Sometimes, the aging process can leave us self-conscious and depleted of energy. If you’re not feeling quite like yourself, you might benefit from a dermal filler like Juvederm, which can lift and rejuvenate your facial features, making you feel and appear years younger. Here at Rios Center for Plastic Surgery in Edinburg, TX, we have top-notch providers ready to help you achieve the look of your dreams.
Not only is this treatment highly effective, but there are minimal side effects and restrictions before and after your treatment. Today, let’s go over what you should avoid before and after your session, and what you can do to maximize your results.
What Is Juvederm?
When we age, our facial and neck areas can change quite drastically. We may lose volume, experience sagging skin, and develop wrinkles. Fortunately, there is a simple and effective type of treatment called dermal fillers that can restore your features to their youthful state and make you look less worn out. The injections consist of a gel-like substance called hyaluronic acid that works to keep your tissues plump and lubricated.
When a qualified and experienced provider injects hyaluronic acid into strategic areas of your face, this can lift and re-shape your tissues. We offer several different options such as Voluma and Volbella, so that the treatment can be tailored to your specific needs. Whether you want a dramatic transformation or a small touch-up, dermal fillers could be the solution you’ve been looking for.
What To Avoid Before and After Treatment
When you come to your initial consultation at the clinic, we will speak to you about your current health condition and what you would like to achieve. If we believe that dermal fillers are the best treatment for you, we will then tell you more about them and what you can expect during your session. This type of injection is minimally invasive, so you won’t need to alter your lifestyle greatly before and after your appointments.
However, there are a few things to keep in mind for your safety and the effectiveness of the results. For example, you’ll need to stop taking blood-thinning medication and excessive alcohol, and you shouldn’t apply make-up directly afterwards. It’s also best to avoid certain other treatments, excessive heat, and direct sunlight in the days before and after your visit to the clinic.
Blood-Thinning Medication
The most important instruction will be to stop taking blood-thinning medication at least five days before your appointment. This is because such drugs can make you more susceptible to bruising, and we want your treatment to be free of negative side-effects. We will ask you whether you take any medications like NSAIDs or Aspirin.
In addition to over-the-counter and prescription drugs, you might also need to temporarily stop taking certain supplements. Fish oil, garlic, ginseng and Vitamin E are all not recommended prior to treatment. We can give you a complete list at your consultation, so you can be sure you’re steering clear of anything that thins your blood.
Certain Types of Treatments
While you can enjoy certain complementary treatments like Botox alongside your dermal fillers, it’s best not to have any dental work done in the two weeks before and after your injections. This includes cleanings and routine appointments, so be sure to check your schedule before committing to them. You should also avoid massages or putting your face in a massage cradle in the first two weeks after your session with us.
Excessive Heat
It won’t be good for your skin to be subjected to excessive heat right after you’ve had your fillers. For this reason, you’ll need to stay away from very hot showers, saunas, or cooking at a hot stove for a long time. This is because your blood vessels may dilate in the heat, and it could cause bruising. Strenuous exercise could have the same effect, so it’s best to avoid this for a few days, as well.
Direct Sunlight
UV rays can damage your skin significantly, especially when it is still sensitive from your treatment. For this reason, you’ll need to use a strong sunblock, ideally with an SPF of 50 or more. Depending on the season and the current weather conditions, it may be best to stay inside or in the shade for the first 24-48 hours after your session with us.
Excessive Alcohol
Like excessive heat, too much alcohol can cause the blood vessels to dilate, which encourages unnecessary bruising. We recommend that you abstain from alcohol entirely for the first 24 hours post-treatment, and then you can resume it in moderate amounts.
Make-Up
Finally, your skin may feel sensitive for a few hours, particularly as it will still be numbed from the treatment. You shouldn’t wear makeup during this critical time, and it may be best to keep your skin bare for the first day. If you need to go to work and have had your injections in your neck or chin, you can wear a scarf to cover up the treatment area. Some of our patients are happy to return to work straight away, but others will take a day off to rest and heal.
What To Do To Maximize Results
Now that you know all the things you’ll need to avoid, you might be curious about what you should do to maximize your results in the long-term. Juvederm helps to rejuvenate your skin so that you look years younger, but it doesn’t stop the aging process. Several months or a year after your initial treatment, you will need to come back to the clinic for a top-up appointment.
To maximize the time your results last, you can live a healthy lifestyle. By eating well, avoiding alcohol and nicotine, staying out of direct sunlight, and drinking lots of water, you can support your treatment so that you benefit from it to the maximum.
Eat a Healthy Diet
While aging is natural, it is often sped up by a lack of nutrients. Vitamins C and E, for example, can neutralize free radicals that cause damage to your skin, and Vitamin B12 can make you feel less tired, which affects your outward appearance significantly. By getting enough of these vital components every day, you will look more radiant, and the effects of your fillers will be more noticeable.
The easiest way to ensure you get all the nutrients you need is to eat many different fruits, vegetables, and proteins every day. By ‘eating a rainbow’, or, eating foods of different colors, you will deliver all of the most vital substances to your body. If you’re not sure how to achieve this, you could speak to a dietitian or a nutritionist.
Avoid Harmful Substances and Extreme Sunlight
There are several substances that have a detrimental effect on your skin, so you should avoid them as much as possible. The two biggest culprits are nicotine and excessive alcohol. When you expose yourself to these on a regular basis, they can reduce blood flow to the area and dry out your skin, so the moistening effects of Juvederm are destroyed.
Another factor is the amount of direct sunlight your body is exposed to. The UV rays can damage your skin cells and make you look more wrinkled, so it’s best to wear strong sunscreen and avoid lengthy exposure to the sun.
Drink Lots of Water
As mentioned, the hyaluronic acid contained in your filler works to moisturize your tissues and keep the facial area plump. But this is a challenging job when your body is constantly running low on water. 75% of Americans are regularly dehydrated, so there’s a big chance that you’re not currently drinking enough water. Why not prepare an extra glass every morning and drink it throughout the day?
Getting Your Injections
Although all of this might seem like a lot of information, dermal fillers are a minimally invasive treatment, and you won’t have to significantly alter your life before and after treatment. Unlike during surgery, you don’t have to take two weeks off work to recover. Many of our patients return to work the day after their treatment, while others get the injections on Friday and are ready to return by Monday.
Rejuvenate Your Face and Neck Now
Juvederm Edinburgh is a great treatment for anyone looking to diminish the negative effects of aging. It can smooth out wrinkles, lift and add volume to your face, and plump up areas that might have started sagging. To find out if this is the optimal solution for you, get in touch with us at Rios Center for Plastic Surgery in Edinburg, TX. Dr. Rios and his friendly team will be happy to tell you more.
Back to Blog
