Hyaluronic Acid-Based Fillers for Facial Contouring and Softening Wrinkles in Denver

One of the most popular collections of dermal fillers used for replacing volume and helping restore a youthful appearance to the skin is Juvederm^®. Denver’s AboutSkin Dermatology and DermSurgery offers several formulations of Juvederm^®, which can be used for replacing volume to improve the look of prominent folds, some wrinkles, and also for facial contouring to subtly lift the skin, fill in hollow areas, or augment features like the cheeks and lips.

AboutSkin Dermatology’s Dr. Joel Cohen has been part of many filler clinical trials, including Juvederm^® for smoothing nasolabial folds and marionette lines, and Juvederm^® Voluma for shaping the cheeks. The team of Board-Certified Dermatologists at AboutSkin is thoroughly experienced in applying Juvederm^® to address a wide range of cosmetic issues. To reduce risk and enjoy a safe procedure with satisfying results, it’s always best to choose a knowledgeable injector.

How Does Juvederm^® Work?

Youthful skin is generally smooth and more “full” thanks to a molecule known as collagen. Once we reach our 20s, however, collagen levels begin going down little by little in our skin each year. Older skin is typically weaker, drier, and less elastic as a result of collagen loss, as well as because of chronological aging. These changes result in thinner fat pads below the skin, slowed production of natural oils, and less hyaluronic acid to maintain hydration. Additionally, our skin is also battered by external aggressors from the environment—like sun damage, UV radiation, pollution, and even gravity—and can also be damaged by lifestyle habits such as blue-light exposure from computers and phone screens, smoking, chronic stress, lack of sleep, and neglecting routine skin care.

Juvederm^® is the brand name for a group of soft tissue fillers that add valuable volume directly beneath the surface of the skin, correcting many of the cosmetic problems that develop due to collagen loss. Once injected during a minimally invasive treatment session, the filler blends into the skin and gives it a more lifted and supple appearance.

The main ingredient in these soft and smooth injectable gels is a synthetic form of hyaluronic acid—a glue-like substance your skin creates on its own to promote moisturization by latching onto water. The hyaluronic acid in Juvederm^® is what gives the fillers their volumizing effect. When introduced to thinning areas of the skin, the gel takes up space and acts as a substitute for any collagen, water, fat, or bone structure that is lacking.

What Does Juvederm^® Treat?

Juvederm^® minimizes moderate to severe wrinkles such as nasolabial folds— which are the indentations that stretch from either side of the base of the nose to the corners of the mouth and become more pronounced with age. It can also plump lips that have grown thin over time or that have always been thin.

Some Juvederm^® formulations are meant to address static wrinkles, which occur due to intrinsic aging, damage from the sun and environment, and other factors not strictly related to facial muscle contractions. These fillers are primarily used for enhancing the center and lower part of the face around the cheeks, mouth, and jawline area.

Another type of Juvederm^® adds fullness to hollowed or sunken areas that form when the skin “deflates” due to aging, acting as a replacement for bone to give the face a more sculpted appearance around the cheekbones or in the chin.

AboutSkin offers three formulations of Juvederm^®: Ultra, Ultra Plus, and Voluma^®. Each version has its own unique properties in terms of texture, consistency, and concentration of hyaluronic acid.

Juvederm^® Ultra

Ultra gives small, thin lips a poutier appearance, restores a youthful appearance to aging lips, and makes the lips bigger if you simply want to give them an enhanced look. It also corrects moderate to severe wrinkles around the mouth.

Juvederm^® Ultra Plus

Juvederm^® Ultra Plus is a thicker, more viscous version of Ultra that is better for deeper, more severe wrinkles and depressions, as well as more pronounced and obvious enhancement.

Juvederm^® Voluma^™

Juvederm Voluma^® is a filler designed for adding roundness to pinched-in cheeks that have hollowed due to aging. It can also be used to give the cheeks or chin a more chiselled, angular appearance, depending on the look the patient wants.

Who is a Candidate for Juvederm^®?

Ideal candidates for Juvederm^® are adults who are physically healthy, maintain a positive outlook, and have realistic aesthetic goals. If you’re allergic to ingredients contained in the fillers, such as lidocaine, or have a history of severe allergies or excess scarring, these fillers might not be suitable for you. During your consultation, the AboutSkin Dermatology team will discuss any risk factors and anything else that may prevent you from being a good candidate, as well as suggest alternative treatments or options for getting the look you want.

What is the Juvederm^® Injection Process?

Before having Juvederm^® fillers, patients will start off with a consultation with one of our Board-Certified Dermatologists so they can discuss their goals for the type of look they hope to achieve. The dermatologist will explain the benefits of the treatment, as well as other details.

Not much preparation is required beforehand, other than avoiding certain medications or supplements that could increase the risk of bleeding or bruising.

The injection process itself is simple and quick, typically lasting between 15 and 30 minutes. Specifics depend on which area or areas are being treated. A topical numbing agent or local anesthetic is recommended to be applied at home starting an hour before your appointment to try to reduce discomfort, although the injections are usually very well tolerated. Juvederm^® fillers also contain a small amount of lidocaine to make the process more comfortable.

After your face has been examined, the Juvederm^® filler is injected directly into the appropriate areas below the skin with a needle. The doctor will then lightly massage the skin to ensure that the filler is evenly distributed.

Results and Recovery

Results are visible right away, with results that last between six months to a year on average for Ultra^® and Ultra^® Plus and up to two years for Voluma^™. Minor side effects such as bruising, swelling, and redness may occur, but patients won’t usually have to take time off to recover.

What Are Some Alternatives to Juvederm^®?

Along with the Juvederm^® collection of fillers, there are other types of dermal fillers that some patients might prefer to use instead.

Hyaluronic acid-based facial fillers such as Restylane^® and Belotero^® have the same active ingredient as Juvederm^®, and they work in a similar way, but they are formulated to be gels that have different textures and strengths.

Radiesse^® is an option for patients who are looking for more “lifting” of cheeks or jawlines or hands, and sometimes can lead to a longer-lasting results. The biostimulatory filler volumizes the skin right away while also promoting gradual collagen production.

The AboutSkin Dermatology team can help you decide which filler is right for you.

Although Juvederm^® is an ideal choice for folds, it won’t work to smooth out other types of wrinkles that are primarily linked to repetitive muscle contractions made during facial expressions, such as crow’s feet and frown lines. For these lines, which are known as dynamic wrinkles, patients will need a muscle relaxant. BOTOX^® reduces the contractions of facial muscles in certain spots to make the skin look smoother and more rejuvenated for several months. Other neuromodulators—like Dysport^®, Xeomin^®, and Jeuveau^™—also work in the same way. Laser resurfacing (fractional CO2, fractional erbium or full-field erbium), is used to resurface and improve etched-in and imprinted lines in the skin.

Cosmetic dermatology options like fillers and neuromodulators won’t improve skin issues related to tone and texture, such as hyperpigmentation, enlarged pores, rough skin, and similar concerns. Skin resurfacing treatments such as laser resurfacing, fractional laser treatment, chemical peels, and microneedling can improve the overall appearance of the skin and some specific etched-in lines.

All of these options can be combined to create a customized plan that generates uniquely beautiful results.