Have you ever wondered how some celebrities seem to age flawlessly, all the time looking totally natural? In many cases, it could be thanks to Juvederm, one of celebrity culture’s best-kept secrets for minimizing the effects of aging, plumping and lifting the skin for a more defined and youthful face.
This article deals with the benefits of Juvederm, how it differs from other fillers and injectables, and answers some of the most popular questions about this revolutionary treatment.
What Is Juvederm and How Does It Work?
Juvederm is an injectable dermal filler used to subtly plump the skin, replenishing lost volume in localized areas of the face and even the neck. This injectable gel is composed primarily of hyaluronic acid, a sugar substance that occurs naturally in our bodies to maintain the skin’s volume and increase internal hydration.
Unlike other dermal fillers, Juvederm’s ultra-smooth formula is well-known to prevent bumps and rippling. The gel is inserted just below the superficial layers of the skin with a fine needle. As hyaluronic acid is naturally occurring, your body will eventually break the gel down and reabsorb it safely and naturally over time.
The formula contained in this innovative treatment is very pure, ensuring more predictable and natural-looking results than many other fillers have been able to offer in the past.
What Areas Does Juvederm Target?
Juvederm effectively treats several areas on the face and jaw, naturally replacing lost volume in order to give your skin a younger, plumper and more refreshed look. The most commonly treated areas are the mouth and chin, lips, cheeks, chin and jawline. This product effectively treats wrinkles and furrows such as smile lines, lip lines and marionette lines (the lines that extend from the corner of the mouth to the chin).
Types of Juvederm
Depending on what you’re targeting with your treatment, your doctor can choose between several different Juvederm formulas. Each has a different thickness in order to treat specific spots of concern. This can be discussed with your doctor during your consultation, so you can determine which formula might best suit your needs! Here’s a run down of just a few of the top Juvederm formulas:
Volbella
Juvederm’s Volbella formula is designed specifically for use in the lips and surrounding area. When injected, it delicately fills in lip lines and wrinkles, while the hyaluronic acid attracts and retains moisture, resulting in natural-looking improvements that can last for up to a year.
Volift
Juvederm Volift is used to correct moderate to severe folds and wrinkles, and to plump up the skin in hollow areas. The results of Volift can last for up to 18 months. Patients report that it causes minimal pain during injection and very little swelling during recovery.
Voluma
Juvederm Voluma is administered deep into the cheek tissue to provide your face a lift and a more youthful contour. In fact, most patients report looking up to 5 years younger after just one treatment. Even better, results can last up to 2 years, longer than any other Juvederm formula.
Benefits of Juvederm Over Other Dermal Fillers
Long Lasting – Juvederm results can last for up to two years, depending on the formula you use and your skin’s starting condition.
Immediate, Natural Results – You will begin to see results immediately after your Juvederm treatment. However, the full results may not be visible for up to two weeks, while the injected product settles into your skin.
Zero Downtime – There is virtually no downtime associated with your Juvederm treatment. You can return to work or other normal activities immediately after your appointment, with only mild redness or soreness at the injection sites. And these will typically subside after a day or two. There may also be some minor bruising in the area, which normally clears up in under a week.
Tip: if you are someone who bruises easily, you can consider booking your appointment on a Friday, so you can take the weekend to relax and recover fully. Then return to work on Monday looking spectacular!
Non-Allergenic – Patients with allergies to other dermal fillers tend to have a high tolerance for Juvederm treatments, as hyaluronic acid is a naturally occurring substance. If have found that you are sensitive to other fillers, Juvederm just may be the answer for you.
What to Expect Before and During the Treatment
A lot of patients just want to know one thing: does Juvederm hurt? Straight up, experiencing a little discomfort is unavoidable – we are still talking about skin injections, after all.
However, Juvederm treatments use an ultra-fine needle, which cause a lot less pain than the larger needles you may be more familiar with. Even better, a topical numbing cream will typically be applied pre-treatment to make the process as smooth and enjoyable as possible. In fact, the bulk of your appointment may well be spent simply waiting for the numbing cream to set in! All in all, your appointment will take under 60 minutes, depending on the size and number of the treatment areas.
Juvederm also incorporates the numbing agent lidocaine directly into its formulas, resulting in a more comfortable experience, both during and after your appointment. Patients will notice less redness and irritation at the injection sites during recovery than they would with other dermal fillers.
In the three days leading up to your appointment, try eating at least one cup of fresh pineapple or pineapple juice per day to reduce the likelihood of experiencing any side effects. Why pineapple you may ask? Well, pineapple actually contains an enzyme that helps prevent bruising and swelling. To further prevent bleeding or bruising, avoid taking Aspirin or Motrin, Vitamin E, Fish Oil, Ginko Biloba, St Johns Wart, ginseng, or garlic supplements for ten days prior to your appointment.
Recovery and Aftercare
Following these simple guidelines in the days and weeks following your treatment can make the difference between a good result and a great one.
First off, avoid drinking alcohol or subjecting yourself to excessive heat, such as saunas, hot showers, or even heat from a hot stove. These may cause your facial blood vessels to dilate, resulting in unnecessary bleeding and bruising. You should also avoid strenuous exercise immediately after your treatment, or anything else that may raise your blood pressure and pulse, which can also cause bruising and swelling.
If you experience any bruising, definitely avoid direct sunlight and keep a bottle of sunscreen on hand. Be aware that too much sunlight can cause permanent discoloration after bruising. If you’re treating your lips, with Juvederm Volbella, avoid drinking from a straw for the first few hours after your treatment. Note that any bumps or marks from the needle injection will disappear after a few hours.
Am I A Good Candidate for Juvederm?
If you wish to improve the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, replenish or boost hollow areas of your face and neck or enhance the size and shape of your lips, ask your doctor about Juvederm. To be considered an ideal candidate, you should be in good physical and emotional health with realistic expectations about the treatment outcomes. Juvederm produces smooth, subtle and natural-looking results – if you’re looking for a more dramatic look, another treatment might better suit your needs.
Keep in mind that Juvederm is not a solution for severe scarring or loose skin. You may also want to consider alternative treatment options if you’re currently taking antibiotics, heart medication or other drugs, have severe allergies or skin infections on the treatment area. Also, Juvederm is not ideal if you are nursing or pregnant.
Conclusion
Aging is a natural part of life, there’s no escaping it. but you don’t have to feel insecure about your changing skin. Juvederm fillers offer long-lasting outcomes that look totally natural, lasting up to two years. With these great results, there’s never been a better time to incorporate Juvederm into your anti-aging routine.