Some people age gracefully. However, most of us have to deal with a multitude of age-related aesthetic changes. The face is one of the first areas to reveal the signs of aging, and cosmetic concerns are usually caused by volume loss. Some of the most common volume loss-related cosmetic concerns are hollowness in the cheeks and beneath the eyes. At Le Beau Visage Medical Spa in Frisco, TX, we offer Juvederm Voluma. Here’s what you need to know.
What Is Juvederm Voluma Used for?
Juvederm Voluma is a hyaluronic acid-based dermal filler designed to improve the elasticity of the skin and restore a significant amount of volume to the midface. When you lose facial volume, you can look older than you actually are. Unfortunately, when you lose volume in your cheeks, you can look gaunt and ill.
Volume loss in the upper cheeks can also affect the contours of your cheeks and lead to under-eye hollows. Under-eye hollows can make you look more tired and less attentive than you actually are. Here are some of the concerns Voluma can correct:
- The tip of the nose
- Bony chin
- Under-eye hollows
- Gaunt cheeks
- Jawline
An Important Note
Voluma is FDA-approved to improve the contours of the midface and lower face. For instance, this injectable is often used to augment the nose and recontour the cheekbones, emphasizing femininity or masculinity. When this injectable is administered into bony regions of your midface and lower face, wrinkles will disappear and the skin will become more elastic. This will help you look younger, healthier, and friendlier.
How Does Voluma Work?
All dermal fillers, including Voluma, provide an immediate improvement in wrinkles by providing volume beneath the skin. However, Voluma really starts to work approximately 72 hours after it is injected. At this point, it has settled into the foundational layer of your skin. Your skin quickly metabolizes the primary ingredient, hyaluronic acid. However, as it is metabolizing the hyaluronic acid, it is producing extra collagen. Your skin breaks down collagen at a much slower rate than hyaluronic acid (HA).
For this reason, the results of Juvederm Voluma last 24 months before starting to fade slowly. However, you should also be aware that Voluma results last longer than other Juvederm formulas because the HA has a higher molecular weight than other formulas (20 mg/ml). Furthermore, it is manufactured with patented Vycross technology for superior durability.
The Importance of Hyaluronic Acid
HA is essential for the health and beauty of your skin. It is a polysaccharide (chain of sugar molecules) that your body produces naturally. One of the most important roles this polysaccharide plays in maintaining the moisture barrier in your skin. In other words, it keeps your skin hydrated and beautiful from the inside out. Furthermore, it attracts and can combine with 1,000 times its weight in water.
Additionally, hyaluronic acid is so effective because it boosts collagen production. What makes this so special is the more collagen your skin has, the more collagen your skin produces. It is a positive cycle that lasts for years.
Why HA Products Should Be Incorporated Into Your Routine
HA-based dermal fillers are great for collagen induction and volumization. However, you should not forget that this incredibly powerful acid is essential for your overall skin health. For instance, a wide array of over-the-counter skin care products, including moisturizers, creams, and serums feature HA. You should strongly consider incorporating such products into your skincare routine to moisturize the upper layers of your skin.
Furthermore, topical HA can smooth out the tone and texture of your skin, and it may minimize the look of fine lines. Your Juvederm results will be more dramatic if you use HA-based topical products regularly in concurrence with your Juvederm injections due to the simultaneous internal and external hydration. If you’re unsure of which topical products will be most effective for your unique aesthetic goals, let us know during your initial consultation. We are more than happy to point you in the right direction.
What Should I Expect During My Treatment Session?
The average Voluma session takes between 20 and 30 minutes to finish. If you hate the feeling of needles, we can numb your skin with a topical anesthetic so you won’t feel anything throughout your injection session. However, if you don’t have time to wait for the numbing cream to be applied and take effect, you can rest assured you won’t feel any pain or discomfort during the session.
The injections are not administered intramuscularly, so they are not painful. Additionally, they are not uncomfortable because the needle used to administer the HA is so fine.
What To Expect During the Preparation Process
Since Juvederm Voluma is a non-surgical anti-aging technique, there is very little you need to do to prepare for your treatment. One of the most important preparation steps is to refrain from using tobacco products, alcohol, and blood-thinning drugs and supplements for three to five days prior to the scheduled appointment.
Furthermore, it is important to avoid using any skincare products that may irritate your skin, such as products containing alpha hydroxy acid, beta hydroxy acid, or retinoids. During your initial consultation, we will give you a complete list of preparation steps.
