Aging can take a lot from us, including our fresh, plushly youthful faces. While we all might want model-worthy cheekbones, it’s quite another thing to deal with a bony, sunken-in appearance as the result of the natural aging process. Luckily, James B DeStephens in Gainesville, FL understands that one of the best solutions for loss of facial volume is Juvederm Voluma – particularly because this treatment works quickly and lasts for a long time.
How Quickly Does Juvederm Voluma Work?
Most patients notice an immediate improvement to their overall appearance within hours of their first dermal filler appointment. These initial results include the increase of facial volume, the reduction of fine lines, wrinkles, and skin laxity, and an overall “softer” appearance that will allow you to look more youthful.
However, while these initial results are remarkable, they will only last for a short while. This is because newly injected dermal fillers instantly revamp your skin with new moisture, which gives you the plumping results you want – but as the dermal filler settles into the skin, these results will fade for a few days while your final results process. On the whole, you can expect the full results of your treatment within a few weeks of your appointment, sometimes as soon as 14 days.
How Often Should You Have Treatment?
You should have this treatment as often as you need to in order to maintain your results. For most patients, this means seeking additional treatments once every 18 to 24 months, depending on how long the effects of the treatment are visible on your skin. The majority of patients will be able to enjoy the results of this treatment for two years at a time, which means that a treatment once every two years should be frequent enough to produce the results you want.
However, some patients will experience some variance for how long the results of the treatment lasts. For example, younger patients who have mild aesthetic concerns may notice that their results will last longer than 24 months, particularly for younger patients who contour the treatment. Older patients, on the other hand, may need treatment a bit more frequently, especially if they have more severe skin laxity and wrinkles.
How Does This Treatment Work?
This treatment works like most dermal fillers, meaning the treatment is administered via a thin needle. Several small injections will be made in targeted areas of treatment to increase the amount of volume in your skin. Inside your skin, the special Voluma formula will work to support your skin structure to reduce the visible signs of aging.
This treatment can be used to treat a variety of appearance-related concerns, such as skin laxity, fine lines, wrinkles, hollowness of the cheeks, bony cheeks and jawline, and narrow chin. This treatment can also be used to contour areas of the face, including the nose. The versatility of this treatment is due to the thicker hyaluronic acid formula, which settles densely beneath the surface of the skin to restore a youthful appearance.
Why Hyaluronic Acid Is Important for Collagen Production
Many dermal fillers, including this one, are made with a hyaluronic acid formula. Many beauty products have recently been formulated with hyaluronic acid to increase skin moisture retention and balance, which will plump the surface of skin and minimize some visible signs of aging. Hyaluronic acid, which is found naturally in the skin, is responsible for supporting other specific molecules in the skin, too.
For example, studies have shown that collagen production increases when in the presence of hyaluronic acid. Some of these studies suggest that hyaluronic acid acts as “food” for collagen because of the supporting correlative relationship between these two compounds. When hyaluronic acid is injected directly into the sub-dermal layers of the skin, collagen production within the skin will also increase, and will stay at a high level for as long as the hyaluronic acid is present.
What Should You Expect From Treatment?
Before any of your treatment appointments can begin, you will need to attend a consultation so we can get to know you, your skin concerns, and your aesthetic goals. A consultation will discuss the areas of your appearance you identify as problematic and will help you explore all the treatment options available to you. We may also ask about medications and supplements you are taking, your skin care products, and other aspects of your health and self-care.
For your treatment appointments with this dermal filler, you should expect your appointments to last for about 20 to 30 minutes, sometimes longer if you have many areas of concern to treat. Your treatment appointment may involve the application of a topical numbing cream so that you are comfortable during your treatment. Some patients also like to prepare for their treatment appointments by taking an over-the-counter pain reliever, such as Tylenol, about one hour before their appointment.
Preparation
For any dermal filler appointment, there won’t be much you will need to do to prepare for your treatment. We will provide you with a shortlist of things you should and shouldn’t do for about three to five days before your appointment to ensure that you are fully prepared for your treatment.
For example, we may advise that you temporarily stop taking blood-thinning medications and supplements that may contribute to possible bruising after your treatment. We may also recommend you use an Arnica supplement to reduce possible bruising and swelling after your treatment, as Arnica supplements put your body in healing-mode and make your recovery swifter.
