Have you noticed lately that unwanted lines and wrinkles are appearing on your skin? At Zenith Vascular & Fibroid Center in Memphis, TN, we can address these issues with several potential treatments. One of these is a non-surgical, minimally invasive dermal injection called Juvederm.
Why Juvederm?
Why do people use these dermal injections? And why have they become so popular over the last decade? The answer is that while many people would love to experience the benefits of smoothing their facial wrinkles, not everyone wants to undergo a longer process such as a facelift or a chemical peel.
Beyond Botox
This is where facial fillers and dermal injections can be extremely beneficial. Dermal injections are highly localized and require a minimum of time and preparation when compared with facelift surgery. For this reason, many people initially look into getting Botox injections. However, after a few sessions, some patients have noticed that they develop a resistance to Botox that can sometimes render future treatments less effective.
What Juvederm Can Help
Juvederm works especially well in these cases and can provide the desired results if a patient finds that Botox has lost some of its usefulness. But even if you have never gotten Botox or any other dermal injection before, Juvederm can be particularly effective for treating several concerns:
- Wrinkles
- Lip lines
- Marionette lines
- Nasiolabial folds
- Crow’s feet
- Parenthesis lines
- Fuller cheeks
So how does it work? And who is a candidate for treatment?
What Is Juvederm?
Juvederm is a hyaluronic injectable gel dermal filler. It is based on hyaluronic acid, which is a naturally-occurring substance in your skin that adds volume and is critical in delivering nutrients that keep your skin young, soft, and full.
What Hyaluronic Acid Does
One of the major properties of hyaluronic acid is that it binds to water. This is especially useful for adding volume to the skin, as water is part of what is providing that extra fullness. This allows for the skin to retain its natural malleability, as opposed to a hard, artificial feel. Some have observed that this results in a smoother feel than other gel products.
Another advantage is that this water-binding process works very quickly. It allows patients to see visible results soon after treatment. As the injection starts to work with the water that already exists naturally in your skin, volume will increase and wrinkles and lines will begin to soften.
Is It Safe?
The FDA approved Juvederm on June 2, 2006, noting no serious adverse effects and declaring it safe for use. Over ten years later, it continues to be a popular treatment option among many patients because of its convenience and effectiveness, and the company has created a number of types that are specifically designed for certain areas.
Different Types: Which One Is Right for You?
There are a number of varieties available, and the right one is based on the specific needs and goals of the individual patient. Because not all skin works exactly the same way, some different approaches are needed, depending on the areas of use. Some patients are interested in plump lips, some in decreasing specific wrinkles, and some others may want to restore volume to their cheeks.
Vollure
Vollure is designed for folds and wrinkles and is ideal for people who are particularly interesting in smoothing out more pronounced lines on the face. Additionally, Vollure is long-lasting and typically continues to show good results for 18 months after treatment.
Voluma
Voluma is a filler specifically designed for the challenging task of restoring volume to cheeks. As we age, cheeks often lose their firmness and shape, but Volbella addresses this by working deep underneath the cheek’s surface. This allows patients to see continued results for up to two years after treatment.
Volbella
If you are looking to plump your lips, the answer is Volbella. This particular filler contains a local anesthetic as the lips can be particularly sensitive, and the treatment is more comfortable as a result. Volbella addresses lip lines, adds moisture, and lasts for a year after the treatment.
Ultra Plus
If you are more serious about getting some extreme results, Ultra Plus may be for you. Ultra Plus is usually used to address the most serious wrinkles that need a little extra contouring.
Are You a Good Candidate?
Almost anyone can be a candidate for treatment. As previously mentioned, it is an excellent choice for people who had other injections but did not achieve the desired results.
Will It Give You Allergies?
The substance itself is manufactured purely from non-animal ingredients and does not trigger allergic reactions. Because of this, there are very few people who should avoid it entirely, although it should be noted that it is not advised for women who are currently pregnant or lactating.
What Should Your Goals Be?
Typically, candidates want to achieve a more youthful look, due to lost volume in their face as a natural result of aging. This might include thinning skin, unwanted wrinkles, or a lack of plumpness in the lips or cheeks.
They will also have realistic expectations about what results can be achieved, and know that the best approach is to follow up with additional maintenance treatments at some point in the future. We also encourage a healthy outlook about the treatment. While amazing results continue to be achieved, it is also critical that patients focus on their health, and follow the suggested steps both before and after treatment sessions.
