No matter your gender, the aging process affects the appearance of your face as you get older. Over time, fine lines and wrinkles typically become more prominent, developing into deep creases and a loss of volume in the face. To help fight the effects of aging and restore a more noticeable and youthful appearance to the face, Dr. Jamie Moenster and Dr. Christopher Weyer offer FDA-approved fillers at their Tucson and Sierra Vista practices.

JUVEDERM

Juvederm is an effective and safe non-surgical treatment used to smooth your skin and improve moderate to severe facial wrinkles and folds. The active ingredient in Juvederm is hyaluronic acid which is actually a naturally-occurring product found in your body. Juvederm benefits include added volume and definition of facial features while maintaining a natural and enhanced appearance.

Juvederm treats and improves the following areas:

• Nasolabial folds (lines around the nose and mouth)
• Tear troughs (hollows under the eyes)
• Thin lips
• Cheek hollows and cheek bones
• Perioral lines (Smoker’s Lines, whether or not you smoke)

Juvederm results are immediate and vary for each person but the benefits are proven to last up to typically last 9-12 months for ultra, and 12-16 months for ultra plus.

Dr. Moenster and Dr. Weyer offer two versions of Juvederm: Ultra and Ultra Plus. Juvederm Ultra Plus is thicker than Juvederm Ultra and is designed for deeper injections. During your personal consultation, Dr. Moenster and Dr. Weyer will help determine which injectable will best meet your goals.

JUVEDERM VOLUMA

Juvederm Voluma is the newest hyaluronic acid filler to the Juvederm family of products. Voluma helps provide volume to areas of the face that have lost volume and become sunken over time. It lifts tissue, giving you a liquid facelift. It is the first and only injectable gel that is FDA-approved to instantly correct age-related volume loss in the cheek area for people over 21. It adds volume, creating contour and lift for up to two years with optimal treatment.

BOTOX

Botox is a procedure that has been safely used to treat a variety of conditions for more than ten years. It is FDA approved for the temporary treatment of frown lines. The glabella (lines between your eyebrows), your forehead and crow’s feet can be relaxed to allow your skin to be smooth again. The Botox effect usually lasts for 2 to 4 months and can be repeated when needed.

JUVEDERM & BOTOX FAQS

What is the difference between Botox and Juvederm XC?

Botox and Juvederm are two ways to treat moderate to severe facial lines and wrinkles. Both are non-surgical, but they work differently:

• Botox is injected beneath the skin’s surface to target the underlying muscle activity. This is one of the causes of moderate to severe frown lines between the brows and crow’s feet. By reducing activity of those muscles the lines on the overlying skin relax and soften or disappear.
• Juvederm XC is a filler injected into the skin to temporarily smooth moderate to severe wrinkles such as those around the nose and mouth by restoring volume and skin elasticity.

What should I discuss with my doctor before getting Juvederm or Botox?

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or have a history of excessive scarring or pigmentation disorders. You should also discuss any medications that you are currently taking that can prolong bleeding, or any treatments that decrease the body’s immune response.

Is Juvederm or Botox treatment painful?

Juvederm and Botox injections may cause some discomfort during and after the injection. Juvederm XC does contain lidocaine for a more comfortable treatment experience. Your doctor may choose to ice or use a local anesthetic to numb the treatment area further.

How long does treatment usually take?

The injection process can be performed during one office visit. The initial consultation and treatment time typically takes about 30 minutes. Your doctor will want to consult with you prior to treatment. Touch-up injections as well as repeat injections usually take 5-15 minutes and are usually needed to maintain optimal results.

What are the possible side effects of Juvederm and Botox?

Most side effects are mild or moderate and usually last 7 days or less. The most common side effects include temporary redness near the injection site and minor pain and tenderness. Firmness, swelling, lumps & bumps, bruising, itching, and discoloration can also occur. In regards to Botox, 1-5% of cases may experience a mild droopiness of the eyelid or eyebrow, which goes away within two weeks. Some patients experience slight bruising.

Can people with different skin tones be treated with Juvederm?

Yes. Juvederm filler has been studied in all skin types.

Will Botox make me feel numb or look frozen?

It will not affect the nerves that cause sensation, or make you feel numb. When it is used correctly, it can lift the brow to give an appealing and sincere look. If too much is injected, the patient may experience a frozen look, but that is why it’s important to be treated by an experienced doctor who can judge the size of your muscles and how much Botox you will need.

ARE YOU A CANDIDATE?

Individuals who are best suited for treatments with injectable fillers should fit the following guidelines:

Be in good overall health: Patients should have no preexisting medical conditions that could cause an allergic reaction to the ingredients in the fillers.

Have realistic expectations: Although fillers can provide excellent results that are long lasting, it is important to remember that the results are temporary and less dramatic than surgical procedures such as a facelift.

Allergan also offers Brilliant Distinctions or a rewards program for using Botox and Juvederm. Each treatment rewards you with points (200 per Botox session or each Syringe of Juvederm) which can be used as a cash coupon for your next treatment. Learn more and sign up today at www.brilliantdistinctions.com

If you would like to schedule a consultation with Dermatology & Plastic Surgery of Arizona, we encourage you to call (520) 207-3100 for our Tucson office location or (520) 458-1787 for our Sierra Vista location. Board-certified Plastic Surgeon Dr. Jamie Moenster and Board-certified Dermatologist Dr. Christopher Weyer and their experienced staff look forward to meeting you soon and helping you achieve a more youthful facial appearance.