Everyone thinks of wrinkles when they think of signs of aging, but a better focus could be volume loss. If you don’t believe that, take out two photos of your parents in their mid-20s and their mid-50s. Wrinkles are there, but what you probably notice more are the hollow cheeks, sagging skin, and thinning lips — these are all volume loss issues.
Between the ever-decreasing production of collagen (the skin’s structural support protein) and the ceaseless tug of gravity, it seems everything is going south. That’s why Dr. Walden’s injection specialists utilize the Juvéderm® family of dermal fillers to replace lost volume for her patients.
What is Juvéderm®?
If you follow the aesthetic industry at all, you’ve likely heard of hyaluronic acid. This naturally occurring substance in humans (and most other mammals) is responsible for binding with water molecules under the skin to hydrate, plump, and firm the skin.
All the Juvéderm® fillers are hyaluronic acid based. For this reason Juvéderm® is classified as a naturally derived filler, versus other “synthetic” fillers. Instead of hyaluronic acid, synthetic fillers utilize things such as calcium microspheres to provide support and to also trigger collagen production.
What are the different Juvéderm® fillers?
- Juvéderm® XC
Although they can be handy for making an aside when writing, parentheses have no business showing up on your face. These are the creases on the side of the nose that extend to the corners of the mouth, creating parentheses. They are also known as nasolabial folds. You hear about all sorts of “anti-aging” serums and creams, but they only moisturize the skin’s surface. Juvéderm® XC adds volume beneath the skin to smooth these lines and folds.
- Juvéderm® Voluma XC
Doctors may call it “age-related midface volume loss;” you call it sagging or hollowing cheeks. Over time as you lose the collagen to support your skin and as your underlying muscles weaken, your cheeks flatten. Juvéderm® Voluma XC is designed to add volume beneath the skin’s surface to lift and contour the cheek area. Plump cheeks are generally considered to be a tenet of a younger look.
- Juvéderm®Ultra XC
You may not think about your lips with facial aging, but our lips lose volume just like everywhere else. They become thinner as we get older. Plus, some women just have thin lips. Juvéderm® Ultra XC is designed to plump thin lips.
- Juvéderm®Volbella XC
This addition to the Juvederm family is brand new, coming on the market in the summer of 2016. Whereas Ultra XC adds fullness and plumps thin lips, Volbella XC is tailored to add subtle volume to the lips and smooth the appearance of vertical lip lines.
How long does Juvéderm® last?
All four Juvéderm® formulations are long lasting. Plus, future injections usually need less product to achieve the same results.
- Juvéderm®Voluma XC provides the longest-lasting hyaluronic acid filler results, restoring cheek volume for up to two years.
- Juvéderm®XC treats the wrinkles and lines around your mouth for up to one year.
- Juvéderm®Ultra XC plumps the lips for up to one year, with 78 percent of people treated expressing satisfaction with their lips after one year.
- Juvéderm®Volbella XC adds subtle volume for one year, with 80 percent of people treated reporting improved satisfaction with their lips one year after treatment.
Juvéderm® is exceptionally popular with our Austin patients for the simple reason that the four different products work very well in their targeted areas. Do you want to address your facial volume loss? Call Dr. Walden at 512.328.4100 and ask us which Juvéderm® would be right for you.
