If you’re at all familiar with anti-aging treatments, you’ve likely heard of Juvederm. Heralded as a leader in the dermal filler industry, products under this label can lift, smooth, and plump to contour and redefine your face. At Allure Laser & Med Spa in Tinley Park, IL, we see these benefits for ourselves and love when patients visibly react to their newly rejuvenated appearances.
What Are the Benefits of Juvederm?
Let’s jump right in by saying Juvederm fillers (JF) deliver natural-looking results each and every time with their smooth gel textures. Some fillers are granular in consistency, but these are as soft and silky as honey. In turn, they provide plump, juicy contours that don’t look artificial. The texture of these fillers can also restore definition to the face while ironing out creases and fine lines.
Many fillers only add enough volume to erase the most obvious wrinkles and tighten skin. But these injectables work double-time to provide the exact face shape you prefer. From higher, fuller cheek pads to a sleeker profile, JF delivers multi-faceted results.
Stimulates Collagen Production
Injectables differ considerably in their ingredients to reflect their intended purposes. This brand is known for its high content of hyaluronic acid (HA), which occurs naturally in the body. This in and of itself provides a catalog of benefits, including little risk for an allergic reaction. You can therefore have treatment knowing it’s both good for your skin and biocompatible with your body.
What exactly does HA do? First, it attracts and binds to water molecules to ramp up moisture levels in a targeted area. It can, in fact, hold more than 1000 times its own weight in moisture. This provides a natural plumping effect so tissues look fuller and softer. Moisture also provides a structure for such proteins as collagen and elastin: two workhorses that give skin its shape.
The Importance of Collagen
Collagen has become synonymous with skin health and can be found in a variety of products, including supplements and over-the-counter serums. But it’s a substance that works best from the inside, meaning those topical ointments rarely deliver what they promise.
Collagen is key because it gives volume to the skin. The human body naturally produces this protein in significant quantities until around age 25. Then production starts to drop as one of the first casualties in the aging process. In fact, collagen levels decline around 1% each year so that by age 40, concerns like wrinkles, fine lines, and skin laxity are suddenly visible.
A Much Needed Boost
Thanks to its HA content, JF work to immediately increase collagen production. And where collagen is found, elastin follows. This unsung hero gives skin its bounce. When you smile, frown, or otherwise move your face, elastin allows your skin to return to its original position. Without this protein, the skin loses its integrity.
Long-Lasting Results
When you choose cosmetic therapy, you want your results to continue as long as possible. The problem is that some fillers only last four to six months. Juvederm, on the other hand, is the only dermal filler FDA-approved to last up to a full year. Many patients enjoy their results for two years, marked as among the longest in the fillers market.
These results are owed to Vycross technology, a proprietary platform developed by the parent company of JF. Vycross blends a majority of low molecular weight HA with a minority of high molecular weight. In turn, JF has tighter and more efficient cross-linking that takes longer for the body to process. This means Juvederm products dissolve more slowly. Tighter cross-linking also creates:
- An optimized homogenous matrix with a smooth consistency (as mentioned earlier)
- A highly malleable gel for even distribution across the treated area
- Versatile fillers that can simultaneously correct multiple concerns
- Easier delivery to human tissues
Improved Function
As a final note on results, early research suggests that repeated treatments with Juvederm can improve your skin’s health simply by being present. It’s known to restore a natural glow and can also amplify your skin’s function and form. The benefits, therefore, last much longer than the injection itself.
Minimal Downtime
Many people envision lengthy recovery times when they think about cosmetic therapy. But with JF, you can immediately return to most of your normal activities, including work and errands. You can also use routine skincare products and makeup on the same day of your treatment.
This brings us to another important point: most patients see immediate improvements to their facial volume and contours within hours of completing treatment. Full results usually develop within one week as the hyaluronic acid settles and begins to stimulate collagen production. The point is you don’t need to wait weeks or months to enjoy your new facial shape.
