WHIRL Features

A bride slims down to her ideal size to say “I do,” and we ask eight health experts to help you look your best on your big day, too.

Like most little girls, KDKA-TV news producer Melissa Reid dreamed of the perfect wedding day — the perfect man, the perfect dress, the perfect decorations, and of course, the perfect body with which to enjoy it all.

Kiss kiss! The bride carried a bedazzled bouquet.

The 26-year-old accomplished these goals and more, but did so using an unconventional method. Reid was one of 10 contestants from across the United States to compete on a weight loss reality show set to air on CMT this spring.

She can’t fill us in on too many details before the show debuts later this year, but the “reality star” does reveal that it was the hardest thing she has ever done. “I lost a lot of weight, and it was a great experience. You can put your mind to anything, and do it,” Reid says. “There were so many things I didn’t think I could do, and then I did.”

I do times two: Their first ceremony at the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church.

Back before she even knew about the show, Reid insisted on buying her wedding dress two sizes too small as her inspiration to lose weight. “I had to sign a waiver so that the bridal shop was not responsible if it didn’t fit,” says Reid. “It’s a big no-no in the bridal industry.”

But the dress did fit, and the July 2008 wedding was her dream come true.

Now the bride is an avid runner and enjoys regular spinning and Pilates classes. She garners inspiration from her past exercise experiences and from her teacher and certified personal trainer — her husband, Billy, who allows her “no excuses.”

So romantic: A ceiling of stars and glowing, vibrant centerpieces

The Wedding
The happy couple was married in two ceremonies to accommodate both of their religions: Once at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church in Steubenville, Ohio, and again inside the Formal Gardens at Oglebay Resort in Wheeling, W. Va. The reception was held at Oglebay’s Glessner Ballroom.

The bride wore an ivory satin gown embellished with Swarovski crystals from The Bridal Beginning of Mt. Lebanon. Her naturally pretty looks were enhanced with help from Mt. Lebanon’s Salon Bella.

Smile! Pink ladies and sharp-dressed men pose at the Oglebay Mansion Museum.

Brides and Butterflies in Irwin provided her bouquet of hot pink cabbage roses dipped in sparkles and Swarovski crystals, as well as the fuchsia-colored centerpieces.

Ponzani’s Florist in St. Clairsville, Ohio, provided “special mood lighting” and ceiling treatments. The ceiling of the ballroom was covered with strings of lights and silk draping. “I wanted it to look there were stars in the sky,” Reid says.

Fitting. But Reid is the real star.

Whirl Beauty Flash — What You Can Do to Prepare for the Big Day!
Want to look radiant and camera ready? Need to shape up now? Just love trying new diet tips? Look no further. We asked local experts in the fields of plastic surgery, skin and vein treatments, and weight loss for their insights into what any bride can do to look perfect for walking down the aisle. The result is a manageable mix of advice applicable for looking great on your wedding day and way beyond!


Dr. Bridget Chufo, Healthy Performance

Qualifications: Founder Bridget Chufo, Ph.D., R.N. oversees seven local weight
loss centers.

Ideal Bridal Client: A bride wanting to lose five to 10 pounds over a couple of months or one who needs a quick way to make the dress fit exactly the way she wants.

Method: Clients exercise, follow an eating plan, and take weight-loss supplements. The program includes phone or in-person counseling, weekly weigh-ins, food diaries, and herbal supplements, which suppress appetite, break down fat, and increase metabolism function.

Treatment Style: All recommendations are individually tailored and recorded on a client profile card.

Diet Tip: Women need to eat a minimum of six-to-nine ounces of protein daily

Big day Recommendations: “Plan, plan, and do more planning ... as if you are going on a trip.”

Cost: The program, $200-$300 per month

Healthy Performance, seven locations in Pittsburgh area. 800.900.THIN. healthyperformance.net.

Dr. James K. Smith, Genesis Cosmetic Surgery

Qualifications: Board-certified plastic surgeon

Ideal Bridal Client: A bride within 20 pounds of her target weight.

Method: Liposuction. Genesis offers traditional, power-assisted, and ultrasound-assisted liposuction.

Treatment Style: You will want to schedule the procedure three months before the big day to maximize results.

Diet Tip: Try the “Zone” diet by Dr. Barry Sears. You won’t go hungry and the bride can begin to see results within one week.

Big Day Recommendations: Areas brides may want to treat include the chin, neck, hips, waist, and abdomen.

Cost: Liposuction, $3,400 to $6,600

Genesis Cosmetic Surgery, 1009 Beaver Grade Road, Moon Township. 412.262.4202. genesissurgery.com.

Dr. Michael Kluska, The Center For Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery

Qualifications: Board-certified plastic and reconstructive surgeon

Ideal Bridal Client: “The groom needs to be groomed for the big day, as well.”

Method: Hair transplantation. Dr. Kluska says it usually only takes two sessions, which can be completed six-to-nine months before the wedding day.

