Regardless of our age, most of us know the feeling of looking in the mirror and wishing we looked a little different. As we age, the perceived imperfections looking back at us tend to be wrinkles, lines, and noticeable volume loss. If you’re ready to stop seeing imperfections in the mirror, the aesthetic experts at Georgia Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery in Marietta, GA offer Juvederm Voluma.
What Is the Right Age To Get Juvederm Voluma?
Most people can relate to wanting to reverse the signs of aging or delay the aging process. Therefore, it can be a little tricky to determine when the right time is to consider dermal fillers. As a typical rule of thumb, the time to get Juvederm Voluma is when you are at least 22 years of age and concerned about the appearance of your midface.
Often, people who consider this treatment are in their 40s or 50s and struggling with severe volume loss. However, it isn’t uncommon for people to seek this treatment in their early 20s because an extreme amount of volume loss occurred in the cheeks due to massive weight loss.
Bone Structure
People who seek Juvederm Voluma in older age tend to have a strong bone structure. Younger people are more likely to benefit from this injectable dermal filler if they have a weaker bone structure. It is the perfect way to get striking definition.
What Is Juvederm Voluma?
Juvederm Voluma is an injectable dermal filler featuring the active ingredient hyaluronic acid. Hyaluronic acid is a polysaccharide that lubricates and hydrates your skin. Voluma was approved by the FDA in 2013 for the safe, effective treatment of severe cheek volume loss. What’s great about the hyaluronic acid in this filler is it is completely biocompatible and biodegradable.
You don’t need to take an allergy test before you receive this treatment because your skin can’t tell the difference between the administered hyaluronic acid and the hyaluronic acid it produces. Upon injection, the hyaluronic acid spreads through the treatment area, attracting water and volumizing the area significantly. Also, the presence of extra hyaluronic acid encourages the production of extra collagen.
What To Expect Before Treatment
To determine whether Juvederm Voluma is the only injectable you need to achieve your desired aesthetic, you need to come in for an initial consultation. If you’re only concerned about the appearance of your cheeks and under-eyes, you can achieve your desired results with only Voluma. On the other hand, you may need another Juvederm formula if you are also concerned about the appearance of nasolabial folds.
You don’t need to do very much in way of preparation, but you should stop taking blood-thinning pharmaceuticals for a few days.
What To Expect During Treatment
On the day of your session, we may apply a topical numbing cream so you don’t feel the first few injections, but this isn’t a requirement. The Voluma formula we offer contains a local anesthetic, so your cheeks will be numbed within 15 seconds of your first injection.
If you only are looking to improve the appearance of your cheeks, your session should only take 30 to 45 minutes to complete. On the other hand, if you also have other cosmetic concerns that need to be addressed during your appointment, your session may take closer to an hour. There is no downtime required following this treatment, so you are free to drive yourself back to work or take the rest of the day off to relax.
Results
Voluma is an incredibly popular treatment because the results become apparent immediately and last a long time. You will leave our office with a soft, supple, hydrated midface. However, it may take a couple of weeks for your skin to produce extra collagen and lift sagging cheek skin completely.
Once your final results become apparent, your results will last for roughly two years. After two years have passed, you may notice your skin slowly starting to sag, and you may notice a little less volume in the apples of your cheeks when you smile.
Who Is a Good Candidate?
You need to come in for an initial consultation to determine whether you qualify for Juvederm Voluma. Typically, you will qualify if you’re fairly healthy and concerned about the appearance of your midface. For instance, you may be considered a good candidate for this treatment if you are interested in:
- Cheekbone recontouring
- Sagging skin lifting
- Extreme volume loss correction
- Undereye recontouring
Why Does Our Skin Change?
Your skin has a lot going for it when you’re young. For instance, it produces plenty of collagen. Collagen is an incredibly abundant protein that comprises our connective tissue and skin. Its job is to keep the skin taut and plump. Also, your skin produces plenty of elastin to keep it elastic. Finally, hyaluronic acid is produced in abundance, keeping your skin supple, but the production of all three of these essential substances starts to decline by our 18th birthday.
Another benefit young skin has is it hasn’t been exposed to the sun for decades, and the results of unprotected sun exposure are not yet apparent. Every time you’re not wearing sunscreen outside, UV rays are destroying your collagen and slowing your skin’s ability to produce extra collagen. This doesn’t just result in brown spots. It also leads to wrinkles and sagging skin.
A Comprehensive Treatment Plan
Unfortunately, people often have several cosmetic concerns. If you have concerns beyond your midface, you may benefit from one or more of these complementary treatments:
Botox
Botox is the perfect complement to Juvederm treatments because it does what dermal fillers can’t – relax away dynamic wrinkles. This FDA-approved injectable muscle relaxant features a neurotoxic protein extracted from the bacterium known as Clostridium botulinum.
Dynamic wrinkles are wrinkles that once appeared only temporarily when you emoted. However, over time, the muscles contracted so much they became permanently tense and wrinkled. In turn, the wrinkled muscles wrinkled the skin. You may be a good candidate for Botox if you are concerned about:
- Bunny lines
- Crow’s feet
- Forehead lines
- Forehead folds
- Smile lines
- Smoker’s lines
A Closer Look At Candidacy for This Treatment
You are probably a good candidate for Botox if you are concerned about the aforementioned aesthetic concerns. However, we still need to review your health history and current health before determining whether this treatment is right for you. You must let us know if you have a history of anaphylaxis. If you have experienced a severe allergic reaction to bovine protein, this treatment may not be right for you.
On the other hand, if you are allergic to none of the ingredients in this formula, but you have a history of anaphylaxis, you may still qualify. It is also important that you let us know about all of the drugs and supplements you are currently taking. For example, if you are taking NSAIDs daily under the advisement of your PCP due to a heart or blood condition, you may not qualify for this treatment.
Ultherapy
Ultherapy is another great complement to Voluma treatments. It is an FDA-approved ultrasound-based anti-aging treatment designed to lift sagging skin significantly. Sometimes referred to as a lunchtime facelift, this non-invasive treatment can provide the same results as a facelift in just 30 to 90 minutes.
If you’re only trying to lift sagging skin on your lower face, your session will only take around half of an hour. If you’re trying to lift and tighten your chest, neck, lower face, and upper face, your session will take closer to 90 minutes.
Good Candidates for Ultherapy
To be considered a good candidate for Ultherapy, you have to be in fairly good health. However, the health requirements are much less stringent than the health requirements to qualify for a facelift or brow lift. Also, a good candidate for this treatment will be interested in lifting and tightening skin without undergoing an invasive procedure.
Schedule Your Consultation Today
Regardless of your age, if you’re a fairly healthy adult, you can delay the aging process or reverse the existing signs of aging. We can help you determine whether the time is right to consider Juvederm Voluma and achieve the plump, healthy midface you desire.
Contact us today at Georgia Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery in Marietta, GA to book your appointment. We will tailor a treatment plan that will allow you to feel more confident and self-assured regardless of the cosmetic concerns you have.
