How Long Does Voluma Last?
If you want to look younger and rejuvenated whilst still looking totally natural, you may be interested in Voluma. This groundbreaking treatment works to smooth and lift the skin, filling out the wrinkles, fine lines, and thin lips that can leave you looking aged and tired. We’re proud to offer this treatment here at Southwest Michigan Plastic and Hand Surgery in Portage, MI. If you’re interested in learning more about this fantastic treatment, read on.
How Long Does Voluma Last?
Incredibly, the effects of Voluma can last for up to two years. The exact length of results will vary depending on the individual and how their body functions. But one thing’s for sure – during this time, you’ll be able to enjoy glowing, smooth skin that has you looking younger and naturally gorgeous. When the results fade, many of our patients come back in to get treatment all over again, since appointments are so quick and easy that they can be booked in for your lunch break!
What Is Voluma?
This groundbreaking treatment is an FDA-approved series of injections made to the face. It’s part of the “dermal filler” family, which means it adds volume and hydration to the face by delivering the body a substance called hyaluronic acid. This lifts your skin, leveling out wrinkles and plumping out sagging and hollow areas. The result is a more youthful-looking appearance that can renew confidence. Patients love that this treatment doesn’t “reconstruct” the face, but rather refreshes and enhances your natural beauty.
What Is Hyaluronic Acid?
Hyaluronic acid, or HA, is a substance that occurs naturally in the body. Its job is to bring moisture to the skin, which keeps it soft. It’s also directly linked to the body’s production of collagen and elastin, proteins that keep the skin supple and lifted. The problem is, as we age, we produce less and less HA, and as such less and less collagen and elastin. This is why the skin becomes more coarse and sagging the older we get.
In this treatment, a synthetic version of HA is injected directly into the skin. Once inside the body, it searches for water molecules and binds with them. Incredibly, HA can carry a thousand times its weight in water, which it then brings to the skin’s surface to immediately replenish it with moisture. The HA then settles into the face, tightening the skin gradually creating a more sculpted look. It commonly takes about two weeks for patients to see optimal results.
So What Should I Expect Out of Treatment?
An Initial Consultation
You’ll first need to come into our gorgeous Portage office for a chat. This will be our opportunity to hear all about your skin concerns and make sure this treatment will work to address them. We’ll also go over any medications you might be on and your medical history. If everything looks good, we’ll design a treatment plan specifically tailored to your face and aesthetic goals. This will include how many injections you’ll need, where they’ll be made, and how much product will be used.
Your Appointment
On the day, you’ll be asked to come in with a clean face so that there’s no risk we’ll contaminate the needle with any makeup or sunscreen. We may first apply a topical numbing agent to the treatment area to ensure you’re comfortable throughout the process. We’ll then follow along with the treatment plan, making careful injections to the areas you’re looking to correct. The entire process only takes about fifteen minutes, then you’re all done!
Where Can This Treatment Be Applied?
This treatment works on all sorts of cosmetic concerns, from fine lines to more severe wrinkles. Some of the most popular areas it’s used on include:
- Frown lines
- Smile lines
- Thin lips
- Hollow cheeks
- Sunken temples
- Marionette lines: the lines that go from the corners of the mouth down to the chin
- Nasolabial folds: the lines that go from the nostrils to the corners of the mouth
- Hands
How Much Recovery Time Will I Need After My Treatment?
Get excited, because this treatment doesn’t require any downtime! You’ll be able to immediately get on with your day, even driving yourself to and from your appointment because we don’t use anesthetic. So whether it’s heading back to work or meeting a friend for a coffee, your schedule won’t take a hit. We may recommend a few precautions to take or things to avoid based on your specific needs or medical history, but it will only be for a few days after your session.
What Other Fillers Are Available?
Here at Southwest Michigan Plastic and Hand Surgery, we’re thrilled to offer a range of cosmetic solutions that fight the signs of aging and refresh dull, tired skin. During your consultation, we may discover that Voluma won’t be the most effective treatment to remedy your cosmetic concerns. Instead, we’ll be happy to suggest an alternative treatment that will get the job done, whether that’s another type of injectable or something else entirely.
Alternative Derma Fillers
- Perlane: This HA injectable is used mainly on the mouth to reduce lines and create fullness in the lips.
- Prevelle: This injectable combines HA with Lidocaine, which makes injections more gentle. It has a very even texture that makes the results look smooth and consistent.
- Restylane: A very popular lip filler, it’s also very effective when used on crow’s feet and nasolabial folds.
- Radiesse: This injectable is made up of a protein called calcium hydroxylapatite, which makes it a stronger filler that can effectively restructure areas of the face. These areas commonly include the cheekbones and nasolabial folds.
- Juvederm: A more gentle, natural-looking option for candidates who want to treat lines all over the face, this soft gel filler will give you a more subtle, but still stunning, look.
Other Injectables
Sometimes it’s not a loss of HA that’s caused our wrinkles, but rather repeated facial movements that make lines and indents on the skin. If this is the case, dermal fillers won’t do much to remedy it. But neuromodulators like Botox and Dysport will. These incredible injectables target the nerves under the skin’s surface and block their communication with nearby muscles. When this happens, the muscles can’t contract, meaning you can talk and laugh without wrinkles forming! These treatments are particularly effective on frown lines, forehead lines, and crow’s feet.
Facelift
If you’re looking to treat more severe skin sagging, then injectables may not do the trick. A facelift is a surgical procedure that involves removing and pulling back excess skin on the face, notably around the neck and cheeks. The results are incredible, with patients looking years younger and enjoying results that can last for up to a decade. If you have time to take off work and you’re struggling with severe jowls or “turkey neck”, this can be an incredible option.
What Other Factors Cause Wrinkles?
Despite wrinkles and lines being called “the signs of aging”, age is really only one piece of the puzzle. Did you know that things like alcohol consumption, smoking, weight fluctuation, and even air pollution can affect how quickly our skin starts wrinkle sag? Plus, as mentioned above, dynamic wrinkles are caused by making the same expressions over and over. While there are certain lifestyle changes a person can make to minimize the development of wrinkles, it’s great that treatments exist to turn back the clock on them too!
Who Is a Good Candidate for Treatment?
Certain medical conditions and medications may prohibit you from being able to undergo this treatment. Those who are pregnant or breastfeeding will also be ineligible, as will anyone under the age of 18. Beyond this, however, we encourage anyone who’s been feeling self-conscious about aging skin to come in for a consultation. These cosmetic concerns don’t affect one single age, skin tone, or gender, so if you’re noticing your skin start to sag or crease, you might be a great fit for this treatment.
Are You Ready for Rejuvenated, Younger-Looking Skin?
If you want to give your skin a boost of volume and hydration, but still look like yourself, then you might be interested in Voluma. Whether it’s to plump up your lips or turn back the clock on aging skin, this unbeatable injectable can have you feeling gorgeous in just a few minutes. So what are you waiting for? Schedule a consultation with our wonderful team here at Southwest Michigan Plastic and Hand Surgery in Portage, MI, today.
