FACE VALUE
With many brides-to-be considering injectables, writer Jessica Vince shares her pre-wedding experience of Juvéderm fillers
Investing in picture-perfect brows and camera-ready hair is familiar wedding-prep territory, but it’s also becoming commonplace for brides to try non-surgical injectables, without a scalpel in sight. I, for one, had never considered going under the needle until I found myself reclined in the doctor’s chair, waiting for my dermal filler injections.
It was two months before my wedding day and I’d become increasingly aware that hundreds of high-definition photos would capture my thirtysomething face from every angle. These would be the photos I’d cherish for ever, that I’d put in picture frames and show our future children – an eternal keepsake of a special day. So the idea of a ‘tweakment’ to rejuvenate my face and give my confidence a boost, without surgery or the associated downtime, meant that my previous no-injectables stance was ready for a rethink.
‘See it as enhancing rather than augmenting,’ explained the cosmetic nurse specialist and founder of SLA Medical Clinic, Sarah Donaldson, when we met to discuss the rising popularity of pre-wedding fillers. ‘Many brides want a more sculpted and well-balanced face for their nuptials. It’s an important occasion and they’d like to look like the best version of themselves for their big day.’
It’s true, I still wanted to look like ‘me’, just less tired and more vibrant – as if I’d been doing daily yoga and getting eight hours of sleep, instead of stressing about canapés and colour palettes for the past few months.
Luckily, fillers have come a long way in recent years. The days when injectables were synonymous with an artificial ‘plastic face’ are far behind us. Now, thanks to scientific
advances and expert practitioners, the face can be recontoured in a much more natural-looking way.
Donaldson takes a bespoke approach to facial fillers in order to maintain and highlight the natural facial structure. ‘I use Juvéderm in my clinic because it’s reliable, has a good safety profile and has a range of products in the portfolio, meaning I can treat a wide demographic of patients and concerns,’ she says. ‘Juvéderm is made from synthesised hyaluronic acid (HA), a naturally occurring substance found in our skin, which plays a major role in keeping it hydrated and volumised.’ Due to its patented formula, Juvéderm integrates well with the skin’s tissue to give a natural-looking result – which is exactly the look I was after.
If you’re a first-timer like I was, it’s especially important to have a proper consultation and speak to your practitioner to voice any questions or concerns you may have. I voraciously did my research, read reviews and asked everything I needed to in order to feel calm and prepared. According to Donaldson, the key to avoiding that ‘Instagram face’ look is to consider the face holistically, rather than offering a one-size-fitsall solution. ‘Evidence shows that if we place filler anywhere in the mid-face, it can also lift and affect the lower face,’ she says. ‘So if, for example, I plump up the cheeks, I will then balance it out with a little chin projection to keep the harmony of the natural face shape. It’s all about the right ratios.’
I decided upon 3ml of filler ( just less than a teaspoon) in my chin, jaw and cheekbones. We scheduled the appointment eight weeks before my big day to give enough wiggle room for swelling or bruising, as well as allowing the filler to take full effect. Of course, there was a degree of nerves about having numerous needles injected across my face, but I knew I was in safe hands.
In the days before the treatment, I did what I could to reduce the odds of side effects, from cutting out alcohol to eating pineapple to minimise bruising (which might be an old wives’ tale, but worth a try). I read the pre- and post-treatment care tips, while my practitioner reassured me that the downtime for Juvéderm filler is typically minimal. The procedure itself was relatively painless for me, and I was in the treatment room for no more than an hour. Before I knew it, I was back in the waiting room, checking out my refreshed face in the mirror, marvelling at the fussfree process. I stayed at the clinic for another 30 minutes, so the team could ensure there were no adverse reactions, then headed back home to work without any bruising or redness in sight.
A week later, the results were subtle yet effective. It was a change that was barely detectable – only my closest friend asked what I’d done differently, wondering if I’d discovered a new miracle foundation. I felt more comfortable in my own skin and less anxious about all those wedding photos. For me, it was proof that just the smallest, most discreet tweaks could make a big difference to my self-esteem.
It’s also worth remembering it isn’t a lifelong commitment. ‘Juvéderm fillers last from nine to 24 months,’ says Donaldson. ‘Lip fillers don’t last as long as facial fillers because the area is more mobile, so I like to see my patients within three to six months to maintain the look.’
The key lesson I learned? That it’s paramount to find the right practitioner. As Donaldson says, always do your research. ‘Find a medical practitioner with good qualifications, look at their experience and ask to see their portfolio of before and after photos, because you want to go to a clinic that is the best fit for what you would like to achieve.’ Indeed, I decided to put the structure of my face in someone else’s hands before one of the most important days of my life. It’s a concept many women would balk at, but for me it was a choice that paid off. Injectables were the cherry on top of my pre-wedding prep and I walked down the aisle with an extra bounce in my step, posing for the many photos with a new sense of ease. Looking back at the photos, featuring my perkier cheekbones and defined jawline, I don’t regret a thing.
To find out more about the Juvéderm range of fillers and injections, or to find your nearest clinic provider, visit www.juvederm.co.uk.
‘Only my closest friend asked what I’d done differently, wondering if I’d discovered a new miracle foundation’