Proven Effective
Patients and providers alike consider Juvederm as the gold standard in dermal fillers because of its consistent, natural-looking results. These injectables additionally pose little to no treatment risk, offer high rewards, and boast great satisfaction ratings. Surveys show that at six months, nearly 93% of patients rate their enhanced cheek volume as improved or much improved. At the two-year mark, patient satisfaction remains at almost 80%
Treatment Is Easy
There’s no denying that treatment with dermal fillers is among the easiest of all cosmetic therapies. They are both non-surgical and minimally invasive, and in most cases, they can be completed in just one session. Before commencing with treatment, however, you do need a consultation so we can examine the condition of your skin and craft an appropriate treatment plan. We’ll also use this time to:
- Ask about your general medical history
- Identify any allergies you have
- Discuss your treatment goals
Once we’ve established this baseline of information, we will schedule your appointment and provide a list of guidelines for you to follow. These ensure your treatment goes as seamlessly as possible and will include directives like:
- Avoid aspirin and other NSAIDs approximately one week before treatment
- Stop certain supplements, including vitamin E and fish oil, about one week prior to your appointment
- Put away skincare products that can cause irritation, such as those formulated with retinol, for one week
What to Expect
Your appointment will take between 15 and 60 minutes to complete, depending on the number of treatment areas we need to target. We usually start each appointment by cleansing the face and then proceeding with injections.
One of the most desirable traits of JF is their inclusion of lidocaine. This ingredient temporarily numbs pain receptors to ensure your comfort throughout treatment. In addition, you can choose from four different products to achieve the exact results you desire:
- Voluma XC, designed for deep injection to restore cheek volume and augment the chin
- Vollure XC and Juvederm XC, both of which smooth moderate to severe wrinkles and folds
- Volbella XC for lip augmentation and smoothing of perioral lines
- Ultra XC for more pronounced lip volume
Post-Treatment Tips
Fillers are straightforward in nature, so you don’t need to do much after treatment. But the tips we do recommend are important and will help you quickly heal. Avoiding direct sun exposure, for instance, ensures your filler doesn’t degrade before it’s settled. You should similarly avoid excessive heat and strenuous activity (exercise) to give skin a chance to heal. Following these tips for about a week will deliver the beautiful results you deserve.
Additional tips to follow include:
- Avoiding alcohol for at least 24 hours
- Applying sunscreen each day to safeguard collagen production
- Refraining from squeezing or massaging the treatment sites for five to 12 days
Frequently Asked Questions
Patients often ask if the effects achieved by JF can be mimicked with topical products. The answer is, unfortunately, no. A number of over-the-counter products contain HA but don’t penetrate beyond the skin’s surface. HA is most effective when injected; this eliminates the need to fight through the skin’s protective barrier and also provides immediate plumping effects.
What Areas Can Be Treated?
Some of the most popular places for treatment include nasolabial folds and marionette lines. The former, often called smile lines, run from the nose to the mouth and can deepen as you grow older. With precise application, injections instantly lift and fill these lines to create a smoother canvas and younger-looking appearance.
Marionette lines develop from the corners of the mouth to the outer corners of the chin. They tend to cause a downturned or sad appearance so that even when you feel happy, you may not look it. Again, with a targeted application, we can fade these lines, restore volume in the lower face, and amplify your confidence.
Loose Skin
Any part of the face can fall victim to loose skin, but it’s often most noticeable along the jawline, near the mouth, and around the eyes. This happens when collagen breaks down and the skin loses its support system. In turn, you see folds that contribute to a fatigued face. With JF, we can plump the skin and fill these spots so they once again look smooth and tight.
Cheeks and Midface
When you look in the mirror, your eyes are probably drawn to your cheeks. This is also one of the first places to steadily lose volume as you grow older and, subsequently, appear more hollow. With just one treatment, your cheeks can appear plumper and rounder to lift your entire midface.
How Does This Treatment Compare to Botox?
People often think of Botox when they hear the words “anti-aging injectables,” and while highly effective, it delivers different results than a dermal filler. Botox employs a neurotoxin to temporarily freeze certain facial muscles. This prevents movement so fine lines and wrinkles cannot appear, but you’re still able to naturally emote without looking unnatural.
Botox is great for dynamic wrinkles caused by repeated facial muscle contractions, while JF erases static wrinkles that remain even when your face is immobile. These fillers also correct skin laxity, fine lines, and volume concerns. A number of patients combine Botox and JF to correct multiple concerns and achieve broader results.
Who Is the Ideal Candidate?
Male or female, if you’re concerned about the signs of aging, you’re likely a great candidate for treatment. HA is considered both safe and effective for most skin types, tones, and sensitivities. We’ll discuss this in greater detail during your consultation, but if we feel you cannot benefit from fillers, we’ll explore alternative therapies with you.
A Can-Do Treatment
Juvederm fillers face challenges head-on to rejuvenate your entire appearance. From smoothing wrinkles to plumping lips and cheeks, you can achieve the face shape you desire. And the benefits range from improved skin health to long-lasting results. Schedule your consultation today by contacting Allure Laser & Med Spa in Tinley Park, IL.
