Botox Cosmetic used to be all the rage for reducing the appearance of facial lines and wrinkles, but dermal fillers, specifically hyaluronic acid fillers like Juvederm and Restylane, gained ground in 2013.
Per the 2013 report on facial plastic surgery released by the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, member surgeons performed almost 10,000 more hyaluronic acid filler injections in 2013 than they did in 2012.
Hyaluronic Acid is Natural
While collagen injections typically require allergy tests before your facial plastic surgeon will administer them, hyaluronic acid is a substance found naturally within your cells. It helps your skin retain its smooth, elastic quality. When hyaluronic acid stores diminish during the aging process, the skin slackens and gains the lines and wrinkles that develop as you reach your 40s, 50s, and 60s. As it diminishes, you also gain hollows in areas like the cheeks and under the eyes.
Juvederm Voluma XC
The FDA approved Juvederm Voluma XC for use in adding volume to the cheeks. This helps lift the skin and gives it a more youthful, defined appearance. It can also help ease the appearance of some lines and wrinkles as the skin is lifted and smoothed out. The best candidates for Juvederm injections are men and women in their 30s and 40s.
You do not feel pain during the injections. Juvederm Voluma’s formula includes lidocaine to help numb the area being treated. Following the Juvederm injections, you may notice your face appears swollen for a day or two. You should avoid activity for 24 hours, but after a day passes, you can get right back to normal fitness, work, and social routines. Juvederm Voluma XC is a long-lasting product, with the benefits lasting 18 to 24 months.
Restylane
Restylane injections add volume and replenish hyaluronic acid stores in aging skin. This helps smooth the surface of the skin and eases the appearance of lines and wrinkles, especially the lines that form on the forehead, creases between the eyebrows, lines to the side of the eyes, and creases and lines around the nose and mouth. In addition, some doctors find the use of Restylane to be beneficial at smoothing sunken scars and adding volume to thin lips.
Injections take place after a topical anesthetic is applied to the areas of the face that need the dermal filler. This prevents any discomfort during the procedure. The injections take no longer than 30 minutes to complete, and you’ll get right back to your activities following the injections. Touch-ups are necessary approximately every six months to maintain the more youthful appearance.
For the best results from any surgical or non-surgical cosmetic procedure, you want a doctor who makes you feel comfortable and whom you can relate to. Training and skill do play an important role, but you need to be relaxed and enjoy spending time with your doctor, too. Watch this video about Dr. Robert Kessler, a facial plastic surgeon in Newport Beach, California. You will not find a more caring, personable surgeon for your dermal filler injections. Call 949.644.6544 to schedule a hyaluronic acid filler consultation with Dr. Kessler.