What To Expect During Recovery
There isn’t much of a recovery period following this non-invasive treatment, and there is no downtime. Nevertheless, there are a few things you should avoid during the first two to five days following your injections.
For example, you should avoid sweating, vigorous physical activity, excessive heat, hot water, and unprotected exposure to direct sunlight. The most important thing to avoid during the first three days following your treatment is unprotected sun exposure because it can affect how the injectable settles into the foundational layer of your skin.
What To Expect From the Results
As noted above, Juvederm provides immediate initial results. However, you should understand these initial results are only temporary because they are only due to the filler beneath the surface of your skin. In fact, you may notice as the HA-based gel spreads throughout the treatment area and settles in your skin that it “deflates” slightly.
The final results will not become apparent for approximately one or two weeks following your injection session. This is when your skin really ramps up its collagen production.
How Durable Are the Results?
To reiterate, you can expect your ideal results to last for 24 months. However, if you take good care of your skin, your final results may last longer. Voluma is an incredibly popular dermal filler for midface enhancement because it can treat the most extreme cosmetic concerns effectively and its long-lasting results provide seamless, natural beauty. Note, younger people are more likely to enjoy longer-lasting results because collagen production decreases with age.
Since this treatment’s results are delivered due to high levels of collagen, younger people don’t have to worry as much about their skincare routine to preserve their collagen and keep their results ideal for as long as possible. Older people produce collagen at a much slower rate than younger people, so they have to be much more conscious of their lifestyle choices if they want their ideal results to last as long as possible.
How to Make Your Results Last Longer
If you’re in your 40s, 50, or 60s, and you want flawless results that last over two years, you have to make sure to preserve the strength of your collagen and strongly consider eliminating things from your lifestyle that slow collagen production even further.
How Frequently Should You Receive Injections?
You should expect to need maintenance sessions every 24 months following the onset of your ideal results. However, you may want to schedule your first touch-up session two years after your first treatment, because it will take a little while for the final results to become apparent. We will advise you on how frequently you should schedule touch-up appointments during your initial consultation once we have evaluated your skin health and discussed your lifestyle choices.
What Else Is There To Know About Juvederm?
Voluma is just one of many Juvederm formulas. Juvederm’s line of hyaluronic acid-based dermal fillers is so effective because each formula is designed to provide flawless, long-lasting results in different regions of the face. Here is a brief summary of some of the other most popular Juvederm formulas:
Vollure
While Voluma features 20 mg/ml of HA, Vollure is softer and smaller. It features 17.5 mg/ml of HA, and it can also be used to recontour the midface and lower face. Specifically, it is ideal for the treatment of nasolabial folds, sagging chin skin, and some cosmetic concerns that occur around the eyes.
Since the molecular weight of this HA-based filler is smaller than Voluma, it is typically recommended to combat the early signs of aging. It is also ideal for cosmetic concerns that require more precise corrections.
Volbella
Volbella also has a unique texture. This filler is ideal for concerns around the mouth, such as lipstick lines, smile lines, and marionette lines. Furthermore, Volbella can be used to correct asymmetrical lips, change the shape of the lips, and increase the size of the lips significantly.
Can This Treatment Complement Other Anti-Aging Treatments?
Yes, Voluma can absolutely complement other anti-aging treatments. It is common to combine Juvederm Voluma with other Juvederm formulas because it is common to have volume loss-related concerns in several regions of the face. However, this injectable can also safely and effectively be combined with other anti-aging treatments, such as Botox and Dysport.
Injectable Muscle Relaxants
Injectable muscle relaxants, such as Botox and Dysport, are usually administered into the upper face. However, they can be injected into virtually any hyperactive muscles causing cosmetic or medical concerns. Some of the most common applications of injectable muscle relaxants are the improvement of:
- A thin upper lip
- Glabellar lines
- Forehead folds
- Nasolabial folds
Am I a Good Candidate for Voluma?
We can determine whether you are a good candidate for Juvederm Voluma when you come in for your initial consultation. There is an excellent chance you will qualify for this treatment if you are at least 21 years old and in fairly good health.
Restore Your Youthful Countenance Today
With the help of Juvederm Voluma, you can age gracefully. It can be used to improve the appearance of your cheeks, lifting sagging cheek skin, restoring volume to the apple of your cheek, recontouring your cheekbones, and enhancing the appearance of your lower eyes. If you think this injectable sounds like a good fit for you, contact us today at Le Beau Visage Medical Spa in Frisco, TX to schedule your initial consultation.