You’ve probably heard of the dermal filler Juvederm by now, but did you know there are a number of different products in this line? At Aesthetic Surgical Arts/Mia Bella Donna Medspa in Overland Park, KS, we offer these and other treatments to help you get just the right look using just the right solution.
Which Type of Juvederm Do You Need?
When you make your choice of filler, you’ll need to consider three important things: your goals and concerns, the types of filler in the Juvederm line, and what kind of treatment schedule works best for you.
Your Goals and Concerns
Each product in this family of dermal fillers has been designed to work most effectively either for a certain type of concern or in a particular area of the face. Some of the most common areas where people seek treatment with a dermal filler include:
Cheeks
When you think about the visible signs of aging on your face, you probably think first about wrinkles and lines. What doesn’t get mentioned as much is the way a lack of volume in certain areas can also betray your age. As we age, our cheeks can start to sag because we’ve lost collagen. As collagen levels decline, the firm foundation our skin used to sit on weakens, and we can develop a gaunt look. Dermal fillers can fix this.
Temples
The skin on the sides of our eyes can also look hollow or gaunt as we age. This is the area where you most commonly attempt to massage out a headache or rub when you’re frustrated or thinking. Dermal fillers can restore a bit of plumpness here for a more youthful look.
Nasolabial Folds
Also known as your “laugh lines,” these are the lines that run down the corners of your mouth and outside your nose. The folds here tend to get deeper as we experience collagen loss and sagging skin.
Marionette Lines
These heavy lines are deep wrinkles that tend to appear beneath the nasolabial folds. They are called “marionette” lines because they somewhat resemble the strings used to manipulate puppets. You can get rid of yours with dermal fillers!
Lips
Dermal fillers can help the lips in two possible ways. First, you can use them to get rid of vertical wrinkles by filling them in, which improves the outline of the lips. You can also use dermal fillers in the lips themselves, where they improve volume.
Crow’s Feet
Our crow’s feet are the lines that appear at the corners of each eye. These lines appear most clearly when we squint or smile, and a lifetime of making these motions help to etch them into our appearance. They are caused by a combination of those motions combined with collagen loss and UV light exposure from the sun.
Types of Filler in the Line
The next step in deciding which filler is right for you is to know what the various fillers in this line are capable of doing. Some are best for recapturing fullness to the face, others for balancing out features that appear “uneven,” and some for getting rid of wrinkles and lines. Here are some of the most popular offerings in the Juvederm line:
1. Juvederm
The original formula is the world’s best-selling filler, with years of research behind it to prove its safety and efficacy. This is an all-around formula that’s perfect for addressing minor to moderate wrinkles and lines. It can be used on the nose and mouth, the lips, or for filling in hollow areas of lost volume.
2. Volbella
Volbella is specially formulated to provide answers for mouth concerns. This filler is capable of adding volume to your lips without making them look puffy, and it can also smooth out those “lipstick” lines around the mouth that can make it so difficult to look good in lipstick.
This particular choice is best for targeting delicate areas where a lot of finesse is needed, and it’s a good choice for those who are just starting to see aging signs.
3. Ultra Plus
Ultra Plus is also designed for the lips, though it can be used elsewhere as needed. This is like the original but ramped up with a thicker formula that’s meant to be injected deeper. It can address more severe wrinkles, lines, or lost volume. However, because it’s thicker, it also doesn’t spread as much as the original formula.
4. Vollure
Vollure is also designed to treat moderate lines and folds, but it’s specially formulated to be effective in the lower parts of the face, the nose, and the lips. This formula was released fairly recently, in 2017, and it has a longer duration than any of the others. Most people see their results persist for at least a year and often up to 18 months.
5. Voluma
This is the thickest filler in the line, and it can last up to two years when it’s used to provide volume in gaunt or hollow areas. If volume loss is your primary concern, Voluma is an excellent choice. It can be injected more deeply than any other product in the line, which is part of what makes it so good for serious volume issues.
