The visible effects of the aging process on the face are inevitable. As you age, volume loss leads to wrinkles, lines, sagging skin and undesirable contours. At Indian Lake Medical Weight Loss & Wellness in Hendersonville, TN, we offer Juvederm to help our clients restore volume and youth to their face. Today, we’re discussing how long the results of this injectable last, how it works and more.
How Long Does Juvederm Last?
Juvederm is often viewed as the best line of dermal fillers on the market because the results are so durable. Most fillers in this line last between nine months and a year. However, thicker formulas can provide ideal results for two years before they start to fade. How long your results last will depend on such factors as your age, skincare routine and metabolism.
How Can I Increase the Longevity of My Results?
You can extend the results of your treatment by taking care of your skin. One of the most important things you can do to protect the health of your skin and extend your treatment results is to wear sunscreen diligently. We will discuss in further detail the primary causes of wrinkles shortly. However, there are many secondary factors that lead to premature skin aging, such as UV damage.
You can also increase the longevity of your results by not smoking. Smoking causes premature skin aging because cigarettes contain nicotine, a chemical compound that weakens collagen and impedes your skin’s ability to produce more collagen.
What Is Juvederm?
Juvederm is a line of dermal fillers comprising hyaluronic acid gel. These dermal fillers are used to correct a wide range of age-related concerns, such as thinning lips, sagging skin and prominent wrinkles.
How Does This Injectable Work?
This injectable works by volumizing your skin. There are a couple of ways this is accomplished. Volume is added to the treatment area as soon as your injections are complete because the gel adds a bit of volume to the area. Over the course of several days, the hyaluronic acid attracts and binds to up to 1,000 times its weight in water.
Additionally, when the injections are administered, the fibroblasts in the foundational layer of your skin are encouraged to produce extra collagen. Collagen is a special type of protein that is primarily responsible for how smooth, tight and firm your skin is.
Where Can This Injectable Be Administered?
The Lips
This durable dermal filler can be used to add youthful fullness and plushness to the lips. Whether your lips have been thin your whole life or your lips are thinning due to age-related volume loss, Volbella is an incredible option for you.
The dosage of Volbella can be customized to provide dramatic results or subtle results. During your initial consultation, we will discuss the results you are looking for to determine how much filler you need to achieve your ideal aesthetic.
The Cheeks
Voluma is another incredibly popular dermal filler in this line. The formula is much thicker and manufactured with patented cross-linking technology, resulting in improved contours that last for years. Besides recontouring hollow cheeks, this filler can lift and tighten loose, sagging skin caused by collagen loss.
The Mouth
Juvederm fillers can also be used around the mouth to erase the signs of aging.
What Can I Expect Throughout My Treatment Process?
Initial Consultation
Before your treatment begins, you need to come in for an initial consultation to discuss your cosmetic goals. Once we understand what you’re trying to achieve, we will assess the cause of your concerns to determine whether this treatment will be effective for you. If we determine your concerns are caused by volume loss and you could benefit from this treatment, we will discuss your health history and current health.
If you are healthy enough to receive this safe, effective treatment, we will advise you on how to prepare for your treatment. Be prepared to discuss all of the drugs and supplements you take during your initial consultation. We may advise you to stop taking certain medications or supplements, like NSAIDs or vitamin E. It is not recommended to have any blood thinner in your system at the time of your appointment.
Injection Session
Dermal filler injections rarely take over 30 minutes to complete. We may apply a topical numbing cream to your skin before your session begins to keep you numb during the injection process. That said, people rarely request a numbing cream. Juvederm formulas ending in “XC,” such as Voluma XC, include an injectable anesthetic called lidocaine. Lidocaine works within seconds of injection, so you’ll only feel the first injection.
Notably, your first injection will not be painful if your skin is not numbed first. We use an incredibly fine-gauge needle to administer the injectable gel and you will only feel a slight pressure as the needle punctures your dermis. We will discuss your personal preferences regarding skin numbing during your initial consultation, but you should be aware it takes around 10 minutes for the numbing cream to take effect.
Recovery
Recovery following your injection session will be minimal. That said, there are a few post-treatment care steps you should take to ensure maximum results. For example, you shouldn’t apply too much pressure to the treatment area for 48 hours and sleep on your back for the first two nights following your injections. Notably, you are free to drive back to work once your injections are complete and your post-treatment care guidelines have been reviewed.
Why Do People Develop Wrinkles and Other Aging Signs?
Numerous factors contribute to the visible signs of aging. Usually, wrinkles, sagging skin and other aging signs are the result of several compounding factors alerting the support structure and appearance of the skin. Primarily, there are three factors that result in the visible signs of aging. As we age, our skin can’t produce collagen, elastin or hyaluronic acid faster than it is being used.
Collagen
As noted above, collagen is a special type of protein that supports and volumizes the skin. It is the most abundant protein in the human body and makes up roughly 80% of skin. When you were young, the collagen present in the middle layers of your skin formed a tight structural foundation. However, over time, your skin began to produce less and less collagen until the essential support structure keeping your skin tight, firm and smooth was compromised.
The less collagen your skin produces, the deeper lines and wrinkles become. Enough collagen loss can even lead to hollow cheeks and temples, thin lips and loose, sagging skin.
Elastin
Elastin is another crucial protein that supports healthy, young skin. This protein is found throughout the body, including organ tissues, like the skin. However, the rate of elastin production decreases significantly over time. This leads to severe laxity, or skin sagging.
Hyaluronic Acid
Hyaluronic acid is an incredibly popular ingredient in everything from anti-aging creams to injectable fillers. However, this polysaccharide is produced naturally by the body in abundance in younger people. This chain of sugar molecules plays several crucial roles in the body, including lubricating the joints and keeping the skin hydrated and supple.
Hyaluronic acid, also known as HA, found in the sub-dermal layers of the skin encourages collagen production. Thus, when your skin produces less HA, it produces less collagen. This results in dry, dull, wrinkled skin.
When Do We Stop Producing Enough of These Proteins and Sugars?
You may feel young when you’re in your 30s. However, your skin starts to age significantly by the time you are 20. In fact, your skin’s production of collagen, elastin and hyaluronic acid can reduce by 1% annually from the ages of 20 to 25. Since collagen is the most abundant protein in the skin, the results of collagen loss, including wrinkles and extreme volume loss, are the first effects of the aging process to become apparent.
A lack of collagen can result in mild-to-moderate skin sagging, especially in areas with extreme volume loss. However, elastin is the most important protein for keeping your skin elastic. People tend to notice skin sagging after they notice wrinkles and hollow cheeks and temples.
Book an Appointment Today
The results of Juvederm can last up to two years but usually last between nine months and a year. To learn more about this incredible anti-aging injectable, visit us for an initial consultation at Indian Lake Medical Weight Loss & Wellness In Hendersonville, TN today.