One sign of aging is the loss of facial volume, which can mean your skin feels dryer, thinner, and looser than it was in your youth. Fortunately, there are many ways you can restore facial volume – it’s just a matter of finding the right treatment for your particular needs. At Mariposa Aesthetics & Laser Center in Oklahoma City, OK, we’re confident that dermal fillers like those in the Juvederm family are ideal solutions for your aesthetic concerns.
Which Types of Juvederm Is the Best Choice for Your Needs?
Juvederm might be the most well-known dermal fillers on the planet, but did you know this product is part of a whole line of fillers that each serve a different rejuvenation purpose? Many patients are surprised to learn that this filler has expanded over the years to be able to treat multiple areas of the face.
Each filler in this family has a slightly different chemical composition that allows your treatment to be customized to your exact needs. At our clinic, we offer three of the most popular products in this collection: the original Juvederm, Volbella, and Voluma XC.
Juvederm
The original formula is a super-concentrated gel used to treat loss of skin volume in the mid-face. Approved by the FDA since 2006, the original formula has a firm consistency that makes it a good choice for most patients with age-related skin concerns.
Who Is This Ideal For?
The original filler formula is ideal for those who have aesthetic concerns on the mid-face, such as lines and wrinkles around the nose and mouth. These nasolabial folds are also sometimes called smile lines or expression lines. This filler option is compatible with those who have moderate and severe concerns.
Vobella
Volbella is the newest addition to this collection and has a specialized purpose. With its lighter, silkier texture, Volbella is designed to treat the lips and the area around the mouth and can be used to contour the lips as well as correct volume-related lip concerns.
Who Is This Ideal For?
Volbella is a good choice for most adult patients who want to either restore lip volume or shape the lips to have a more plush texture. Volbella is specifically intended to treat “lipstick” lines, verticle lines on the lips, and mild to moderate lines around the mouth. As a contouring filler, Volbella can also enhance the shape and volume of the lips.
Voluma XC
Voluma XC is a preferred filler for those who are particularly concerned with volume loss in the face. The texture of this filler settles evenly beneath the skin to restore facial volume.
Who Is This Ideal For?
Voluma XC is ideal for patients who are experiencing age-related volume loss in the cheeks and mid-face. For moderate and severe skin laxity, this treatment is a popular choice for those who have mid-face concerns related specifically to volume, although this filler will also contour the cheeks and fill in wrinkles.
How Do You Know Which Dermal Filler Is Right for You?
Choosing between the right filler in this collection is really a question of what your aesthetic goals are. If your goal is to primarily restore facial volume, then Voluma XC is a good choice; if your goal is to eliminate fine lines and wrinkles on the mid-face, then the original formula might be a better choice; if you are more interested in restoring the shape and texture of your lips, then Volbella is your ideal option.
Not sure which filler or combination of fillers is right for you? No problem. During your consultation with one of our expert aesthetician specialists, we will discuss each option thoroughly to determine which filler is the best match for your appearance needs and goals.
How Does Juvederm Work?
This treatment, like all other dermal fillers, works by injecting a special gel formula directly into the sub-dermal layers of skin to artificially restore volume in the face. Injectable treatments use small, thin needles and place injections in ideal areas to deliver the treatment with minimal risk of visibility. This collection of fillers is unique because lidocaine for localized pain relief is also included in the injection.
As to how the formula itself works to restore volume to your face, the secret is in the main active ingredient – hyaluronic acid.
What Is Hyaluronic Acid?
Hyaluronic acid is a naturally-occurring acid found within the sub-dermal layers of skin. Studies have shown that this small-but-vital acid is one of the key compounds responsible for maintaining skin structure, support, and volume. Hyaluronic acid is found in the skin in all areas of the body. As we age, our bodies begin to produce less hyaluronic acid, which is part of what causes loss of facial volume.
Why Is Hyaluronic Acid Important?
Hyaluronic acid is a buzzword in the beauty community right now for a very good reason – this naturally acid is capable of holding up to 1000 times its own weight in water, which makes it an essential component of keeping skin moist and supple. This is part of the reason why hyaluronic acid is the feature in some of the most popular over-the-counter moisturizers and anti-aging skin care products.
What Is the Relationship Between Hyaluronic Acid and Collagen?
Hyaluronic acid is important for another reason. Specifically, hyaluronic acid and collagen have a unique relationship, which is another reason why these hyaluronic acid dermal fillers are so effective.