Your Treatment Schedule and Other Considerations
At Aesthetic Surgical Arts/Mia Bella Donna Medspa, we bring extensive training and experience to the use of dermal fillers, so your first step is always to talk with us about your goals. We can help you find the right filler or combination of fillers to get your ideal look.
Understand the Timing
One of the decisions you’ll make about your dermal fillers is how often you want to have them done. Some products in the line last about six months, while others can last up to two years or more. Each person is unique, and so is each solution. But since this is a temporary result, you should consider the schedule that works best for you.
Some people come in for treatment only for special occasions or seasons, when they want to look their best. They then let the filler disappear until another important moment arises. Others set up a regular self-care routine and come in at set intervals to keep their results seamless.
You know what’s best for you, and we can help you understand the best way to meet your goals and get the look you need, whether that’s for wedding photos next month or for life.
Maintaining Your Results
It is important to know that you’ll keep your results looking fresh as long as possible with a regular treatment routine. And there’s some good news: those who regularly get maintenance treatments often need less product over time to maintain their appearance.
You should also be aware that it will always require more product to get you back to your best look if you let results fade completely before coming in for another treatment.
FAQ
What Is In Juvederm?
Injectable like Botox use highly purified botulinum toxin to stop muscle movements in certain areas, allowing the skin above those muscles to smooth out. Unlike Botox, dermal fillers don’t use a toxin to interfere with muscle movements: instead, they plump up the skin with a naturally occurring molecule known as hyaluronic acid. This is something your body produces on its own, but production slows as we age.
This powerful sugar has two jobs: to attract and keep moisture and to deliver nutrients to the skin and joints. When you have plenty of hyaluronic acid, the result is full, plump, naturally hydrated skin. Hyaluronic acid is actually capable of holding as much as a thousand times its own weight in water, so when we inject a dermal filler made up of hyaluronic acid, you’ll see a very fast difference as your skin plumps up and smooths out.
Neither neuromodulators like Botox nor dermal fillers like Juvederm are “better” solutions for aging. They work differently, but each is better at addressing certain concerns. When you come to see us, we can talk about which will work best for you. In some cases, a combination is the best choice.
What’s Involved in Treatment?
Preparation
At your consultation, we’ll look at your skin and consider any health concerns you currently have. We’ll need to know about all medications and supplements you’re taking, including any over-the-counter medications. Sometimes it’s necessary to temporarily pause certain medications or supplements immediately before and after treatment, and we’ll let you know more about your specific situation.
If you are currently pregnant or nursing, you should put off getting dermal fillers. There have been no studies on the effects of hyaluronic acid injections on infants, so out of an abundance of caution, it’s always best to wait. If you develop an open wound or infection at the treatment site, you’ll need to reschedule for after you’re fully healed. Finally, you’ll get the best results if you avoid sunburn, dehydration, and alcohol for 24 hours before your treatment.
During Treatment
These injections aren’t painful or difficult. We use such a fine needle that most people aren’t bothered by treatment. If you’re concerned, let us know and we’ll apply a numbing cream. We will then carefully inject the filler in several places to get you just the right look.
Dermal filler injection is half art and half science, so it’s always important to get your treatments from someone with extensive training and experience. That way you can be sure your results will look entirely natural.
After Treatment
There’s almost nothing you need to do after treatment. Just continue to avoid any medications or supplements we may mention, and keep yourself well hydrated for a few days. After all, hyaluronic acid binds to water to give you the plumpness you’re looking for. By drinking plenty of water, you give your treatment something to work with!
When Will I See Results?
You’ll be glad to know that you’ll see your results almost immediately. Most people notice a positive change in their look on the same day as treatment, and you can be sure of having your final results within seven to 14 days.
Come Talk to Us!
At Aesthetic Surgical Arts/Mia Bella Donna Medspa, we’re a team of professionals with the knowledge, skill, training, and experience to help you effectively, and we also have a passion to hear you and truly understand what you’re hoping to achieve.
If you want to try Juvederm for yourself, or if you have other questions about this line of dermal fillers and what it can do for you, visit us at Aesthetic Surgical Arts/Mia Bella Donna Medspa in Overland Park, KS today. We can’t wait to get started!
