If you have been noticing a loss of volume in your cheeks, this could be the natural effect of aging. As we get older, our cheeks tend to lose volume and sag, which can make us look older than we feel (or even than we really are). Thankfully, this is not a side effect of aging that you have to live with. Juvéderm Voluma can help, and that’s why we offer this effective treatment at Beautique Medical Anti-Aging in Knoxville, TN.
What Is Juvéderm Voluma Used for?
Voluma is part of a large product family of dermal fillers. All the fillers in the Juvéderm line are made with hyaluronic acid to give the skin a volume boost. Voluma is specially formulated to be effective in the cheek and mid-face area, and it also includes lidocaine to ensure that the treatment is perfectly comfortable.
While all the dermal fillers in this line use the same ingredient, Voluma is particularly designed to work in the tough area around the cheeks. The molecules in Voluma are crosslinked and larger than in some other formulations in order to ensure that the product lasts longer and delivers good volume in this important area of the face.
Why Does Skin Volume in the Cheeks Drop?
The reason we lose volume in our faces is that our body’s production of collagen slows down as we get older. This important protein makes up the sub-structure of our skin that connects the outer layers to the inner layers of fat and muscle.
When we are young, our collagen regenerates quickly and easily, and our support structures are strong. Once collagen levels start to drop, the skin begins to sag, which can highlight wrinkles and lines or even create new ones.
In the cheeks, especially, sagging skin can make the area look gaunt since we associate full cheeks with youth. This is a very common side effect of aging, but it’s one that Juvéderm Voluma can effectively address.
How Voluma Helps
The hyaluronic acid in this product provides an immediate lifting effect because hyaluronic acid attracts and holds moisture. This immediate lifting effect will, of course, die down as your body processes the product, but in the meantime, your body will also ramp up collagen production in response to the injection.
By the time the product itself is no longer producing the lifting effect, your own collagen will be. You can expect this effect to last for many months.
When Should I Get Treatment?
Most people choose to get this treatment at around the same time they notice the volume of their cheeks really beginning to drop, which is typically some time after age 35.
However, this treatment is perfectly safe for anyone over the age of 21, and some people like to get a jump on volume loss by seeking treatment early as a preventative measure. This can prevent signs of aging from developing.
How Does Voluma Compare to Other Options?
Before Voluma, people were only able to fix volume loss in their cheeks through a facelift. With a facelift, incisions are made along the side of the face, and then the muscles and skin are pulled tight in order to lift the skin and reverse the sagging that comes with age.
While facelifts are certainly effective, they are also invasive, uncomfortable, and require a lot of preparation and recovery time. Additionally, many people are not candidates for surgery because of concerns regarding anesthesia. Juvéderm Voluma offers results that are comparable to a facelift, although they are not permanent, but without the risks, pain, downtime, and enormous expense of surgery.
There are also other dermal fillers available, but Voluma is by far the best. Its formulation offers a superior smoothness, so you do not have to worry about hard lumps or bumps developing under your skin after injection, and the consistency will remain good across the entire cheek area. When you get your injections done by qualified professionals with a good aesthetic sense of the human facial structure, you can be assured of perfectly natural-looking results.
Treatment Process
Consultation
The first step is to come talk to us about your goals and allow us to evaluate your face and make sure you are a good candidate for treatment. We will be able to answer your questions, explain the process in detail, and give you an idea of how many injections you may need. We will also discuss your medical history and any medications and supplements you are currently taking as well as your typical skincare routine.
Preparation
There is very little you need to do to prepare for this treatment. Primarily, you will want to avoid anything that may thin your blood, such as alcohol, aspirin, and certain herbal remedies.
We may ask you to stop using certain stronger skin care products in the two weeks leading up to your appointment, and, as always, it’s important to wear a good sunscreen and protect your skin from UV ray damage. On the day you come for treatment, you should clean your face of all makeup and skincare products.
Treatment
Our first step will be to cleanse your skin so there is no chance of bacteria entering through the injection sites. Then, if you like, we can apply a numbing cream to ensure you are perfectly comfortable throughout. However, this treatment does contain lidocaine and is very comfortable.
The next step is to mark the cheeks and any other area of the face where you are having injections to ensure the pattern is just right. Once that has been done, we will inject the treatment with a very tiny needle. You will see immediate plumping results, and we can make adjustments as we go along, if needed.
Your appointment should take just between 20 and 60 minutes, depending on whether you are combining this treatment with any others, whether you get a numbing cream, etc. After treatment, we will gently massage your face in order to ensure the treatment is evenly distributed.
Recovery
“Recovery” is really too strong a word. Immediately after treatment, you can return to your normal daily routine with only very minimal restrictions. The main one is that you must avoid rubbing the area so that you do not push the medication out of place. For about two weeks, you should also avoid strenuous exercise, sun exposure, and blood-thinning medications or alcohol.
Results
You will notice an immediate plumping effect. Any tenderness that you may be feeling will be completely gone within a week or two of treatment, and during this time, collagen production will be ramping up in the treatment area.
You will notice the difference not only as your face remains plump as it did immediately after treatment, but as your skin itself improves, even on the outside. This is because the increased collagen production causes better cellular turnover in the entire area. As a result, wrinkles will fade, and you will look younger and have smoother skin.
One of the best things about this treatment is that it is easily reversible. If for any reason you don’t like your results, we can administer another injection that will break down the hyaluronic acid and undo your results. Results can easily last up to a year, but, depending on how quickly your body metabolizes the product, your age, and the extent of your concerns, you may end up scheduling a maintenance treatment up to twice a year.
How Many Treatments Do I Need?
It’s not possible to tell you precisely how many treatments you will need without a consultation. Many people need 1 to 3 treatments, and we can help you come up with a personalized treatment plan to meet your goals. The good news is that Voluma is safe and can be used routinely to maintain your results. It’s also easy to combine this treatment with other treatments to improve your youthful look.
Am I a Candidate?
This treatment is approved by the FDA for use on anyone over the age of 21 and for persons of every skin type. Most people who want treatment are good candidates, but come to talk to us in order to make sure. If this is not the right treatment for you, we can find the one that is.
Get Started on a Younger You
If you’ve noticed the signs of aging beginning to catch up with you, we have treatments that can help. Contact us at Beautique Medical Anti-Aging in Knoxville, TN today.