For some of us, the natural aging process is a beautiful journey of gently maturing beauty – but for the rest of us, contending with age-related changes can be challenging. One of the most difficult effects of aging is the loss of volume in the face, which can create a hollow appearance on the cheeks and under the eyes. Fortunately, the experts at Prizant Dermatology in Pittsburgh, PA know that one of the best treatments for lost facial volume is Voluma Pittsburgh, one of the best features in the Juvederm family of dermal fillers.
Voluma is a treatment primarily used to address age-related skin laxity that has created thinning skin and a loss of facial volume. On its face, the loss of facial volume can make us appear much older than we actually are. This is one of the reasons that Voluma Pittsburgh is so aptly named – because bit helps restore volume, generally in the cheeks. However, depending on where your loss of volume is occurring, you can also use this dermal filler for concerns such as:
Interestingly, this filler is also indicated for the use of specific areas of contouring. For example, one of the best places to use this filler for contouring is on the cheekbones to emphasize their shape, or on areas of the nose to augment the nasal appearance. Using this filler on bony areas of your face and hollow areas of your face will reduce the appearance of wrinkles and skin laxity, and help you look younger.
This treatment is a dermal filler, which means that the treatment procedure calls for the use of a small needle that will inject the treatment area with the filler formula. Once injected, the filler will take a few days to settle into your skin to start restoring volume for the long-term, usually about two years at a time.
One of the unique things about this dermal filler is its thicker formula. Compared to other dermal fillers, the thick consistency of this filler makes it easier to fill in lost volume, particularly on areas of the face where deeper wrinkles are prone to forming. The formula of this filler is made from a base of hyaluronic acid, which is known to help stimulate the body’s natural production of collagen.
Hyaluronic acid is a type of sugar acid that is found naturally in the body and is associated with retaining moisture in your skin cells. One of the more fabulous facts about hyaluronic acid is the fact that it can hold several times its own weight in water, which makes it one of the molecules in the skin that is most responsible for maintaining the moisture balance in your skin.
When present in a filler, hyaluronic acid can instantly help boost the water balance in the skin, which helps restore a youthful appearance. More importantly, studies indicate that the increased presence of hyaluronic acid within skin cells makes it easier for the body to produce its own collagen, which means that for as long as the hyaluronic acid is present in the skin, your body will continue to produce collagen at higher, pre-aging levels.
While hyaluronic acid in dermal fillers can be hugely beneficial for the production of collagen and the restoration of skin volume, this hard-working acid can also be important for the overall health of your skin. For example, many over-the-counter beauty products, such as serums and moisturizers, are now formulated with hyaluronic acid to help boost the outward moisture retention of the skin. Using hyaluronic acid topically helps improve skin texture and tone, as well as improves the appearance of fine lines.
It may be helpful to use hyaluronic acid products in conjunction with your hyaluronic acid dermal filler, as this may help support the overall moisture balance in your skin and help make your treatment more effective. If you aren’t sure which products are the best to serve your skin needs, we can point you in the right direction at your appointment.
Your treatment appointments will generally only take about 20 to 30 minutes to complete. For your comfort, part of your treatment appointment may consist of applying a topical numbing cream so that you won’t feel the needle injections. Overall, this treatment is fast and comfortable for the majority of patients. Your treatment appointment may last longer if you are using multiple fillers or you are treating additional areas of the face.
Because dermal filler treatments such as this one are minimally invasive, there are some things you will need to do to prepare for your treatment. For example, all patients must not use blood-thinning medications, supplements, or substances (like alcohol) for at least three to five days before their treatment appointment in order to minimize the risk of bruising to the face.
You may also need to prepare for your treatment by avoiding the use of certain skin irritants and skincare products, such as Retinols or acids that are used as active ingredients in your skincare products, such as AHA or BHA. We will provide you with a more comprehensive list of steps you should take for preparation during your consultation appointment.
In general, there isn’t much aftercare that is done for dermal filler treatments, which are some of the simplest cosmetic treatments to have. However, you will want to follow a few standard rules. Please avoid hot water, excessive heat, sweating, strenuous activity, and direct unprotected exposure to sunlight for the first two to five days after your appointment. Exposure to the sun, in particular, can interfere with the way the filler settles into your skin.
