What are Signs of Facial Aging?

Healthy skin has an abundance of collagen (the protein that provides your skin with structural support) and hyaluronic acid (a natural sugar in our cells that attracts and binds water like a sponge, hydrating the skin and giving it volume). With time, sun exposure, and other factors, both collagen and hyaluronic acid in your skin diminish. The skin becomes less elastic and loses structure and volume, and unwelcome lines and wrinkles appear. Thinning of the skin, and atrophy of the underlying fat in the face, result in visible loss of volume in and under the skin of the face. The result is more prominence of the nasolabial folds (lines running from the nose to the mouth) and marionette lines (lines running downward from the corners of the mouth). Our lips are one of the most noticed aesthetic features of our face. So it’s not surprising that many of us would love to have full, beautiful, natural and youthful appearing lips. While we try to enhance with lip liners and lipsticks, sometimes this is not enough.

How can volume loss and wrinkles be corrected?

Injectable dermal fillers are a safe, easy, and highly effective way to restore volume, reduce lines, and contour facial folds. JUVÉDERM™ is a highly purified form of hyaluronic acid (HA) that can replace your skin’s lost hyaluronic acid. This FDA approved dermal (skin) filler can be injected just below the surface of the skin using a very fine needle, to instantly smooth out those unwanted wrinkles or folds around your nose or mouth. Juvederm™ is also our treatment of choice to plump up your lips to enhance their volume and shape. The treatment is well tolerated without significant downtime. Common side effects are usually mild and can include temporary redness, bruising, swelling, or tenderness. You may ask, what makes Juvederm™ different? Juvederm™ is produced by Allergan, Inc., (the distributors of BOTOX® Cosmetic as well) using patented technology creating a high degree of cross-linking which helps resist degradation. Juvederm™ is also the first smooth gel HA. These characteristics of Juvederm™ allow for it to flow consistently and easily into the skin, creating a long-lasting, smooth, natural look and feel. Results are immediate and may last up to six months or longer depending on the area treated and the amount of product used.

A consultation is the best way to learn which of the two formulations of Juvederm- JUVÉDERM™ Ultra or the more robust JUVÉDERM™ Ultra Plus, (available with Lidocaine to enhance patient comfort) will be best suited for your particular needs.