For most of us, the best solution for skin laxity, fine lines, and wrinkles are injectable fillers, which restore the volume of our skin to help rejuvenate and refresh our appearance. One of the most-loved and most reliable dermal filler treatments in the world is Juvederm, which is based on a hyaluronic acid formula that restores the moisture balance in our skin and helps our bodies produce more natural collagen. At ALC Med Spa in Gurnee, IL, we are pleased to inform you that most patients who are interested in this brand of dermal filler are eligible for treatments.
Who Is Eligible for Juvederm Treatments?
Juvederm is one of the most universally compatible dermal fillers in the world because nearly all patients can use the filler or benefit from the results. But you still need to be an eligible patient, which means you have to meet certain criteria. We will determine if you are an eligible candidate for this treatment during your consultation. Here are a few of the criteria that all eligible patients must meet.
- You have mild or moderate age-related concerns
- You are not allergic to the active ingredients in the filler
- You are not taking certain blood-thinning medications
- Your skin type and history are compatible with dermal fillers
- You do not have a current skin infection
- You are not pregnant or breastfeeding
- You are at least 21 years old
- You have not had another cosmetic treatment in the last two weeks
Does that seem like a lot of requirements to meet? The truth is that most of these criteria are guides to help us determine if this treatment is appropriate for your needs and aesthetic goals because our priority is always matching our patients to the appropriate cosmetic treatments. Let’s break down why each of these criteria means and why they matter.
What Are Mild and Moderate Age-Related Concerns?
Dermal fillers are generally ideal for patients who have mild to moderate age-related concerns, which is essentially the first signs of visible skin aging. In particular, we pay attention to fine lines, wrinkles, and any skin laxity. Mild and moderate symptoms of visible aging are those that are just starting out or those that are only starting to progress into deeper concerns.
You can judge how mild your age-related concerns are at home. Looking in the mirror, you can determine if your fine lines and wrinkles are mild or moderate if they disappear when you relax your face or if they only appear when you are making an expression. If fine lines still linger around your eyes, between your brows, and around your nose and mouth, then it’s likely you have mild wrinkles or skin laxity; if the lines aren’t very visible when your expression is relaxed, then you’re likely dealing with mild fine lines.
Why Does It Matter if Your Age-Related Concerns Are Mild or Moderate?
To be frank, there’s only so much a dermal filler such as this one can do. Dermal fillers work by adding volume to the skin to support the structure of your skin, which takes away the ability for fine lines and wrinkles to form. This is because our skin begins to visibly age when the natural production of collagen slows as we age; dermal fillers replace this volume and erase the signs of aging.
But most dermal fillers only have a great effect if they can fill in mild and moderate volume loss. Severe wrinkles may require further help, such as alternative fillers or cosmetic treatments.
Can You Still Use This Treatment for Severe Concerns?
It’s possible that you may still be able to use this treatment even if you have severe concerns. It really comes down to where the concerns are located and how much volume is needed to rejuvenate your appearance. For example, using a dermal filler on under-eye hollows or loss of volume in the cheeks is often successful even if the volume loss is very pronounced. One of our skilled aestheticians will be able to assess whether your severe age-related concerns qualify for this filler treatment.
What Are the Allergens You Should Be Aware Of?
Although Juvederm dermal fillers are primarily formulated with hyaluronic acid, which is naturally-occurring and generally a low allergen risk, there are still other ingredients in the dermal filler that you may be allergic to. The most prominent ingredient is lidocaine, which is a local anesthetic that ensures your comfort during your treatment. If you are allergic to lidocaine, then you are not qualified for this treatment.
If you have a history of severe allergic reactions, you may not be eligible for this treatment. It may be necessary to have you undergo a simple allergy test if you do have a history of general or drug allergies. Please be sure to discuss this part of your medical history during your consultation.
Why Do Some Medications Matter?
If you are on blood-thinning medication or your over-the-counter pain reliever of choice is aspirin or Ibuprofen, you may need to temporarily stop taking these medications during your treatment. This is due to the fact that blood-thinning medications can cause unwanted bruising or easier bleeding after your treatment, which can prolong the time it takes to achieve your desired results. It’s usually enough to temporarily stop taking these medications for at least seven days before your treatment appointment.
