When wrinkles, fine lines, and sagging skin are making you feel less confident and comfortable in your body, what should you do? Should you spend paycheck after paycheck on creams and serums that barely make a difference, or put your life on hold to undergo surgery? Now there’s an incredible third option that gives you stunning, natural-looking results without breaking the bank account. Here at The Laser Centre of Marin in Corte Madera, CA, we’re proud to offer Juvederm, which can plump and smooth the skin in a matter of minutes.
How Long Does Juvederm Last?
Patients love that the results of this treatment can be enjoyed for anywhere between four months and two years! The exact length of time will depend on what kind of Juvederm product was used, as different formulas and consistencies have different lifespans. It also depends on the individual and the way their body works! What’s amazing is that once the results do start to fade, clients can simply book a quick and easy follow-up session, achieving the same dazzling look all over again.
What Is Juvederm?
This incredible treatment, known as a “dermal filler”, is a series of injections that works to add volume to the skin, which fills out wrinkles and lifts sagging areas. Not only does it yield natural-looking results that only enhance the patient’s existing beauty, but it’s been FDA approved and is made up of safe ingredients that the body is highly unlikely to have a reaction to or reject. These are some of the reasons why it’s quickly become one of the most popular cosmetic treatments on the market.
Why Do I Have Wrinkles and Sagging Skin?
Our bodies produce an important substance called Hyaluronic Acid, or HA, which keeps the skin hydrated by constantly bringing moisture to it. It’s also responsible for the production of proteins like collagen and elastin, which keep the skin tight, supple, and full of volume. The problem is that as we age, this production of HA slows. With less moisture sent to the skin, it becomes coarse, and with less collagen and elastin, it starts to sag and fold, creating wrinkles and hollow areas.
Unfortunately, it’s not just aging that can cause a decline in HA. Lifestyle factors like smoking, drinking, and a poor diet can speed up how quickly a person loses HA, as can things like sun damage. Even air pollution can contribute! Genetics, of course, also plays a major role. Wrinkles develop at different ages for different people. So while many of our clients are in their 30s and 40s, we don’t believe there’s one “right age” to seek out this treatment.
How Does Treatment Work?
This treatment uses a synthetic version of HA as its core ingredient. The HA-filled product is injected into areas of the skin where the patient is most concerned about wrinkles and lines. Once in the body, the HA starts looking for water molecules to bind itself to, and then brings these molecules back to the skin. Not only does the skin immediately become more hydrated and pliant, but the HA is absorbed into the body, which triggers the production of new elastin and collagen!
How Long Does It Take for the Results To Appear?
While you may leave with already a more dewy, hydrated look, the best results are yet to come. In the days following your injections, your body will soak up the HA and your face will settle into its new, perky structure. How this process takes depends on what type of Juvederm was used, as well as your individual body’s natural processes. Generally, patients see optimal results after about two weeks, and of course, those results can be enjoyed in the months afterward!
What Do the Results Look Like?
Patients love that this treatment affords them a more youthful, glowing look that doesn’t significantly change their faces. Unlike cosmetic procedures like a nose job or a facelift, you’ll still maintain your natural beauty and facial structure; you can just look younger and more refreshed! This is what makes treatment an excellent option for those who want subtle results and may even want privacy following their treatment since no one will have to know you got dermal fillers unless you want to tell them.
Where Can This Treatment Be Used?
If your wrinkles are the result of sagging skin, this treatment may be right for you. These kinds of wrinkles include, but aren’t limited to:
- Crow’s feet around the eyes
- Marionette lines
- Nasolabial folds
- Frown lines/forehead lines
- Sunken/hollow cheeks
- Sunken/hollow temples
- Thin lips and the fine lines around the lips
- Jowls
What Should I Expect From This Treatment?
Before
The first step in this process is to come in for an initial consultation with a member of our expert team. You can talk us through your cosmetic concerns, and we can ensure that this treatment will be the optimal way to combat them. We’ll also go through your medical history and any medications you might be on to make sure you’re a suitable, healthy candidate for treatment. If everything looks good, we’ll design you a unique treatment plan that we’ll follow along with during your treatment.
On the Day
Treatment is performed right here in our gorgeous Corte Madera office. You’ll be asked to come in with a clean face, and we’ll start by applying a topical numbing cream to the treatment area to ensure your comfort. We’ll then make the injections, which are performed with a super-fine needle that many patients report they can’t even feel. Treatment times vary slightly depending on the product being used and the concerns we’re treating, but it rarely takes more than fifteen minutes or so, and then you’re all done!
Recovery
Amazingly, there’s no actual “recovery period” following this treatment. Patients can immediately carry on with their days, whether that’s running errands or heading back to work. You’ll even be able to drive yourself to and from your appointment since we don’t use anesthetic of any kind. We may recommend you avoid a few things, such as exposure to high temperatures and retinoids, for a few days following treatment. These will only be minor, short-term lifestyle adjustments while your skin heals.
What Are the Different Types of This Treatment?
The Juvederm product suite is quite expansive. Depending on what your cosmetic concerns are, one product might be more effective than another in helping you achieve your cosmetic goals.
- Ultra – this is one of the more natural-looking options for those who want subtle results. It works on finer lines all over the face, smoothing them out and creating an even skin texture. It’s also commonly used as a lip filler.
- Volbella – another subtle option that is used exclusively on the lips. Its thin consistency is what keeps the results looking very natural.
- Vollure – this filler firms the skin while simultaneously lifting it, which is why it’s often mostly used on the lower portion of the face to combat jowls and a saggy jawline.
- Voluma – if you want round, perky, “apple-cheeks”, then this filler might be your go-to. It’s a gel, which means it lasts longer and can do more to reshape the face. For this reason, it’s often used to add volume to the nose.
- Ultra Plus – like Voluma, this thicker product gets you more noticeable, striking results, such as lifting the lower face and giving you significantly bigger lips.
Am I a Good Candidate for This Treatment?
As mentioned above, a decline in HA production – and consequently elastin and collagen production – can strike at any age. So as long as you’re over 18, we warmly invite anyone struggling with sagging and folding skin to come in for a consultation. Since this treatment can also be used to volumize the lips, it can be suitable for those who aren’t struggling with the signs of aging but are simply looking to add plumpness to thin lips.
During your consultation, we may decide that this treatment won’t be the best way to address your skin concerns. We may suggest an alternative dermal filler such as Restylane, which uses a different formula. If we think your wrinkles are more dynamic, which means they’re caused by muscle movements rather than sagging skin, we may encourage you to look at a muscle-relaxing injectable like Botox. No matter what your concerns, we have the resources and training to provide the perfect solution.
Schedule Your Consultation Today
Say goodbye to drugstore creams that don’t do anything, and close those browsers researching surgery. With Juvederm, you can get gorgeous, younger-looking skin in just a few minutes. Patients love that wrinkles are smoothed out and the skin is lifted with a few simple injections. Our expert team can’t wait to help you feel more naturally beautiful, so what are you waiting for? Call us at the Laser Centre of Marin in Corte Madera, CA, today.
