Dermal Fillers: Juvederm and Voluma XC

Dermal fillers are made of either collagen or hyaluronic acid which are naturally occurring chemicals in the body that have been formulated for injection. Griffin Plastic Surgery offers several options for keeping you looking young and healthy. The fillers we use help smooth out lines on the face and add volume to areas that have been damaged from years of facial expression and sun damage. Each product has its own advantages and Dr. Griffin will help you find the product that is best for you.

Introducing Juvederm Voluma XC

"The youthful way I feel on the inside is now what I see on the outside."

Dr. Griffin is pleased to announce that he is the first physician in this area to inject Juvederm Voluma XC, the first and only FDA-approved filler to instantly add volume to the cheek area.

It looks natural. It feels natural.

Juvederm Voluma XC instantly adds volume to the cheek area, with natural-looking results up to 2 years with optimal treatment. It contains a modified hyaluronic acid (HA), derived from a naturally occurring complex sugar. It is injected under the skin with a small needle. Juvederm Voluma XC works instantly to add volume and subtly lift the cheek area, temporarily reversing this sign of aging. To reduce pain during the procedure, Juvederm Voluma XC contains a numbing agent called lidocaine. In the clinical study, patients perceived themselves to look 5 years younger 6 months after treatment. Dr. Griffin would value the opportunity to discuss whether Voluma XC is the right option to achieve the results you desire.

If You're Considering Injectables...

As we age, our faces begin to show the effects of gravity, sun exposure and years of facial muscle movement, such as smiling, chewing and squinting. The underlying tissues that keep our skin looking youthful and plumped up begin to break down, often leaving laugh lines, smile lines, crow's feet or facial creases over the areas where this muscle movement occurs.

Soft-tissue fillers, most commonly injectable collagen, hyaluronic acid, or fat, can help fill in these lines and creases, temporarily restoring a smoother, more youthful-looking appearance. When injected beneath the skin, these fillers plump up creased and sunken areas of the face. They can also add fullness to the lips and cheeks. Injectable fillers may be used alone or in conjunction with a resurfacing procedure, such as a laser treatment, or a recontouring procedure, such as a facelift.

Knowing Your Options

Fillers are primarily used to improve the appearance of the skin's texture. They can help correct deep facial wrinkles, creases and furrows, "sunken" cheeks, skin depressions and some types of scars. They can also be used to add a fuller, more sensuous look to the lips.

Injectables are usually not sufficient for severe surface wrinkles on the face, such as multiple vertical "lipstick lines" that sometimes form around the mouth. Instead, your plastic surgeon may suggest a resurfacing technique, such as chemical peel, dermabrasion or laser treatments. Rather than filling in facial lines, resurfacing methods strip away the outer layers of the skin to produce a smoother appearance.

Deep folds in the face or brow caused by overactive muscles or by loose skin may be more effectively treated with cosmetic surgery, such as a facelift or browlift. Injectables are sometimes used in conjunction with facial surgery procedures; however, injectables alone cannot change facial contour the way surgery can.

Keep in mind that a plastic surgeon is a specialist that can offer you the full gamut of the most advanced treatments ranging from cosmetic surgery, refinishing techniques, laser therapy, injectables and the use of other fillers. You and your surgeon may determine that a single procedure or a combination of procedures is the best choice for you.

A Word About Other Types of Fillers

This web page explains commonly used injectable fillers such as hyaluronic acid, collagen and fat. However, to a lesser extent, a number of other filler materials are also being used for facial-rejuvenation purposes. They include agents such as polymers, porcine collagen, or calcium hydroxylapatite. Each of these options has its own set of risks and benefits. If you're considering any of these alternative filler treatments, tell your doctor.

What to Expect from Treatment

The most important fact to remember about injectable fillers is that the results are not permanent. Injected material is eventually metabolized by the body. You should not expect the same long-lasting results that may be gained from cosmetic surgery.

In some individuals, the results may last only a few weeks; in others, the results may be maintained indefinitely. Researchers believe that age, genetic background, skin quality and lifestyle as well as the injected body site may all play a role in the injected material's "staying power." However, the precise reason for the variation of results among patients has yet to be identified.

