Juvederm: What It Is & How Long It Lasts
Sagging skin and excess wrinkles are a natural part of aging. And while we embrace everyone’s body no matter the size or shape, let’s face it: aging skin is the worst.
While moisturizing and cleansing your face can help to keep it healthy for longer, there’s very little you can do to actually reverse the signs of aging. However, one of the saving graces for our faces is cosmetic surgery. More specifically: Juvederm.
Juvederm is a type of dermal filler, which are injectable fillers that help to enhance the volume and appearance of facial muscles, reduce wrinkles, or even improve the look of scars. There are several different products in the Juvederm line that are each meant for specific purposes:
Juvederm Voluma XC: Adds volume beneath the skin’s surface to enhance the size and contour of your cheeks.
Juvederm XC: Fills out wrinkles and smooths out fine lines to help reverse signs of skin aging.
Juvederm Ultra XC: A nonsurgical procedure for increasing the plumpness of lips.
Ready to rejuvenate your look and feel years younger in the blink of an eye? Let’s dive in and talk about everything there is to know about the Juvederm procedure.
How Does Juvederm Work?
There are many different types of dermal fillers and injections that plastic surgeons can use. Juvederm is an example that uses hyaluronic acid. This is a key molecule in skin aging that has a unique ability to retain water. As you age, your body naturally creates less of this molecule, resulting in skin that has the tendency to dry out more quickly.
Dry skin equals less elastic skin. This is what causes wrinkles, fine lines, and sagging, as the skin is unable to snap onto its original contour in the proper way.
By injecting hyaluronic acid into the skin’s connective tissue, Juvederm is able to stimulate the production of collagen, which is a chemical that plumps the skin. The end result is more youthful and plump looking skin in the location where the formula was injected.
The Juvederm Procedure
The procedure itself is short and fairly simple. For most people, the procedure takes anywhere from 15 to 60 minutes to complete from start to finish.
First, the cosmetic surgeon will mark the specified areas with a pen. Then, the application area is thoroughly cleansed. The surgeon may choose to give you an anesthetic ointment to numb the skin ahead of time. However, Juvederm contains a small amount of pain-reducing lidocaine to minimize the discomfort you might feel before and after the injections.
Juvederm gets injected directly into the target area. Then, the doctor will massage the product into your skin to evenly distribute the formula and reduce the chance or severity of swelling.
While you might feel a bit sore or tender for the next two days, the pain is usually tolerable and doesn’t require pain relief medication.
How Long Does Juvederm Last?
One of the greatest benefits of Juvederm is that you’ll be able to enjoy the results almost instantaneously after swelling reduces. Gradually, the results may even increase over time.
Another thing that people love about Juvederm is that the results can last anywhere from six months to one year. Some people can enjoy the benefits for even longer, making this one of the most long-lasting procedures to maintain a youthful appearance.
You can also get a series of injections which might optimize the results and extend their longevity. Not to mention, after the fillers wear off, you can come back into the office to get subsequent injections once it is safe to do so.
Juvederm vs. Botox
Botox injections are similar to Juvederm in that they’re primary focus is to reduce the appearance of wrinkles or fine lines in the face. However, the main difference is how they work.
While Juvederm physically adds plumpness to the skin, Botox only affects the underlying muscles. Botox is made of a bacteria called botulinum toxin which temporarily relaxes contracting muscles. This reduces the appearance of wrinkles by relaxing the muscles that cause them.
Additionally, Botox only lasts around three to four months, which is a shorter period when compared to Juvederm.
Both Juvederm and Botox can restore the appearance of youthful skin. If you’re looking for something that will last a bit longer, then Juvederm is the way to go. While Botox doesn’t last as long, it tends to be a bit less expensive. It really comes down to personal preference as well as recommendations from your plastic surgeon.
Potential Risks and Side Effects
Although Juvederm is minimally invasive, it can have some potential complications like any other medical procedure. The most common side effects associated with Juvederm injections include:
Swelling and bruising.
Redness.
Lumps or bumps at the injection site.
Minor discomfort and itching.
The good news is that these side effects are temporary and shouldn’t last any longer than two to four weeks. It’s also possible that the procedure does not turn out exactly as you anticipated. This emphasizes the importance of going to a trusted professional who can help you avoid some of the more serious side effects, such as permanent scarring from improper injection.
Who is a Good Candidate for Juvederm?
We appreciate everyone’s body and think that everyone has the right to looking like their best self. Juvederm might be right for you if you:
Are physically healthy.
Don’t smoke.
Are committed to a skincare regimen following the procedure.
Have positive and realistic expectations for the outcome of the procedure.
During your consultation, you and your plastic surgeon will discuss the best approach. They may recommend alternatives like Botox, face lifts, or eyebrow lifts depending on your goals.
How to Maintain Skin Health
After you get your Juvederm injections, you’ll be expected to maintain your skin health in order to prolong the treatment’s effects. And even if you aren’t thinking about getting Juvederm, proper skincare routines can keep your skin looking healthy and hydrated all the same.
Beat the Heat
While the contestants on Love Island or Too Hot to Handle definitely have some gorgeous tanned skin, they’ll probably be sorry in a few years. Intense sun exposure and tanning beds are extremely harmful to your skin.
UV rays from each of these damage the genes in cells, which can lead to cancer. Additionally, it can decrease the production of collagen and cause your skin to dry out.
A lot of people think you can’t get tan when you wear sunscreen, but that’s actually not the case. You can still get that desirable caramel-colored tone while you sunbathe, just make sure you’re loading up on sunblock every two hours, reapplying each time you get out of the pool or ocean.
The Lowdown on Hydration
Dry skin is one of the biggest contributors to fine lines and wrinkles. Keeping your face moisturized is essential. Just make sure you’re choosing water-based options if you tend to have an oily skin type so you can avoid breakouts.
Additionally, drink plenty of water to keep your skin’s collagen production at an all-time high. You might not even need to use a moisturizer if you’re able to get enough H20 naturally.
Stop Stressin’
Psychological stress can disrupt the epidermal barrier, which is the top layer of skin that locks in moisture and protects it from the outside world. Having a healthy barrier is essential for your skin health. Do some yoga, go for a jog, and make sure you’re taking some much needed self-care days to reduce the risk of losing healthy skin.
In Conclusion
Juvederm is a minimally invasive technique to enhance the volume in your face, reduce the appearance of wrinkles, and plump up your lips. It uses hyaluronic acid, which is a natural compound in your body that helps retain skin moisture.
One of the great things about Juvederm over alternatives is that it is long lasting. With proper care, your instant results have the potential to last anywhere from six months to one year.
You can lengthen its benefits by maintaining proper skin health through avoiding UV radiation, staying hydrated, and reducing your stress.
Juvederm is one of many techniques that can be used to help you rejuvenate your face and make you feel young again. At PH-1 Miami, we can help design an approach that works best with your preferences and goals.
Ready to turn your body into its best body? Let’s go. Click here to fill out our inquiry form.
Sources:
Hyaluronic acid: A key molecule in skin aging | NCBI
Botox injections | The Mayo Clinic
Ultraviolet (UV) Radiation | American Cancer Society
Stress may be getting to your skin, but it’s not a one-way street | Harvard Health