How Does Your Skin Type and History Factor Into This Treatment?
Ideally, those who use this treatment should have healthy and relatively thick skin, as both of these factors make it easier to perform dermal filler injections. However, knowing your skin type and skin history are also important factors. For example, if your skin easily scars, bruises, or responds to injury with pigmentation scars, then this injectable treatment might not be a good fit for you. Our aim is to perform your injections without leaving any noticeable traces on your skin, so it’s important that your skin does not easily scar.
Why Do Current Skin Infections Matter?
Speaking of healthy skin, it’s important that you postpone your treatment until after any current skin infections are gone. Skin infections include eczema, psoriasis, cold sores, fever blisters, allergy rashes, and other skin conditions. In general, we prefer to treat patients who have healthy skin because it lowers the risk of infection or unwanted reaction to the dermal filler. If you do have a current skin infection within seven days of your appointment, please reschedule as soon as possible.
Why Can’t You Be Pregnant or Breastfeeding?
While there isn’t any known risk for women who are pregnant or nursing to use dermal fillers, it’s always best to err on the side of caution. It’s possible that the ingredients in a dermal filler can be passed to a fetus or a nursing infant through breast milk. Please verify that you are not pregnant at the time of your treatment.
What Is the Best Age for Filler Treatments?
While the eligibility age for this treatment is 21, many patients prefer to wait until it’s the “right” time to have an anti-aging treatment. So, is there a best age? Ultimately, the best age to have an anti-aging treatment depends on your skin, how quickly you are aging, and what you are willing to live with. It used to be that only people in their 40s would seek this treatment, but recently many 20 and 30-year-olds have been using dermal fillers to stave off the early signs of aging.
Of course, many patients also seek to use dermal fillers as a means of contouring their appearance. If you are using a filler to augment your cheeks, nose, or lips, then there is no “best” age to have treatments as long as you are at least 21 years of age.
Why Do Your Other Treatments Matter?
Many patients like to achieve comprehensive anti-aging results by combining multiple cosmetic treatments. For example, dermal fillers and neuromodulators are commonly used with laser skin treatments, chemical peels, facials, and other exfoliating treatments to address both sub-dermal and superficial signs of aging.
However, it’s important that you time these treatments well, as certain energy-based and chemical treatments can prevent dermal fillers from working as intended. If you have other cosmetic treatments involved in your overall treatment plan, then we ask that you wait at least two weeks before or after your filler appointment to use other cosmetic treatments. This ensures that your skin has time to heal and that the filler has fully settled into your skin.
What Else Do You Need to Know About Juvederm Treatments?
Aside from your eligibility, is there anything else you need to know about this dermal filler treatment? For one thing, you should know that the Juvederm family of fillers has several options that can be used to customize your filler treatment.
For example, you will have the choice of Vollure a flexible formula for fine lines and wrinkles, Voluma is ideal for cheek volume, Volbella is best for lip lines and smile lines, and Ultra is a denser formula best suited for deeper wrinkles and contouring the cheeks. During your consultation, we will help you determine which filler variant is best for your aesthetic goals – and yes, that may mean using multiple variants to complete your treatment.
Your Treatment Process
Your treatment will consist of several injections made into the sub-dermal layers of your skin to restore lost volume. While the filler does contain lidocaine, many patients prefer to use a topical numbing cream to stay comfortable during the treatment.
Your Results
Although your skin will immediately appear to have more volume after your treatment, your full results will not be visible until one or two weeks after your appointment. This is because it takes time for the dermal filler to settle into your skin and encourage new collagen growth.
Your Maintenence Appointments
If you want to enjoy your results seamlessly, then you will need to follow a maintenance schedule for your appointments. Depending on the variant of the filler that is being used, you may need to have maintenance appointments every nine to 12 months, or sometimes once every two years.
Rejuvenate Your Appearance With Juvederm Treatments
It’s time to restore your youthful appearance so you can feel confident in your beauty again. The Juvederm family of products has several dermal filler options that are compatible with most adult patients who want to reverse the visible signs of aging on their skin. If you think this treatment is right for you, please contact ALC Med Spa in Gurnee, IL to schedule your appointment today.
