At Wichita Vision Institute in Wichita, KS, Dr. Patel is proud to offer several anti-aging treatments. Among these is a hyaluronic acid-based dermal filler known as Juvederm. While there are several hyaluronic acid-based dermal fillers, this is superior because the results look more natural and last longer. Furthermore, it can treat more severe cosmetic concerns than other fillers. Let’s take a closer look at this innovative, life-changing injectable.
Juvederm around mouth is a dermal filler that first achieved FDA approval in 2006. Although it was the second hyaluronic acid-based dermal filler to achieve FDA approval, it is objectively better than all competitors on the market. The hyaluronic acid used in the formula is manufactured with highly advanced cross-stitching technology so the results are more durable than the results of other fillers.
This dermal filler works by administering hyaluronic acid into the deepest layers of the skin. There are several proteins, fibers, and chemical compounds that are responsible for keeping your skin tight and wrinkle-free. Hyaluronic acid is also required to keep your skin healthy and smooth.
Collagen makes up most of the supporting structure of the skin but the body starts to produce significantly less collagen every year starting at 25 years of age. The hyaluronic acid in Juvederm fills in gaps in the skin caused by an inadequate amount of collagen and encourages the production of new collagen. This results in an immediate improvement in lines around the mouth, continued improvement over a couple of weeks, and long-lasting results.
There are many potential uses for this dermal filler. It is often used to erase moderate-to-severe horizontal lines that extend from the corners of your mouth. However, it can also be used to eliminate other lines, wrinkles, and folds caused by extreme volume loss.
For example, it can be used to erase nasolabial folds caused by collagen loss. If you are concerned about nasolabial folds, Dr. Patel will identify their cause. You may need two types of treatment.
There is nothing painful about this treatment at all. Some dermal fillers do not include an injectable anesthetic in the formula. This dermal filler, contrastingly, contains a small amount of lidocaine. The great thing about using lidocaine in the formula is that it saves an incredible amount of time. The local anesthetic numbs as it is injected, so there is no waiting around for 15 minutes to an hour for a topical anesthetic to numb the treatment site.
Another great thing about the formula including lidocaine is the safety of lidocaine. The numbing effects wear off within 15 minutes, so you will have no problems moving the treatment area when you get back to work. Furthermore, it is safe to drive after lidocaine is injected so you are free to return to whatever you had scheduled immediately after your session.
Immediately before your treatment session starts, the treatment area or areas will be sanitized. Combined with the use of a sterile needle in a sterile environment, your sanitized skin ensures that there is no risk of infection. Before Dr. Patel sanitizes the treatment area, she will remove any cosmetics that you came in with. If possible, wash the treatment area and come in without any cosmetics on.
Once the treatment area is sanitized, Dr. Patel will use a sterile needle to inject the appropriate dose of the medication into the lines around your mouth. The number of injections you will need depends on how many lines there are and how deep the lines are. As a good general rule of thumb, you will need one syringe for moderate mouth lines and two syringes for deep mouth lines.
How long Juvederm lasts depends on how healthy your skin is but you can typically expect the results of treatment to last around a year. However, the healthier your skin is, the longer your results will last. Therefore, there are opportunities to extend the results of your treatment. Let’s take a look at some of the things you can do to make your treatment results last longer.
Minimizing the time you spend outdoors between 10 AM and 4 PM is one of the most effective things you can do to extend the longevity of your treatment results. Sunlight is made up of several types of UV rays and each type is damaging to your skin. UVC rays, in particular, are harmful in that they weaken collagen, causing wrinkles.
Minimizing your time outside between 10 and 4 is so effective because the sun’s rays are at their strongest during this six-hour window. It is unreasonable to suggest that you should spend your life hiding from the sun. However, being aware of the six most dangerous hours of the day for your skin health allows you to make a decent risk assessment for yourself and take risk mitigation steps if you want to spend the aforementioned hours in the sun.
