You probably prefer to avoid thinking about inflation when it comes to the federal budget, your co-workers’ egos or your waistline. But one type of inflation holds some appeal: the non-surgical inflation of lips and sunken areas of the face with the cosmetic filler called Juvederm®.

If “filler” conjures up images of stuffed upholstery, don’t worry. Juvederm plumps your skin with components your body already produces.

What’s in This Filler?

The active ingredient in Juvederm® is hyaluronic acid. This thick substance makes up part of the fluid that lubricates your joints. It’s also involved with skin repair. Because hyaluronic acid lets cells move freely, Juvederm® becomes a part of your skin in a way that rigid implants can’t.

How Does It Work?

Although similar to Botox®, Juvederm® works through different means. While Botox® immobilizes muscle tissue to smooth lines, hyaluronic acid treatments fill out the skin without affecting muscles. These products stay flexible enough to go into highly mobile parts of your face without making you look as though you were styled by Madame Tussaud.

What Does It Do?

An aesthetician or doctor injects Juvederm® under your skin to restore the smoothness that time, gravity or injury may have diminished. That includes lines that bracket the corners of your mouth, thin lips and acne scars. While lifts pull skin back into place, dermal fillers add new material, giving you the option of building up lips or under-eye hollows.

There’s an art to dermal fillers. Once the hyaluronic acid enters your skin, it remains quite liquid for a few seconds. A specialist can then mold the filler under your skin to give you maximum fullness with minimal product.

What to Expect from Dermal Fillers

Juvederm® takes only a few minutes in the office and lasts for up to 12 months. There may be some mild discomfort during process of getting facial injections. Some people report it feels like a bee sting. You might have some swelling for a few days, but as this fades, you’ll see smoother skin.

Inflation has never looked so stylish!