Aftercare
There are very few restrictions you will have after your treatment appointment. For example, part of your aftercare will involve directions on how to touch your face, wash your skin, and use cold compresses, if necessary. Your aftercare instructions will also urge you to avoid strenuous exercise, excessive heat and sweating, hot water, saunas, and tanning beds. You will also need to avoid direct sun exposure, as UV rays contribute to premature aging and may interfere with the way the dermal filler settles into your skin.
It’s important to not touch your face after your dermal filler appointment. This means no rubbing, scrubbing, massaging, or pinching the skin. You will need to avoid treating your face harshly for at least four to seven days to give the dermal filler enough time to settle. Avoiding irritating skincare products, including Retinol, may also be beneficial for your results.
Should You Consider Other Juvederm Fillers?
While Voluma filler injections can help you reverse the signs of skin laxity and hollowness on your mid-face, particularly your cheeks, there are other dermal fillers from the Juvederm collection that may help you achieve other goals. In fact, many patients mix-and-match the Juvederm fillers to help achieve their aesthetic goals, as each filler is specially designed to tackle specific appearance-related concerns. The Juvederm family includes fillers such as:
Ultra XC
Ultra XC is the revamped version of the original Juvederm filler. Ultra XC is the thickest dermal filler and settles the most densely into the skin, which can be useful for filling in deep and dynamic fine lines and wrinkles, particularly those around the nose and mouth, as well as on the chin. Ultra CX can also be used to augment and restore the volume of the lips.
Vollure XC
Vollure XC is a flexible type of filler that can be used on virtually every area of the face to treat fine lines and wrinkles. In addition to nasolabial folds, this filler may be able to smooth crow’s feet, smile lines, and minor hollowness on the face. Vollure XC is ideal for patients who have mild to moderate age-related concerns on the mid-face.
Volbella XC
Volbella XC is a special dermal filler that is used primarily to correct thin lips, as well as lipstick lines, smile lines, smoker lines, and other lines around the mouth. Volbella is Juvederm’s thinnest and silkiest dermal filler formula, which makes it ideal for producing natural-looking results on the mouth.
For some patients, it’s more effective to achieve certain aesthetic goals to mix-and-match fillers from the Juvederm family. For example, Voluma can be used to correct cheek hollowness, while Ultra can be used to address deeper wrinkles and Vollure can be used to fill in moderate fine lines on other areas of the face, including around the eyes. For patients who are also interested in contouring their appearance, using a combination of fillers can make it easier to create the effects of a liquid facelift.
How Much Filler Will You Need?
The amount of filler you will need for your treatment will depend directly on how much work needs to be completed. For Voluma, most patients require a syringe on each cheek or each side of the face to deal with moderate to severe concerns. If you are using this dermal filler and another Juvederm filler, then you may require fewer syringes. We will determine the best amount of filler appropriate for your needs and aesthetic goals.
Will This Treatment Hurt?
No. In addition to your treatment involving the application of a topical numbing cream, all Juvederm fillers are also mixed with lidocaine, a local anesthetic. The XC part of the Juvederm family returns to the lidocaine, which will ensure that your treatment is comfortable during your appointment and for several hours after your injections are complete. Most patients feel little to no discomfort associated with this treatment – in fact, for most dermal fillers, you can compare the sensation to getting an annual flu shot.
Will You Need an Allergy Test?
If this is your first time using a dermal filler or a Juvederm filler, you may need to complete an allergy test. While most people are not allergic to dermal fillers made with hyaluronic acid, it’s a common practice to ensure that all candidates for treatment are not allergic to any of the active or inactive ingredients in injectable cosmetic treatments. Allergy tests can be completed within as little as 20 minutes during your consultation appointment.
Who Are Good Candidates?
The vast majority of patients who are interested in dermal fillers make good candidates for this treatment. Good candidates include any adult over the age of 21 who is not allergic to the filler, who is not currently pregnant or breastfeeding, and who would like to restore a youthful appearance. We will be able to determine your qualification for this dermal filler during your consultation appointment.
Look More Youthful With Voluma
It’s time to start taking something back from the natural aging process. If you think that Juvederm Voluma is the right dermal filler treatment for your needs, please contact James B DeStephens in Gainesville, FL to schedule your consultation appointment today.