Studies show that increased levels of hyaluronic acid also increase levels of collagen produced by the body. In other words, because hyaluronic acid acts as a “food” for collagen, your body will naturally begin to produce more collagen as a result of this injection. Your body will continue to produce collagen at a higher rate for some time even after the filler has been absorbed.
What Can You Expect From This Treatment?
A dermal filler appointment can be completed in as little as 30 minutes. If this is your first filler appointment or you are interested in trying this filler for the first time, you will be required to attend a consultation appointment. During your consultation, we will talk about your aesthetic goals and what you can reasonably expect from this treatment.
Treatment Appointment
Your treatment appointment will involve a few steps. We ask that all patients arrive at the appointment with a clean face free of make-up and lotions. Although the filler itself has lidocaine in it, some patients with sensitive skin may prefer to use a topical numbing cream during treatment; if this is something you would like, please let us know in advance.
How Quickly Can You See Results?
The results of this treatment are not instantaneous. Although some patients will see an initial improvement to the texture of their skin, the full effects of this dermal filler are not visible until 2 weeks after treatment. This is because it takes some time for the hyaluronic acid formula to settle into the skin and begin stimulating collagen production.
How Long Do Results Last?
The length of time you can enjoy the results of this filler depends on the exact part of the collection that is being used in your treatment. For example, the original formula has results that last up to 6 to 8 months at a time. Volbella, on the other hand, can last up to 1 year at a time, while Voluma XC can last up to 2 years after one treatment.
There are other factors that might determine how long your results will last. For example, the relative severity of your age-related concerns are a factor; if you have more severe concerns, your results may not last the predicted length of time, but if you have minor concerns, your results may last for much longer than anticipated. How well your body responds to the hyaluronic acid injection is also a factor.
How Often Should You Have This Treatment?
This is a one-and-done treatment, which means that you will not require “rounds” or several appointments to achieve your results. A single treatment is enough to enjoy lasting results, so you should only seek further treatment when your desired results begin to fade. For most patients, that means having regular treatment appointments to maintain results.
For the original formula, a treatment appointment twice a year is usually adequate. For Volbella, a treatment once a year will maintain results, while Volume XC requires one maintenance treatment every other year, or for as long as results last.
Should You Consider Combining This Treatment With Other Aesthetic Treatments?
Absolutely! If you have multiple appearance-related concerns and they are not all addressed by this filler treatment, then you should absolutely consider combining this treatment with other treatments at Mariposa Aesthetics & Laser Center.
In fact, because dermal fillers are designed to primarily restore skin volume, it’s common for patients with multiple concerns to use other treatments to address other age-related concerns. Some of the best treatments to combine with this dermal filler include:
Wrinkle Erasers
Wrinkle erasers such as Botox, Dysport, and Xeomin are injectable treatments that relax the muscles in the face to diminish the appearance of wrinkles. Wrinkle erasing treatments such as this are ideally suited for dynamic wrinkles, which are those that are caused by repeated facial movements over a lifetime. Dynamic wrinkles tend to appear on the forehead, between the eyebrows (glabellar lines), and around the nose and mouth.
Chemical Peels
Chemical peels are a type of facial treatment that is regarded as universally compatible with most skin types and tones. Chemical peels are designed to correct superficial skin concerns, including fine lines, uneven tone and texture, dark spots, sun damage, blemishes, acne, acne scarring, and other scarring. Chemical peels gently exfoliate and restore the appearance of the skin surface.
Medical-Grade Skincare Products
You may also want to consider medical-grade skincare products, such as SkinMedica and Revision Skincare. Medical-grade skincare products are an ideal choice to maintain the health of your skin and the results of your aesthetic treatments between treatment appointments. Both SkinMedica and Revision Skincare are curated to combine the power of science with the gentleness of natural ingredients. We will analyze your skin needs and help you find the best skincare products for your unique needs.
Are You a Good Candidate for This Treatment?
Dermal fillers are ideally suited for patients who are interested in rejuvenating their overall appearance. You are likely a good candidate for one of the dermal fillers in this collection if you want to:
- Eliminate fine lines
- Soften wrinkles
- Restore facial volume
- Contour cheeks and lips
- Lift and tighten skin
Rejuvenate Your Beauty With the Juvederm Right for You!
While aging might be inevitable, living with the visible signs of aging isn’t. Rejuvenating your beauty is easy when you pick the right aesthetic treatments, such as any of the fillers from the Juvederm OKC family. Contact Mariposa Aesthetics & Laser Center in Oklahoma City, OK to schedule your initial appointment today!