Treatment Style: Starts conservatively and works to progress as much as the patient wants.

Diet Tip: Exercise three-to-four days a week and avoid white foods. Substitute with whole grain bread, brown rice, and whole wheat pasta.

Big Day Recommendations: Drink plenty of water to re-hydrate and revitalize the skin.

Cost: Hair transplantation, $4,000-$8,000

The Center For Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery, 539 South St., Greensburg. 724.836.0400. cosmeticcontours.com.

Dr. Terrance R. Krysinski, Vein Institute of Pittsburgh/Cosmetic Laser Centers

Qualifications: General surgeon experienced in laser medicine and surgery

Ideal Bridal Client: Brides or mothers-of-the-brides with aching leg pain due to varicose and
spider veins.

Method: Endovenous Laser Ablation therapy (EVLT) of varicose veins; laser or sclerotherapy of spider veins.

Treatment Style: For best results, schedule treatments six months prior to the wedding day.

Diet Tip: “Try compression hose — they are no longer like the ones your grandmother wore. Now, they come in a variety of colors and better materials.”

Big Day Recommendations: Enjoy every moment of the day.

Cost: Cosmetic treatments start at $300; non-cosmetic treatments are covered by most health insurance plans

Vein Institute of Pittsburgh/Cosmetic Laser Centers, 16000 Perry Hwy., Ste. 2, Warrendale. 724.935.4200. 6507 Robinson Center Drive, Robinson. 412.788.1331. cosmeticlasercenters.com.

Dr. Simona V. Pautler, Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

Qualifications: Board-certified plastic surgeon

Ideal Bridal Client: Anyone who appreciates the results of good skincare.

Method: Top-of-the-line skincare regimens, such as Obagi CRx or SkinCeuticals. A favorite product is SkinCeuticals’s Phloretin CF.

Treatment Style: Skin is visibly more radiant after four weeks of using four or five drops on the face and neck every morning.

Diet Tip: Stay away from alcohol for the few weeks before your wedding; it dehydrates skin and makes you look tired.

Big Day Recommendations: “Walk tall and proud, and smile, smile, smile!”

Cost: Phloretin CF is $150 for one ounce

Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, 3311 Washington Road, Ste. 200, McMurray. 724.969.0930. drpautler.com.

Dr. Francis R. Johns, Artisan Plastic Surgery

Qualifications: Board-certified plastic surgeon and maxillofacial surgeon

Ideal Bridal Client: Anyone who has the need or desire to improve the shape of her body or any disproportion of the face.

Method: Facial augmentation using dermal fillers to soften facial creases and smooth out lines on the lips, cheeks, and corners of the mouth.

Treatment Style: These facial augmentation methods can be performed as late as two weeks before the wedding and lasts from six months to a year.

Diet Tip: Keep a low sodium/salt diet prior to the wedding day and hydrate skin by drinking eight glasses of water per day.

Big Day Recommendations: Schedule a micro-dermabrasion facial treatment two days prior to the wedding for a healthy glow, $100.

Cost: Facial augmentation, $600

Artisan Plastic Surgery, 400 Oakbrook Commons, Ste. 2100, Greensburg. One Monroeville Center, Ste. 100, Monroeville. 877.245.6467. artisan-plasticsurgery.com.

Dr. Lori Cherup, Radiance Plastic Surgery

Qualifications: Board-certified plastic surgeon

Ideal Bridal Client: A bride in her 30s with an imperfect body or face.

Method: Liposuction or rhinoplasty

Treatment Style: Brides will need to allow nine months after liposuction before the wedding and one year after rhinoplasty before the ceremony.

Diet Tip: Follow a high-protein, low-carbohydrate, Mediterranean-style diet and exercise a lot!

Big Day Recommendations: Start growing out your hair a year prior. Drink green tea all day, exercise at 10 a.m., take a nap, and then get ready.

Cost: $4,000 for liposuction; $3,200 for rhinoplasty

Radiance Plastic Surgery, 701 Boyce Road, Bridgeville. 412.220.8181. drcherup.com.

Janette Vodhanel, MSN, CNP,
The Circulatory Centers

Qualifications: The Circulatory Centers have specialized in vein care, especially sclerotherapy, for more than 30 years.

Ideal Bridal Client: Any woman whose hands have started to show age or wear and tear.

Method: Hand sclerotherapy. The consists of approximately four injections with a tiny needle into the posterior of the hand.

Treatment Style: Typically, two 15-minute sessions per hand are needed. No down time after the procedure is necessary, but a small ace wrap is applied for two days following treatment.

Big Day Recommendations: Clean, well-manicured nails with a square shape will elongate and accentuate fingers. Moisturize with hand cream for glowing skin.

Cost: Sclerotherapy, approximately $500 for both hands

The Circulatory Centers, 15 locations throughout Pennsylvania and Ohio. 800.526.3082. veinhealth.com.


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