Many patients notice immediate results following their treatment, sometimes as soon as the same day of your treatment appointment. It’s important to note that your initial results will be temporary, as they are caused by the initial injection of the formula into your skin. Over the next several days, your skin volume might “deflate” again as the formula settles. However, the full results of your treatment are usually apparent within seven to 14 after your treatment, which is when the hyaluronic acid formula begins to increase the production of collagen in your skin.
In general, the results of your treatment will last for two years at a time, sometimes a bit longer if your body is responding well to the treatment. The longevity of this treatment is one of the reasons why the treatment is so popular for anti-aging concerns, as longer-lasting treatments tend to mean more natural-looking and seamless results.
If you are younger or you have milder concerns, you may notice that the results of your treatment will last for a longer period of time due to the level of collagen already present in your skin. Mature patients or patients with more complex appearance-related concerns may notice that the results of their treatment do not last the full two years due to the amount of fixing the filler has to do. Ultimately, how long your treatment will last depends on your unique biology and skin needs.
Most patients opt to have this treatment once every 18 to 24 months, depending on how long their results last. Scheduling regular treatment appointments makes it easier to enjoy your results for a longer period of time. If you aren’t sure how often you should have your treatment, then one of our expert aestheticians will be happy to advise you.
Voluma Pittsburgh isn’t the only dermal filler in the world – in fact, it’s part of a larger family of Juvederm dermal fillers, each of which is specifically curated to address different age-related concerns. While this particular dermal filler is appropriate for the cheeks and minor contouring of the face, the other fillers include:
Juvederm Ultra is the thickest filler in the family and is ideal for treating moderate to severe skin laxity, fine lines, and wrinkles. Juvederm Ultra is also one of the more diverse fillers because it can be used on most areas of the face, including the lips. This filler is also commonly used for non-surgical augmentation.
Vollure is a filler designed to address moderate fine lines and wrinkles on the face, particularly around the nose and mouth, the chin, and the eyes. Vollure is an all-in-one dermal filler that can help restore a youthful appearance and is ideal for those who want to treat early visible signs of aging.
Volbella is a unique dermal filler with a unique texture. This filler is designed to be used on the lips to address smoker’s lines, smile lines, and lipstick lines. Sometimes, Volbella is used to augment the shape of the lips as well.
Absolutely! In fact, many patients choose to combine a dermal filler with other types of treatments to create more comprehensive results that address various age-related concerns that could not otherwise be addressed by a filler. For example, because fillers only address sub-dermal causes of age-related concerns, these fillers are not appropriate for superficial skin concerns like dark marks. Some treatments that can be used with dermal fillers such as this one include:
Neurotoxins are wrinkle relaxers that are primarily designed to reduce the appearance of wrinkles on the forehead and between the eyebrows. Recently, some neurotoxin injectables have also been used on other areas of the face, including the lips.
Microneedling is an ideal minimally-invasive treatment that can even out skin tone and texture, which makes it an ideal solution for atrophic acne scarring, hyperpigmentation, enlarged pores, and much more.
Photodynamic therapy is a unique light-based treatment that can help treat active acne and some acne scarring. In fact, many patients use photodynamic therapy to treat acne scarring in conjunction with other types of acne treatments, including medication.
Good candidates for dermal fillers include patients who are interested in reducing the visible signs of aging, such as skin laxity, fine lines, wrinkles, dimpling, and more. Sometimes, good candidates are those who want to contour the appearance of the face, such as augmenting the shape of the cheekbones. Candidates for this treatment should not be pregnant or breastfeeding.
While aging may be a beautiful journey we all go through, it sometimes helps if our aging process is a little slower and more graceful. One of the best ways to age gracefully is to use dermal fillers such as Voluma Pittsburgh. If you think the key to restoring your facial volume is with this treatment, please call Prizant Dermatology in Pittsburgh, PA to schedule your consultation of Voluma Pittsburgh and appointment today.
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