Jaw contouring is big business. A quick peek at TikTok and you’ll see that the hashtag #jawcontouring currently has 8.1 million views–and growing. Dig a little deeper and you’ll find all kinds of profile-enhancing makeup hacks, from jaw highlighter to viral product recs, making the rounds. It adds up.

“The jawline is key to creating facial balance and framing the face aesthetically,” reveals Dr. David Shafer, MD a Double-Board Certified Plastic Surgeon. The NYC-based doctor isn’t surprised these tips and tricks continue to trend on social media, but, if you’re looking for a more permanent solution, listen up. There’s a new injectable in town. In August 2022, the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) officially announced the approval of Juvéderm’s newest filler: Volux. 

“Juvéderm Volux XC is the first and only hyaluronic acid filler to receive U.S. FDA approval for the improvement of jawline definition,” confirms Dr. Shafer. According to the pros, this particular area of the lower face is often an area of concern for patients of all ages, genders, and ethnicities. Juvéderm’s parent company, Allergan Aesthetics, has been rolling out the treatment since this past fall, and it should now be widely available. We tapped three industry pros to give us the lowdown on what to expect. 

The experts:

Dr. David Shafer, MD a Double-Board Certified Plastic Surgeon 

Dr. Arash Akhavan, MD owner of Dermatology and Laser Group

Aubrey Mench, RN BSN at Cassileth Plastic Surgery and Skincare

What Does Volux Do?

Simply put: Volux contours and defines the jawline. Volux is the latest type of hyaluronic acid-based filler under the Juvéderm name (others include Juvéderm Voluma XC meant for the cheek area and Juvéderm Volbella XC meant for injection into the lips – to name a few). The main difference between Volux XC and these other HA fillers? It’s a lot firmer in feel and has more ability to “lift” the area. “It is very exciting to have a filler designed specifically for this area with the appropriate amount of firmness [and] elasticity” describes Dr. Arash Akhavan, MD owner of Dermatology and Laser Group. Aubrey Mench, RN BSN at Cassileth Plastic Surgery and Skincare, agrees calling Volux “a game changer” when it comes to rejuvenating the lower face. “It’s a beautiful option for creating a structure that more closely resembles bone,” adds Mench.

Who’s A Candidate?

All three pros agree that having a strong jawline is a desired look. “A well-contoured jawline is desirable in all genders and can help give a perception of beauty and youth,” says Dr. Shafer. As for whether or not you’d be a good candidate for filler? It depends on two factors: age and genetics. Some people are naturally blessed with a strong jawline, explains Dr. Akhavan. But as we age, “[the jawline area] begins to sag as fat distribution shifts and muscles and fat atrophy,” notes Dr. Akhavan. Other patients are born with a jawline that is less contoured than they desire–simply due to genetics. “Because of this, we have found that requests for jawline filler are common from our patients in all age groups and anyone can be a candidate,” notes Dr. Akhavan. 

How Much Jawline Filler Will You Need?

The answer: “More than people think,” reveals Mench. More specifically, according to Dr. Akhavan, it’s anywhere from two to four syringes. “All patients are different and I approach each face individually, but typically for jaw filler I am working with minimum two syringes if not more,” says Dr. Akhavan. “Most people think one syringe is a lot and it is not – one syringe is about the size of a blueberry,” she says. And creating a snatched and contoured jawline with that tiny blueberry-sized amount: “It’s nearly impossible,” says Mench.

Are There Any Risks Or Downsides?

As with all fillers, common risks can include inflammation, bruising, and swelling. However, due to the highly structural formulation (which makes the product feel denser), the Volux experience may differ from other HA filler treatments. “Patients may continue to feel Volux in the injection area after treatment, as well,” explains Dr. Shafer. Be sure to talk to your injector about what to expect from your experience, including aftercare, he notes.

How Long Does It Last?

It’s important to note that all hyaluronic acid fillers are not permanent. “Filler lasts about a year to a year and a half [and] once it dissolves, you will need to get it touched up,” says Dr. Akhavan. 

How Much Does It Cost?

Price-wise, as with all injectables, the cost can range slightly, depending on who you go to. On average though, you can expect to pay anywhere between $750-$1,500 per syringe. 

As a senior tour operator, I’ve been to many places, but this article is not about that. Instead, I’d like to cover some tips that will make your travel experience better, safer, and more enjoyable!

Take You Own Pillow

This is one way I avoid picking up germs on vacation. My daughter who worked for a 5-star hotel chain told me that when housekeeping changes the pillow slips, guests have often left their ‘slurps and slops’ behind. Imagine being the next person to sleep only a cotton cover away!

