If you’ve been tempted to book a consultation or simply want to find out more, here’s a one-stop guide with all the information you need at your fingertips.
WHY FACIAL FILLERS?
From leading a busy lifestyle and burning the candle at both ends to dealing with a particularly stressful life event, there are so many reasons why women start considering facial fillers. Maybe you’re not looking as fresh as you used to despite living a healthy lifestyle and having a great skincare regime that used to work wonders a few years back. Perhaps you’ve had more than your fair share of stress recently and it is beginning to show on your face or your face has lost some of its natural volume as you age. Many women with these concerns are finding that facial fillers can give their faces a subtle, natural-looking lift and can become a new part of their skincare regime.
MOST IMPORTANT FIRST STEP
The key thing when considering facial filler treatment is to find an excellent aesthetic practitioner who you can trust. There is a huge variety of extremely talented practitioners out there, but finding one who’s right for you – and is experienced and qualified – is very important. Equally, finding someone who practises in an environment where you’re going to feel comfortable is also crucial. Whether that’s somewhere that has a homely feel or a more clinical atmosphere, or whether you want to be treated by a male or female nurse or surgeon, you will find an aesthetic practitioner ideally suited to you through the Juvéderm Clinic Connector at https://locator.juvederm.co.uk
WHY A CONSULTATION IS KEY
Once you’ve located the right practitioner, you should book a no-obligation consultation to discuss every aspect of your treatment. Your first consultation is crucial so take the time to discuss any concerns you might have about the treatment and ask lots of questions. Not only does a thorough consultation give you a chance to get to know your aesthetic practitioner, but it provides you with the opportunity to explain your main facial ageing concerns and how you’d like to look. Everyone has different reasons for seeking treatment, and each treatment plan will be bespoke and individual to suit your needs. It may be that you only require a small amount of filler in one area of your face or you might benefit from a more holistic approach.
Expert aesthetic practitioner Dr Mervyn Patterson likes to allow at least an hour for an initial consultation. “There are so many things you need to go over in the first consultation,” says Dr Patterson. “One of the things I ask my patients to bring in is a selection of photos so they can pinpoint when they felt their best and it also gives me an idea of how their face is likely to age so I can suggest a treatment approach that will work best for them.”
The techniques he uses all aim to restore the basic structure and volume of the face. “It’s no longer about filling in lines,” he says. “I will objectively look at a face and then recommend a treatment plan that will enhance a patient’s natural beauty. Patients can get too focused on their specific areas of concern and this stops them from seeing the bigger picture.”
VITAL QUESTIONS TO ASK
The consultation gives you the chance to ask your practitioner all the questions you have about treatment. This should include asking to see a wide variety of before and after pictures of previous patients, and anything you would like to know about facial fillers in general.
Q. What’s the difference between temporary and permanent facial fillers?
A. Temporary facial fillers are made with hyaluronic acid, a substance which occurs naturally and is broken down over time. Hyaluronic acid is a naturally occurring sugar found in the lower, dermal layer of your skin, so you are almost replacing like for like. Temporary fillers may last up to approximately 18 to 24 months depending on the treatment. Permanent facial fillers are made with a variety of active ingredients so results can be unpredictable.
Q. There’s hyaluronic acid in my moisturiser – what’s the difference?
A. Hyaluronic acid helps to keep the skin moisturised and hydrated, but to replace volume in the face, it needs to be injected below the surface of the skin.
Q. How does the hyaluronic acid restore volume and fill fine lines in the face?
A. The Juvéderm range of facial fillers are made using hyaluronic acid with cross-link technology, which has been shown to be smoother, making the injection easier and less painful, providing longer lasting results.
Q. Will anyone know that I have had treatment?
A. A good aesthetic practitioner will ensure results are subtle and natural-looking, so it is unlikely, although they may comment on how well you look.
Q. What is the down time?
A. There is no specific down time; the side effects of treatment with facial fillers can include tenderness, redness, swelling and bruising on the injection site, though these are usually temporary and clear within a few days.
YOU COULD ALSO ASK…
- What brands of facial fillers do you offer?
- Is the manufacturer of your chosen fillers one that you trust?
- How satisfied are you and your patients with the results?
BOOKING A TREATMENT
After your consultation, when all your questions have been answered, you should be armed with all the information you need to consider whether or not treatment is right for you. If you are still hesitating, you might like to know that research shows that of the women who do go ahead with treatment, 90 per cent are satisfied with the results and many wonder why they didn’t do it sooner.
WHY JUVÉDERM?
“Juvéderm facial fillers are manufactured by a company with a long-standing reputation for quality and background of research in this industry,” says Dr Patterson. “Juvéderm stands out as a brand with a wealth of data showing how well it works. The fillers are meticulously clinically tested and, when administered by a qualified practitioner, are very well accepted by the skin.”
HOW IS THE JUVÉDERM RANGE OF HYALURONIC ACID-BASED FACIAL FILLERS DIFFERENT?
The patented Vycross technology means there are different consistencies of fillers to suit the needs of the individual patient and the area of the face being treated. Dr Patterson explains: “If I need to soften fine lines just under the skin’s surface, I would use a facial filler such as Juvéderm’s Volbella, which is slightly thinner in consistency. If I wanted to replace lost volume in the cheeks, I would choose a product with a thicker consistency such as Juvéderm Voluma, which is also ideal for subtle lifting.”
CASE STUDY: HELLE
“I am a fitness fanatic and while exercise is great for my body, it was having a negative impact on my face, causing it to lose volume and sag slightly. Facial fillers softly lift and add subtle volume to my cheeks and give me natural-looking results so now I’m happy with how my face and body look. I travel a lot for work and find that having facial filler treatment helps me look fresh despite all the flying, which is great.
“The best advice I can give to anyone considering treatment is to find a fantastic practitioner and go to the consultation armed with questions. There is no such thing as a silly question. I had loads and, looking back, the consultation was the most important part of the process because it helped me see my face as a whole and get a better understanding of fillers. I would definitely recommend thinking through what you want to ask and taking a list of questions with you.”
To find an experienced and qualified aesthetic practitioner, go to www.juvederm.co.uk or to read about women like you who have already had treatment, visit www.this-is-me.com
