Jet-Set Glow | The Essential Guide to Injectables

When it comes to long-haul flights and far-flung destinations, staying luminous through every timezone is an art form—and for the well-travelled set, it starts long before boarding. Revered for her subtle, skin-first approach to aesthetics, Dr. Kate Jameson, the founder and medical director of Youth Lab Australia, is the name whispered between frequent flyers and front-row regulars alike. Her Perth-based clinics are known for delivering that elusive balance of refinement and radiance—injectables that never look “done,” just effortlessly elevated.
With her jet-set clientele in mind, Dr. Kate shares her expert guide to planning injectables around your travel schedule—what to book, when to book it, and how to arrive (and depart) looking impossibly fresh.

How does frequent travel affect the skin, and what are the most common concerns you see in-clinic after someone returns from a trip?

Frequent travel exposes your skin to multiple stressors that can accelerate aging and compromise skin health. The low humidity in aircraft cabins, typically around 20%, rapidly depletes skin moisture. This dehydration triggers a cascade of issues, including increased oil production, inflammation, and temporary volume loss.

After trips, I commonly see patients with what I call ‘travel face’ – a combination of dehydration lines, dullness, unexpected breakouts, and general fatigue in their appearance. The sudden climate changes, disrupted skincare routines, and exposure to new environmental pollutants all contribute to this post-travel skin slump.

What injectable treatments do you recommend for someone preparing their skin ahead of a long-haul flight?

For long-haul flight preparation, I focus on treatments that boost internal hydration and resilience. Bio-Remodelling Injections, also known as Profhilo, contains hyaluronic acid, creating an internal reservoir of moisture that helps counteract the dehydrating effects of air travel.
For patients concerned about looking tired upon arrival, strategic volume replacement with Bio-Stimulating Injectables or Sculptra could be your best option. As an alternative to dermal fillers, bio-stimulators smooth fine lines, wrinkles, and restore the contours of the face.

How far in advance of a trip should someone schedule their injectable appointment for the best results and minimal downtime?

Timing is crucial for pre-travel injectables. I recommend scheduling anti-wrinkle injections 14-20 days before departure. This allows the treatment to take full effect while giving any potential bruising time to resolve and allowing time for a top-up if needed. On the other hand, we recommend scheduling dermal filler appointments 4 weeks before your trip away. While results are immediate, there can be temporary swelling or bruising, and it is important to stay close to your injectable clinic in case of complications.

Are there specific treatments that help support hydration and radiance during travel?

Absolutely. The best injectable treatment to support hydration during travel is Profhilo. This popular treatment has become the go-to treatment for travellers due to its powerful hydrating and remodelling properties. This hyaluronic acid treatment doesn’t just hydrate – it also stimulates collagen and elastin production, creating an internal scaffolding that helps skin maintain its resilience against environmental stressors.

What’s the ideal approach for someone wanting to look fresh and rested while travelling without looking “overdone”?

The ‘travelling natural’ approach is all about strategic minimalism. I focus on three key areas: gentle smoothing of forehead lines to look more rested, subtle cheek enhancement to counter travel-related volume depletion, and targeted skin quality treatments.
The goal isn’t transformation but preservation. It is important to maintain how you look at your best rested state. Most importantly, we schedule these treatments with adequate time before travel so any evidence of the procedure itself has been resolved, leaving only the refreshed result.

For someone returning from a sunny destination, what should they consider before booking injectables or skin treatments?

Sun exposure changes how we approach treatments post-holiday. I advise patients to wait at least 5-7 days after significant sun exposure before having any injectable treatments. UV radiation triggers inflammatory responses in the skin that can potentially interact with injectables and increase the risk of complications.

If you’ve experienced any sunburn, that waiting period extends until the skin has completely recovered. In the meantime, focus on repairing your skin barrier through hydrating moisturiser, serums, gentle cleansers and exfoliators while avoiding any strong active ingredients – this will ensure your skin is prepared for future treatments.

Can you share your go-to treatment plan for skin recovery after a long-haul flight or a change in climate?

My post-travel recovery protocol begins with assessment, as everyone’s skin responds differently to travel stressors.
For most patients, I recommend a Hydrafacial to gently exfoliate the skin and replenish lost hydration, followed by the Healite II LED to reduce inflammation, accelerate healing and promote collagen production. Keep it simple. Your skin needs time to return to homeostasis.

Are there any injectables you’d recommend avoiding right before a beach holiday or tropical escape?

Several treatments are best avoided before sun-intensive vacations. Deep chemical peels or laser treatments combined with injectables heighten sun sensitivity and should be avoided. I also recommend avoiding any new treatments immediately before tropical holidays. New treatments, i.e. bio stimulators can initiate natural inflammatory processes to stimulate collagen, which can sometimes be unpredictable when combined with heat, humidity, and sun exposure. PDO threads are another treatment I’d postpone until after your return, as pressure changes during flights and increased facial movement during vacations can sometimes lead to suboptimal results or increased visibility.

Do you approach injectables differently for clients who are constantly on the go or travel frequently for work?