Airplane pillows will have similar germs. Now, I unashamedly always travel with my own pillow, taking it on board in a thick plastic (posh) store bag. I pack a couple of coloured pillow slips, so I don’t look like it’s a ‘souvenir’. You can sit on it to relieve the ‘numb bum’ syndrome or sleep with it as you travel or in accommodation.

What Is the Dirtiest Place on a Plane?

The bathroom? The seat? Armrests? It’s actually the fold-down table.

Cleaners are on a tight schedule, so they don’t have time to do all the nooks and crannies. Airlines rarely clean the carpets, unless there has been on ‘odorous’ spill. Air freshener in the vents covers a multitude of sins.

How do I know this? Well, my son worked in the airline industry for over 10 years.

Share Your Travel Details

Don’t disappear on vacation without leaving your travel plans with your family or close friend. That includes a copy of your insurance policy, passport, itinerary, accommodation and flights. If they win Lotto while you are away, you can fly home 1^st class! They do actually worry about us seniors going off without them, even if they won’t admit it.

Travel Health Insurance

Cheap insurance is not worth the paper it’s written on if you have to claim.

However, the add-on options are often an up-sell, and you can prune down the cost sometimes. Do your research for what is covered and how it affects the policy.

Good companies include Covid as a medical condition now, instead of a pandemic. Some countries and airlines ask for a PCR test 72 hours before traveling. Buy the policy at least three weeks before leaving so if you test positive then the insurance covers that hiccup.

Keep your policy with you at all times as you travel, as well as your passport.

If you need an emergency trip to the hospital, they will triage you and then the doctor will call the insurance company on their 24/7 number to get authorization for further treatment or admitting you to hospital.

Be a Queen at the Airport

Do you find big airports are daunting… the standing in lines, finding the right gate, getting tired and stressed? Then ride in style with the complimentary ‘passenger assist’ service.

Book this service with your flight. They pick you up at check-in and whisk you off, often in a golf cart, to the right gate for your flight.

Your travel companion comes with you through the VIP lines. “Will people look at me?” Sure, they will and say, “lucky them”! No point in starting a journey with sore knees and higher-than-it-should-be blood pressure!

Don’t Look Like a Drug Dealer!

Grandparents are well known to ‘give it a go’ for extra cash, egged on by the grandies. Watch how many are searched! Security officers don’t trust us any more than other travellers.

Ask your doctor or pharmacy to give you a list of your prescriptions and over the counter medications. If you can leave them in the original packaging that’s preferable.

A list of your conditions helps a doctor to treat you more accurately if you become unwell.

Take all your medications in your carry-on bag. If the main luggage goes to Pakistan by mistake, your blood pressure won’t explode until they send it back the next day.

Hearing aid batteries also go in your carry-on… so my son keeps reminding me!

Leave the Diamond Tiara at Home

Being a senior tourist, you are a target for petty thieves. They can be so clever, even endearing! We can be smarter. Travel with your bling that has no emotional attachment.

Travel insurance can cover the value of a family heirloom, but not the distress of losing a precious piece of jewellery.

Take a Dummy with You

No, not your partner! A dummy purse with only a few dollars is useful for a coffee… and to ‘donate’ to a thief.

Keep your passport, credit card and main money next to your skin in a pouch.

Or do it ‘native style’ in your bra! Never put all your credit cards in the one purse.

Lock everything in your room in a suitcase. Housekeeping can ‘hide’ an article and if it’s not claimed within a certain time then it’s theirs. If you discover the loss while you are in the hotel, the housekeeper can slip it back unobtrusively. (Another tip from my daughter).

Often, we don’t notice until we get home that a favourite item has gone missing. On my last trip, an old bra was taken from my dirty laundry bag. It is sadly missed!

Be a Flasher!

If you have a Seniors Card then flash it everywhere you go. Museums, art galleries, cafes, transportation, etc. They often give you a discount even if you aren’t a local.

Can save you a few dollars here and there!

Should I Take a Tour or Do My Own Thing?

As a senior myself and owner of a tour company, I understand that we often prefer to be independent. But I’m not sure if it’s a wiser choice to let someone else do the hard yards to organise a vacation. Backpackers love to ‘go with the flow’ but as we mature that might not turn out so well in reality. We like our creature comforts and security… right?!

Many of us are single. That’s lonely and not so safe to travel these days. I love having someone with me to share the “wow” of an amazing place. I often get asked by a solo traveller if they will be the odd one out on a tour.

As I specialise in seniors, the guest list is a mix of couples, solos and elderly parent with an adult ‘child’. Works well. You tour and eat together, but can retreat to your own room for ‘my time’.

Bon Voyage for your next trip!

Let’s Have a Conversation:

What are the best vacations you have had as a senior? Do you have any ‘hot tips’ for us?

