Luminosity, texture, hydration
• Spice Level: Mild
• Downtime: 24–72 hours redness
• Timing: Series of 3 (monthly)

Consider this your entry point for lit-from-within skin. PRFM (which stands for platelet-rich fibrin matrix) Glass Skin Stamping combines regenerative growth factors with microneedling to stimulate collagen while deeply hydrating the skin. “PRFM performs best in low-inflammation skin,” explains Vanessa, which is why she prefers doing it during cooler months when skin isn’t constantly battling sun and heat.

2. PicoSure Pro Laser

• Best for: Pigment, pores, collagen
• Spice Level: Medium
• Downtime: 1–3 days redness/flaking
• Timing: Series of 3–4

If PRFM is the refinement, PicoSure is the correction. This innovative laser works by delivering ultra-short pulses that break up pigment while stimulating collagen. “This is how I address pigment without compromising the skin barrier,” Vanessa says, adding that rainy season timing is ideal to avoid post-treatment pigmentation. After all, you’re not going through all of this work just to undo it all with a picnic in the park. 

3. ONDA Pro Contouring & Tightening

Best for: Stubborn fat, mild laxity, cellulite

Spice Level: Warm but tolerable

Downtime: None

Timing: 4 treatments, one month apart

The treatment Vanessa flew halfway across the world to discover — and the one I tried myself — is ONDA Pro. “It’s a device I discovered abroad that showed results after just one treatment without pain or serious side effects,” she told me. “The science was fascinating. I knew immediately after seeing my own results that I had to bring it into our practice.” The Things We Do is now the first U.S. clinic to offer it — further proof she stays ahead of the curve.

ONDA uses microwave technology (a subset of radio frequency) to selectively heat the fat layer. “The microwaves can’t go past the fat,” Vanessa explains. “So it’s never going to do anything deeper — no muscle, no organs.” Treatment areas include the stomach, flanks, thighs, back, and arms. Results include targeted fat reduction, gradual skin tightening, and cellulite improvement. 

I opted to treat my stomach since it’s an area I’ve always been a little self-conscious about and was curious to see what would happen. Despite the use of heat, the sensation felt cooling — kind of like a stone massage. Every so often, there was a quick, pinchy muscle-cramp sensation that lasted a few seconds. Otherwise, I was too busy yapping with Vanessa that the session ended before I fully processed that we had started.

The results will evolve over time. Fat reduction is permanent in the treated area (assuming stable weight), tightening builds over about four months, and cellulite improvement can last up to a year. “For best results, we do four treatments spaced one month apart,” Vanessa suggests. “If you start in January or February, you’re perfectly timed for summer. Even starting in March gives you runway.”

The treatment was so easy that I still had doubts afterwards, but Vanessa assured me I would notice a difference. As usual, she was correct. A month out from just one treatment, I can already feel a meaningful tightening and slimming effect. Just enough that I’m standing up a little straighter and getting dressed a bit more confidently. 

4. Microinfusion

• Best for: Brightness, pores, hydration
• Spice Level: Mild
• Downtime: 24–48 hours
• Timing: One-and-done or seasonal

If you want immediate radiance without committing to a full laser series, microinfusion is your shortcut. Using a cocktail of glutathione, toxin, or Skinvive (an injectable hyaluronic acid) delivered through microneedling, it brightens tone, refines pores, and boosts hydration.

“Skin retains hydration more effectively and is less reactive during colder months,” Vanessa says, which makes this an ideal time to build skin quality before summer humidity hits.

5. Collagen-Building Threads

• Best for: Long-term structural support
• Spice Level: Moderate
• Downtime: Mild swelling or tenderness for several days
• Timing: Single treatment, gradual results

Vanessa has long been a fan of threads. Rather than using filler to add volume, threads provide subtle structural support while stimulating long-term collagen production. And because the results unfold gradually over months, timing is essential. “Collagen takes time to mature,” Vanessa reminds me. “Winter allows this process to unfold naturally.”

She often pairs threads with regenerative treatments like PRFM or energy-based tightening to amplify collagen signaling, taking a more architectural approach to skin that prioritizes longevity over quick fixes.

At-Home Maintenance Along the Way

In-office treatments may do the heavy lifting, but Vanessa is quick to remind me that what happens between appointments matters just as much. “At-home is great for maintenance and prevention,” Vanessa says. And one of her go-tos is at-home microstamping. 

The Things We Do’s Microstamping Set helps gently stimulate the skin between professional treatments, extending luminosity and maintaining collagen momentum. “In-office we do a microneedling version that incorporates medical-grade ingredients that you won’t be able to have access to at home,” she explains. “But the continuation of at-home microstamping can prolong the in-office results.”

And of course, none of this works without the unsexy fundamentals like barrier support, daily SPF, and anti-inflammatory skincare that protects your investment. Because the point of starting early is to enjoy your results for as long as possible. 

An Editor’s Takeaway 

I’ve spent enough years working in beauty to know that treatments are less about quick fixes and more about how I want to feel long term. It’s easy to get swept up in life, or in a moment of insecurity, and let urgency dictate decisions in the name of looking your best.

But sitting with Vanessa reminded me that mapping treatments out in advance not only gives my skin and body the time they need to respond, it also removes the panic button from the equation. Booking appointments before they feel urgent, protecting the results at home, and committing to the process creates a more sustainable approach to beauty.

And when I catch myself reaching for that slip dress in a few months, I’ll remember the value of choosing long-term investment over impulse, a decision my therapist would absolutely give me a gold star for.