Yes, frequent travellers require a different treatment strategy. Rather than dramatic interventions, we establish a maintenance protocol with lighter, more frequent treatments that maintain consistent results. For these patients, I often recommend Bio-Remodelling treatments every 6 months to maintain optimal hydration regardless of their travel schedule. We also curate a skincare routine combining the best medical-grade products for at-home clinic results. This is the best method to maintain your results post-treatment.

How do you customise treatments for different types of travel, like a ski trip vs. a tropical getaway?

Different destinations present unique skin challenges that influence our treatment approach. For winter destinations and ski trips, I focus heavily on barrier protection and deep hydration. This might include a more robust hyaluronic acid skin booster treatment and strategic lip hydration to prevent chapping in cold, dry conditions.

For tropical climates, the emphasis shifts to oil control and lightweight hydration. We might use more targeted anti-wrinkle treatments to prevent excessive facial sweating while avoiding treatments that increase photosensitivity, i.e laser treatments.

Business travel to urban environments calls for another approach entirely, often focusing on treatments that help combat the effects of pollution and artificial indoor environments. Vitamin C is the go-to with its antioxidant properties to neutralise free radicals, ensuring your skin is protected from environmental stressors.

Are certain areas of the face more prone to dehydration or dullness during travel that you target specifically with injectables?

The mid-face and under-eye area typically shows the first signs of travel fatigue. These areas experience volume shifts during air travel due to fluid redistribution and dehydration, creating a tired appearance upon arrival. Rejuran is perfect for this. In the ever-evolving world of aesthetic medicine, the quest for facial rejuvenation techniques and advancements continues, and Korea has delivered a polynucleotide biostimulator, “Rejuran”. Activating the skin’s natural regenerative process – improving skin texture, any signs of under-eye wrinkles, and increasing collagen production.

For someone new to injectables, what’s a good starting point if they have a big trip planned?

For injectable newcomers with travel plans, I recommend starting conservatively. A light anti-wrinkle treatment focusing just on the upper face can provide a refreshed appearance without dramatic change. This can be done 2-3 weeks pre-travel
Additionally, Bio-Remodelling treatments and Bio-Stimulators are another excellent entry point, providing enhanced hydration and collagen stimulation with minimal risk.

These treatments have no visible volume effect but improve skin quality noticeably. Most importantly, I encourage first-timers to schedule their initial treatment well in advance of important trips, i.e. 8 weeks before. This will allow adequate time to complete the full initial treatment course of Profhilo or Sculptra.

What are the most underrated treatments for maintaining skin health between travels?

While everyone focuses on the visible treatments, I find that preventative medical skincare is often overlooked, yet incredibly effective for frequent travellers. Committing to skincare isn’t just a routine – it’s the foundation that maximises your professional treatments.
In-clinic procedures deliver powerful results, but it’s your daily at-home commitment that preserves them. You need to maintain optimal skin functioning even when you’re jumping between different climates and time zones.

Another underrated approach is proactive lip hydration treatments. The lips lose moisture faster than any other facial area during travel, yet most people only address them once they’re already dry and chapped. Keep your favourite lip balm or mask on hand pre- and post-flight. The Laneige lip masks are my favourite!

How do you ensure results look natural, especially for first-timers looking to feel fresh for a trip without a dramatic change?

Subtle enhancement is at the core of Youth Lab’s ethos – we want to enhance our clients’ aesthetic confidence, naturally. So, ensuring natural-looking results is a no-brainer for our practitioners.

For travel preparations, I use the ‘three-foot rule’—treatments should enhance your appearance without being detectable from conversational distance. This means using minimal product with maximum precision, often treating asymmetries and structural issues rather than simply adding volume.

Most importantly, I schedule adequate time between treatment and travel so any telltale signs of treatment have resolved, leaving only the refreshed result. No one should ever comment on your treatment – only how well-rested you look despite the long flight.

Do you have any travel skincare essentials you always pack to complement injectable treatments on the road?

Your skincare routine becomes even more crucial when travelling with injectables. I recommend everyone pack a deeply hydrating mask for use during and after flights. Sheet masks are particularly travel-friendly and can be removed without access to running water. My top pick is the BioDance Hydro Cera-nol Real Deep Mask – leave this mask on for 4-8 hours, and it will leave your skin feeling plump and dewy post-flight.

• A quality antioxidant serum is non-negotiable to protect skin from environmental stressors in new destinations. Vitamin C in the morning provides pollution protection, particularly important in major cities.
• Hyaluronic acid serums help maintain the results of injectable moisture treatments, while a ceramide-rich moisturiser protects the skin barrier against climatic changes.
• Take your vitamins! Zinc supplements induce collagen synthesis, maintain skin elasticity, reduce the appearance of fine lines and aid in cell growth and repair. All of which contribute to the longevity of your anti-wrinkle treatments.
• And of course, SPF 50+ is absolutely essential – UV exposure can break down hyaluronic acid fillers more quickly, so protecting your investment means protecting your skin from the sun, regardless of your destination.

Visit youthlab.com.au for more!

Photography by Robyn Damianos