If you've had short-lived results from fat injections, you shouldn't necessarily assume that collagen injections will work better for you. And, conversely, if you've had disappointing results from collagen, don't assume that injected fat is the answer. Although it's true that some individuals' bodies are more receptive to one substance than the other, others may find that neither substance produces long-lasting results. Sometimes one substance may work better than the other for a specific problem.

Risks Related to Injectables

When injectables are administered by a qualified plastic surgeon, complications are infrequent and usually minor in nature. Still, individuals vary greatly in their anatomy, their physical reactions and their healing abilities. The outcome of treatment with injectables is never completely predictable.

Hyaluronic Acid: side effects are typically mild or moderate in nature and last for less than 7 days. Adverse events inclde redness, pain, firmness, swelling, lumps/bumps, bruising, itching, and discoloration.

Collagen: Allergic reaction is the primary risk of collagen. To help determine if you are allergic to the substance, your surgeon will perform an allergy skin test about a month before the procedure. After the test is performed, the test site should be watched carefully for three or four weeks, or as long as your surgeon advises. Any sign of redness, itching, swelling or other occurrences at the test site should be reported to your surgeon.

Risks not necessarily related to allergies include infection, abscesses, open sores, skin peeling, scarring and lumpiness, which may persist over the treated area. Reports of these problems are very rare.

Fat: Allergic reaction is not a factor for fat because it's harvested from a patient's own body. However, there is still a small risk of infection and other infrequent complications.

Planning for Treatment

Facial rejuvenation is very individualized. That's why it's important to discuss your hopes and expectations with a board-certified plastic surgeon who has experience with many different types of surgical and non-surgical facial procedures.

In your initial consultation, your plastic surgeon will evaluate your face - the skin, the muscles and the underlying bone - and discuss your goals for the surgery. Your doctor will help you select a treatment option based on your goals and concerns, your anatomy and your lifestyle.

Your surgeon will ask you about your medical history, drug allergies, and check for conditions that could cause problems, such as active skin infections or non-healed sores from injuries. Collagen injections are generally off limits for pregnant women, individuals who are allergic to beef or bovine products, patients who suffer from autoimmune diseases, and those who are allergic to lidocaine (the anesthetic agent contained in the syringe with the collagen material). For more specific information about the contraindications and risks of collagen use, ask your doctor for the manufacturer's brochure for patients.

Insurance usually doesn't cover cosmetic procedures. However, if your injectable treatment is being performed to treat a scar or indentation from an accident or injury, you may be reimbursed for a portion of the cost. Check with your insurance carrier to be sure.

Juvederm Injectable Gel

As we age, the natural volume of youthful skin begins to diminish as wrinkles and folds form. But, with Juvederm injectable gel, you can maintain your younger, smoother look!

Juvederm is a smooth consistency gel made of hyaluronic acid. This naturally occurring substance helps add volume and hydration to your skin. Your physician eases Juvederm injectable gel under the skin to instantly restore your skin's volume and smooth away facial wrinkles and folds, like your smile lines or nasolabial folds (the creases that run from the bottom of your nose to the corners of your mouth).

Juvederm provides a smooth, natural look and feel so everyone will notice (but no one will know)! In fact, studies show superior results of Juvederm compared to a collagen-based dermal filler. Almost 90% of all study volunteers who were treated with both Juvederm injectable gel and another dermal filler preferred Juvederm.

Juvederm injectable gel is the first FDA-approved hyaluronic acid dermal filler that is proven to be safe and effective for persons of color.

With Juvederm the injection process takes only about 15 minutes and results are immediate. Plus, there's minimal recovery time allowing you to step out of your doctor's office and back into your life. Juveederm is indicated for injection into the mid to deep dermis for correction of moderate to severe facial wrinkles and folds (such as nasolabial folds). Juvederm XC is formulated with lidocaine, a common anesthetic, to provide a more comfortable experience during and after the treatment.

Where Your Treatment Will Be Performed

Injectables are usually administered in a surgeon's office-based facility. If, however, you are being hospitalized for a facelift, necklift, browlift, or any other procedure, your injections may be administered in the hospital as well.

Your New Look

If you're like most patients, you'll be very satisfied with the results of your injectable treatments. You may be surprised at the pleasing results that can be gained from this procedure.