When it comes to turning back your skin’s clock, Botox® is the talk of the town, but Botox® isn’t the only solution on the block. In fact, Botox® works best when combined with other interventions, like Juvederm ®, a dermal gel filler that picks up where Botox® leaves off. In most cases, Botox® works best on the common “frown lines” on the forehead and crow’s feet, or the small wrinkles that develop around the outer edges of your eyes. On the other hand, Juvederm ® is most effective in the areas around the nose and mouth — especially the “parentheses lines”, which develop each side of the mouth.
How Juvederm® Works
As you age, your body starts to naturally produce smaller amounts of two proteins called elastin and collagen. Unfortunately, the lowered production of these proteins translates to loss of volume in the skin. With a loss of volume, comes skin sagging, which can leave you with visible creases and wrinkles, especially in areas where the skin is thinner, like your face and chest area (or décolletage). This doesn’t just happen with aging though; it can also occur as a result of significant weight loss.
Juvederm ®, which is a gel made of hyaluronic acid, is used to correct these wrinkles. A medical professional injects the gel directly into the areas that have lost volume, literally filling in empty spaces to plump the skin back up and reduce the appearance of deep facial wrinkles and folds. Because of the way it works, Juvederm ® falls into the “dermal filler” category, unlike Botox®, which works in an entirely different way.
What To Expect
Like Botox®, Juvederm ® injections only require a quick, in-office procedure with little to no recovery time. You can get in and out on your lunch break; and the results are as quick as the appointment. You’ll notice a difference as soon as the gel is in place.
A single Juvederm ® treatment lasts up to one year, so there is little to no maintenance involved. In fact, Juvederm ® is the only FDA-approved hyaluronic acid filler that lasts that long.
What Else Should I Know?
You may experience some side effects after getting Juvederm ®, but in most cases, these side effects are mild to moderate and last one week, at most. The most commonly reported side effects are pain or tenderness at the injection site, redness, and swelling.
As always, our priority is to make you feel comfortable and confident. We encourage you to reach out to us to ask any questions you have about Juvederm ® and what it can do for you.