How to Prepare for a Treatment Session
The first part of the process is the initial consultation. Here, you will meet with a member of our staff and discuss your expectations and goals.
Meeting Our Staff
The consultation will establish what specific areas you want to treat, as well as your overall feelings about the process. We can answer any concerns or questions you may have and make sure that you have all the information you need in order to make you maximally comfortable.
Among other things, you will want to discuss any medications you are currently taking and any history of allergies or past medical issues.
Avoiding Aspirin
Mention any painkillers you may currently be taking, even if they are non-prescription, as some people find it is helpful to avoid aspirin-based products before the treatment. Those who take aspirin may be advised to discontinue use in the five days leading up to their injection appointment (or to find a different pain treatment instead).
Additional Information
During the consultation, you may also be given more information on how best to get ready in the days leading up to the treatment session. However, most of these steps are minor. Clients are often in and out the door in just about an hour.
What Should You Expect from a Treatment Session?
A treatment session is extremely quick, especially when compared to the many months (or years) that you can experience positive results. While many people who get dermal injections will report experiencing the benefits for one or two years, the actual session itself is very efficient.
A Speedy Process
From start to finish, the treatment process typically lasts less than an hour. Each treatment vial includes the local anesthetic Lidocaine, which maks the injections comfortable. In addition, the treatment itself only takes a few minutes to administer. Most visitors are able to resume most of their typical activities immediately after leaving our office.
Post-Treatment Information
After the injection, you will be given some information and suggestions on what to do in the days and weeks after the session. These will include tips on any activities or substances you should avoid, as well as a treatment plan for future maintenance.
In general, there is no real downtime after these treatments. The process is designed to be extremely quick, efficient, and low-impact so as not to interrupt your normal life.
What Should You Avoid After a Treatment Session?
As your body integrates the dermal injection, you want to make sure that you take care of yourself as best as you can. Most of the suggestions for what to do after treatment are designed to help make your recovery as fast and comfortable as possible.
Avoid Heat and Sun
It is recommended that our guests avoid too much heat after treatment. This would include saunas, extremely hot showers, tanning, or sunbathing, for example. Spending too much time in direct sunlight is also not advised.
Avoid Alcohol
For 24 hours following the treatment session, alcohol should also be avoided. The reason for this is that alcohol causes changes in the cardiovascular system and moves blood more quickly, which can potentially lead to discomfort.
Avoid Massage
We also advise against getting a massage of the treated area for roughly two weeks after treatment.
It is possible that our staff may have a few other suggestions after your session, but in general, you will be able to do everything that you normally do. The treatment is designed to avoid disrupting your normal activities.
What You Can Expect
After your session, the hyaluronic acid filler will quickly integrate with your skin, and the water-binding properties will add volume and bounce to the treated areas.
Fast Results
You will be able to see results almost immediately. Lips will be fuller and cheeks more shapely. The benefits of treating severe wrinkles can be especially noticeable. Despite these exceptional results, the ultimate aim of Juvederm is to give a natural look in each of these cases.
What Happens With the Hyaluronic Acid?
Because hyaluronic acid fillers provide a substance that is already naturally occurring in your skin, the risks are extremely low. They are biodegradable and will disperse over time. This means that if you don’t like the effect of the treatment, there is no agonizing process necessary to “remove” the filler. It will go away with time.
Maintaining Your Look
Most people prefer to get maintenance treatments in order to keep the amount of filler at a natural-looking level. For ideal long-term effects, most people report that the preference is to return within two years after the initial injection for a follow-up visit.
Our staff will provide all the information you need for your post-treatment options, including an estimate of what a good maintenance routine would be for your unique needs.
Schedule Your Personal Consultation Today
Facial wrinkles, marionette lines, and crow’s feet can all become more pronounced with time. But that doesn’t mean that you must live with them if you don’t want to. If you’re one of the many thousands of people who would like to soften these lines, and you also don’t want invasive surgery, then Juvederm may be your perfect solution. You can quickly restore a youthful look, and give yourself a boost of confidence as well.
To find out more about treatment, visit us at Zenith Vascular & Fibroid Center in Memphis, TN. We will happily answer any further questions you may have about the Juvederm treatment process, and you can schedule your own personal consultation.
