A natural and unfortunate consequence of aging is that your face tends to lose the fat that helps keep it looking fresh and young. With the loss of this fat, fine wrinkles and creases are more visible. For patients interested in dermal fillers, including JUVÉDERM® in Charlotte, NC, there are a variety of quick, safe, and efficient methods of restoring lost facial volume.
While collagen-based fillers were a popular choice for many years, fillers like JUVÉDERM® have more recently gained in popularity, with more than two million treatments performed in the United States each year alone.
Many dermal fillers, including JUVÉDERM®, are made from hyaluronic acid, which is a substance our bodies naturally produce. The presence of hyaluronic acid in our connective tissue increases the skin’s elasticity, which is a major component of youthful skin. However, as we get older, our body’s supply of hyaluronic acid naturally diminishes, causing the skin to appear less smooth.
Everyone ages differently, based on a number of factors including genetics, sun exposure, skin care routine, and diet and exercise habits. The best candidates for fillers are patients who are healthy, avoid smoking, and enter the process with a realistic understanding of what the procedure can and cannot achieve. While many patients are satisfied with the results achieved by quick, noninvasive treatments such as JUVÉDERM®, patients expecting longer-lasting results that alter facial contours might benefit from other procedures such as a facelift and/or facial fat grafting.
Dermal fillers can help patients look rested and revitalized with a relatively simple lunchtime procedure. Specifically, fillers can be used to fill in hollow spaces that appear when the face loses some of its youthful plumpness, and to minimize creases and wrinkles. Treatments can also be utilized to provide fuller lips.
Many patients choose to maximize results of their facial injections by scheduling a touch-up in the weeks or months following the initial appointment, and most facial fillers are best maintained by additional appointments in the months or years after the first treatment. We will discuss a timeline based on your unique treatment plan and needs. Adding other products, such as BOTOX® may complement your treatment and minimize smile lines.
JUVÉDERM® and other minimally invasive face injections are among the most popular and commonly performed cosmetic procedures in the world, with limited risks and no downtime following the procedure. Because of how common fillers are, some patients seek these procedures in nonmedical facilities from injectors without a medical background. It is important for patients seeking any procedure to recognize that however insignificant the possible side effects might seem, cosmetic procedures, including the administration of dermal fillers, should be performed by a trained medical professional to minimize risks and achieve the best possible results.
The most common risks and side effects associated with dermal fillers are bruising, redness, swelling, and a rash at the injection site. However, these side effects are typically gone within a few days. We encourage our patients to discuss any concerns about their procedure at every step along their path to transformation.