When you can’t avoid sunlight, protect your skin against it. Wear a broad-spectrum sunscreen that provides adequate protection for your skin tone. People with dark skin may only need an SPF (sun protection factor) of 35; people with fair skin, particularly those with freckles or a family history of skin cancer, will need an SPF of at least 55. Please note: it’s extremely important that the sunscreen you choose be a broad-spectrum sunscreen.
Only broad-spectrum sunscreens protect against UVC rays, the most damaging of the sun’s rays. It’s also important to understand that glass, be it your car’s windshield or the windows in your office, will not protect your skin from sun damage. Your clothes will also not protect against UVC rays. Reapply sunscreen every four hours, even if you are only getting indirect sunlight.
Another incredibly effective way to maintain the results of your treatment is to stay hydrated. Hydration is extremely important to your skin health because healthy skin is made up of 64% water.
When you don’t consume enough hydrating fluids throughout the day, your skin becomes dehydrated. Even with moisturizer, your dehydrated skin will produce collagen at a reduced rate and your existing collagen will age prematurely. Aim to drink at least a gallon of water per day to keep your skin healthy, hydrated, and producing collagen as efficiently as possible.
Not much preparation is required for Juvederm injections if you are deemed a good candidate for treatment. You should, however, avoid smoking and drinking alcohol for a couple of weeks before your session. If you can’t go two weeks without smoking, at least abstain for two days.
When you come in for your initial consultation, tell Dr. Patel about every drug and dietary supplement you have taken in the past two weeks. If you are taking any nutritional supplements that can thin your blood, like vitamin E, stop taking those supplements for at least two weeks if your doctor tells you it is safe to do so. If you have a heart condition that requires you to take a low-dose aspirin daily, you will not be considered a good candidate for treatment.
You should avoid any exfoliating treatments in the two weeks leading up to your injections. For example, you should not schedule any chemical peels (chemical exfoliation) or dermaplaning (physical exfoliation) sessions within 14 days of your scheduled Juvederm session. If you feel like you need a chemical peel or similar aesthetic treatment, schedule it for a few days after your hyaluronic acid injections.
It is important to note that not all aesthetic treatments are off the table. It is incredibly common for this hyaluronic acid-based dermal filler to be injected at the same time as neurotoxic injectables, like Botox. This is perfectly safe, even when both injectables are administered into the same part of the face. In fact, combining treatments will be necessary to perfect your appearance if you have wrinkles caused by both volume loss and muscle hyperactivity.
You may be a good candidate for this treatment if you are at least 22 years of age and wish you could restore volume to your skin without an invasive, time-consuming procedure. Most of our clients are at least 30 because most healthy adults do not start to produce collagen at a reduced rate until the age of 25. It is not until around the age of 30 that volume loss gets to the point that treatment is necessary.
You will probably be considered a good candidate until you are 65 years of age. By the time you get to 65 years old, there is a good chance that you have medical conditions that would preclude you from being a good candidate. However, it is not unheard of for people to still be perfectly healthy at this age. If you’re 65 or older and still interested in your treatment, Dr. Patel is more than happy to discuss your health with you to ensure it is right for you.
Although the benefits of including lidocaine in the formula are incredible, people who are allergic to lidocaine are poor candidates for this treatment. Furthermore, people with certain medical conditions should not receive any anti-aging treatment that includes lidocaine. For example, you may be a poor candidate for this treatment if you have certain heart conditions, liver disease, kidney disease, or gluten sensitivity.
Furthermore, you should not consider this treatment right now if you are pregnant, think you may be pregnant, or are trying to become pregnant. There is not enough research on the effects of this treatment on a fetus. There is also insufficient evidence to suggest safety for a breastfeeding infant. Wait until you have delivered the baby and finished breastfeeding him or her before you consider this treatment.
If you’re looking for a safe, affordable treatment for moderate-to-severe volume loss-related lines, look no further than Juvederm. This versatile, powerful dermal filler can be used to erase horizontal lines that extend from the corners of your mouth, vertical lip and nose lines, and more. To learn more about this incredible treatment, contact Dr. Patel at Wichita Vision Institute in Wichita, KS to schedule an appointment today.