It used to be that aging simply meant aging. These days, aging can mean a host of different things. One thing we can all agree on, however, is that face is the first place to shows signs of aging. In this era of youth and beauty quests, most will stop at nothing to fight or at least slow down the aging process. Often times people find themselves in a dermatologist or plastic surgeon’s office frustrated with lines, creases, and wrinkles. It has become common practice to “plump” the offending crease. In essence, see a wrinkle, fill a wrinkle. Yes! It really is that easy.
Sound too good to be true? It’s not. While there are literally dozens of facial treatments and procedures designed to reverse the process of aging, injectable fillers have become common practice for women and men of all ages. Fillers are desirable because the results are fairly immediate. Unlike surgery, they are non invasive and require no down time other than the possibility of mild bruising or swelling. While fillers are not inexpensive, when compared to the alternative of cosmetic surgery, the price is a mere drop in the bucket!
The competitive market today has made it not only easy to find a reputable injector but affordable as well with very little if any downtime at all. While people typically need to receive botox once every 3-4 months, fillers can last a year and in some people longer. Botox and fillers have completely different functions but used together can dramatically reverse the signs of aging. The price of injectable fillers is higher, yes. That being said, they last longer which levels the playing field.
What areas can dermal fillers address?
– Nasolabial folds (lines from the nose to the mouth)
– Melomental fold (lines from the mouth to the chin)
– Lines above the upper lip
– In the lips for both volume and definition
– To restore volume to both the cheeks and cheekbones
– Frown lines (this is achieved best when combined with Botox)
If you are one of the many who would like to reduce or in some cases completely eliminate the appearance of wrinkles or enhance your lips, dermal fillers are a great option. Fillers are a minimally invasive procedure in which a natural substance that is already found in the body (hyaluronic gel) is injected just below the surface of the skin. The procedure adds volume to the facial structures.
One of the most widely used fillers is Juvederm®, though there are several different products available in this line. There is Juvederm® Ultra Plus XC, Juvederm® Ultra XC and Juvederm® Voluma XC. While all of these products are formulated to target aging skin, they all work differently and are each designed for specific areas. While a skilled injector will know which product should be used in a particular area, it can be a bit overwhelming to a patient who is just starting to step into the injectable world. So what’s the difference between the products? We are so glad that you asked!
Both Juvederm® Ultra Plus XC and Juvederm® Ultra tend to be softer hyaluronic fillers. They are typically used on the lips and around the mouth to reduce both fine lines and wrinkles. By injecting Juvederm® around the nose and mouth, the treatment adds volume to the skin to smooth out any lines or folds. Both of these products can last anywhere between 9 months and a year.
Voluma is a newer product in the Juvederm® family and these days, it’s all the rave. A clinical study determined that 6 to 18 months after treatment, all study participants rated their results positively. It is a thicker hyaluronic filler that is designed to restore lost volume in the cheeks. Voluma is injected deeply into the cheek area (no, it does not hurt) to correct volume loss that is usually age related. It is ideal for cheek, mid face, and chin lifts and unlike the other Juvederm® products, it can last up to two years.
An added benefit to dermal fillers is that they can be built upon. If someone was to receive a syringe of one of these fillers and a month later feels they would like to add more volume, there is no damage in adding to and building upon what was already injected. For some, more than one injection may be necessary to achieve the desired look. Because hyaluronic acid is a natural product, eventually the filler will be absorbed by the body and will need to be replenished. So while the results are virtually immediate and long lasting, they are not permanent.
If you are interested in plumping up your lips, reducing sagging skin or correcting mild to severe facial wrinkles and folds, we are confident that there is a dermal filler product designed to meet your needs. At Dermani Medpsa, we are committed to helping our patients age gracefully and are here to answer any and all questions you might have. dermani MEDSPA® is a TOP 250 provider with Allergan, the only maker of Juvederm®!
Call today to schedule your FREE consultation at 770-212-2242 or go online to schedule at Dermanimedspa.com. We look forward to speaking with you.