The Purpose of JUVÉDERM

Aging and environmental factors inevitably lead to lines on the face and a loss of volume in facial features. We inject JUVÉDERM, which is clear and biodegradable, in small amounts to fill in these areas beneath the skin. The treatment takes effect right away, and you should be able to enjoy the benefits for up to a year or more. 

Different formulations of facial fillers have different textures, firmness, and duration. This variety allows Sumi Kim, our aesthetic nurse injector, to give the appropriate “feel” to different areas of the face. Here are some of the features he may treat with JUVÉDERM products:

  • JUVÉDERM VOLUMA® XC injectable gel is for deep injection in the cheek area to correct age-related volume loss in adults over 21.
  • JUVÉDERM® XC injectable gel is for injection into the facial tissue for the correction of moderate to sever facial wrinkles and folds, such as nasolabial folds. 
  • JUVÉDERM® ULTRA XC is for injection into the lips and perioral area for lip augmentation in adults over the age of 21.
  • JUVÉDERM VOLBELLA® XC injectable gel is for injection into the lips for lip augmentation and for correction of perioral lines in adults over the age of 21.
  • JUVÉDERM VOLLURE® XC injectable for correction of nasolabial folds to move with natural facial expressions.

Lines and wrinkles. La Jolla patients often have concerns about deep lines at the sides of the nose and “parentheses” lines that appear around the mouth. JUVÉDERM can reduce the appearance of these lines immediately upon injection.

Cheeks. Softly contoured cheeks with a high position on the midface help create a youthful look. JUVÉDERM® effectively restores volume to the cheeks. It is an excellent alternative to fat grafting because it is durable, long lasting, and requires less invasive treatment. JUVÉDERM® has been shown to last 1 to 2 years in the cheek area.

Lips. We may advise patients interested in lip volume to use Juvederm Ultra XC or Juvederm Volbella XC.  He is careful not to overfill the lips, helping prevent a “trout pout” (lips that are strangely plump and unnatural-looking). As a result of this  approach, the La Jolla patient’s lips should retain a natural but youthful pout after treatment.  Juvederm Volbella XC is the only product currently on the market to target vertical lip wrinkles also known as “smoker’s lines” or “pucker lines” around the mouth.

Most La Jolla patients who receive JUVÉDERM from our team have a high degree of satisfaction with their results which are typically long lasting. Less product is required for touch-up treatments, reducing the cost and time involved in maintaining the filler’s benefits.

How Our Team Performs JUVÉDERM Treatments

Your initial face-to-face consultation with our nurse injector will be very comprehensive. An in-depth conversation will allow you to discuss the areas you want to address, learn about treatment options, and see the advantages that each has to offer.

We often recommend JUVÉDERM because:

  • It is a mid-level hyaluronic acid that provides smooth skin consistency and a soft feel.
  • JUVÉDERM has enough density to fill in deep areas and provide tone while not feeling artificial to the touch.
  • Hyaluronic acid naturally adds moisture and nutrients to the skin. As a result, the benefits continue for months afterward.

The treatment is relatively quick. Our team will use ice or numbing cream to numb your treatment areas.  We only use Juvederm XC products which provide “extra comfort” because there is a numbing agent mixed into each syringe.  Our team will introduce the JUVÉDERM using a tiny needle, injecting small amounts at a time. Throughout the process, our nurse injector will check in with you to make sure you are comfortable and that you are happy with how you look.

The Purpose of Dermal Fillers

The main uses of dermal fillers are to improve the appearance of deep facial lines and to restore fullness to the midface. More specifically, the treatment can:

  • Correct moderate-to-severe facial wrinkles and folds, such as nasolabial folds (also known as “smile lines” or “laugh lines”).
  • Lips become thinner as we age. Dermal fillers can add volume to lips for overall fullness and/or more definition around the vermillion border.
  • Add volume to the cheeks for a softer and more youthful contour.
  • Give the face a smoother and overall younger appearance.

La Jolla patients who receive dermal fillers see fullness and lift immediately. Depending on the areas he treats, the effects should last 3 to 12 months. On average, cheeks treated with fillers will remain that way for up to a year while wrinkles and folds will be diminished in appearance for about 3 to 6 months. Patients can, and often do, opt for subsequent treatments to maintain the results they have achieved with dermal fillers.

How Dermal Filler Injections Are Performed

In your initial consultation with our nurse injector, Sumi Kim, will conduct a comprehensive examination of your skin and features and review the different treatment options available. If you are a good candidate for dermal fillers, she will describe how the treatment works, discuss what you can expect from your results, and answer any questions you have.

She likes to use dermal fillers to fill in deeper lines and wrinkles or the hollows under the eyes. Specifically, she uses the filler to target the nasolabial folds (the lines around the nose and mouth, also knows as “parentheses”), the anterior jawline as it transitions into the pre-jowling area (near the mouth and chin) and the nasolabial folds.

As with other injectable fillers, Sumi will apply her knowledge in adding volume to features and contouring the face in a natural and attractive way. The process is a non-invasive experience that requires very little downtime, which makes it an excellent option for patients in La Jolla who want improvement but who aren’t ready for a more involved procedure. 

Your Experience with Dermal Fillers

Treatment with dermal fillers takes place in our La Jolla practice, often on the same day as the initial consultation. The procedure usually takes less than 5 to 10 minutes:

  • Sumi will desensitize the areas of treatment using ice or a skin-numbing medication if you prefer. The product itself has a numbing agent mixed into it so most patients find the treatment very tolerable with very little to no discomfort.
  • She will use very small needles to administer dermal filler injections in targeted locations.
  • She will evaluate the changes that the gel is making as he treats each site, adding volume and reducing the appearance of wrinkles as she introduces the product.

You should be able to return to normal daily activities after treatment, though you may experience some minor swelling and bruising at the injection sites.  It is advisable to avoid aspirin and ibuprofen and other blood thinners for at least 10 to 14 days before your treatment to reduce the likelihood of bruising.  

You should see some of the benefits of your treatment immediately, but optimal results usually appear once the swelling has subsided in a week or so. At that point, you will be able to enjoy a refreshed, natural appearance and more youthful, fuller features.