Nicole Martin’s Tan Belted Leather Dress on Her Instastories

Real Housewives of Miami 2023 Instagram Fashion

Nicole Martin looked lovely in her tan belted leather dress on her Instastories. She was attending an event called 12 Good Men and it appears that one of those men was Ronald McDonald? Either way this dress is super cute for spring and the fact that it’s fully stocked means we need to stop clowning around and order a new happy meal dress.

Sincerely Stylish,

Jess

Click Here to Shop Her Alice + Olivia Dress

Click Here for Additional Stock

Click Here for More Stock

Photo: @drnicolemartin

Originally posted at: Nicole Martin’s Tan Belted Leather Dress

Jaw contouring is big business. A quick peek at TikTok and you’ll see that the hashtag #jawcontouring currently has 8.1 million views–and growing. Dig a little deeper and you’ll find all kinds of profile-enhancing makeup hacks, from jaw highlighter to viral product recs, making the rounds. It adds up.

“The jawline is key to creating facial balance and framing the face aesthetically,” reveals Dr. David Shafer, MD a Double-Board Certified Plastic Surgeon. The NYC-based doctor isn’t surprised these tips and tricks continue to trend on social media, but, if you’re looking for a more permanent solution, listen up. There’s a new injectable in town. In August 2022, the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) officially announced the approval of Juvéderm’s newest filler: Volux. 

“Juvéderm Volux XC is the first and only hyaluronic acid filler to receive U.S. FDA approval for the improvement of jawline definition,” confirms Dr. Shafer. According to the pros, this particular area of the lower face is often an area of concern for patients of all ages, genders, and ethnicities. Juvéderm’s parent company, Allergan Aesthetics, has been rolling out the treatment since this past fall, and it should now be widely available. We tapped three industry pros to give us the lowdown on what to expect. 

The experts:

Dr. David Shafer, MD a Double-Board Certified Plastic Surgeon 

Dr. Arash Akhavan, MD owner of Dermatology and Laser Group

Aubrey Mench, RN BSN at Cassileth Plastic Surgery and Skincare

What Does Volux Do?

Simply put: Volux contours and defines the jawline. Volux is the latest type of hyaluronic acid-based filler under the Juvéderm name (others include Juvéderm Voluma XC meant for the cheek area and Juvéderm Volbella XC meant for injection into the lips – to name a few). The main difference between Volux XC and these other HA fillers? It’s a lot firmer in feel and has more ability to “lift” the area. “It is very exciting to have a filler designed specifically for this area with the appropriate amount of firmness [and] elasticity” describes Dr. Arash Akhavan, MD owner of Dermatology and Laser Group. Aubrey Mench, RN BSN at Cassileth Plastic Surgery and Skincare, agrees calling Volux “a game changer” when it comes to rejuvenating the lower face. “It’s a beautiful option for creating a structure that more closely resembles bone,” adds Mench.

Who’s A Candidate?

All three pros agree that having a strong jawline is a desired look. “A well-contoured jawline is desirable in all genders and can help give a perception of beauty and youth,” says Dr. Shafer. As for whether or not you’d be a good candidate for filler? It depends on two factors: age and genetics. Some people are naturally blessed with a strong jawline, explains Dr. Akhavan. But as we age, “[the jawline area] begins to sag as fat distribution shifts and muscles and fat atrophy,” notes Dr. Akhavan. Other patients are born with a jawline that is less contoured than they desire–simply due to genetics. “Because of this, we have found that requests for jawline filler are common from our patients in all age groups and anyone can be a candidate,” notes Dr. Akhavan. 

How Much Jawline Filler Will You Need?

The answer: “More than people think,” reveals Mench. More specifically, according to Dr. Akhavan, it’s anywhere from two to four syringes. “All patients are different and I approach each face individually, but typically for jaw filler I am working with minimum two syringes if not more,” says Dr. Akhavan. “Most people think one syringe is a lot and it is not – one syringe is about the size of a blueberry,” she says. And creating a snatched and contoured jawline with that tiny blueberry-sized amount: “It’s nearly impossible,” says Mench.

Are There Any Risks Or Downsides?

As with all fillers, common risks can include inflammation, bruising, and swelling. However, due to the highly structural formulation (which makes the product feel denser), the Volux experience may differ from other HA filler treatments. “Patients may continue to feel Volux in the injection area after treatment, as well,” explains Dr. Shafer. Be sure to talk to your injector about what to expect from your experience, including aftercare, he notes.

How Long Does It Last?

It’s important to note that all hyaluronic acid fillers are not permanent. “Filler lasts about a year to a year and a half [and] once it dissolves, you will need to get it touched up,” says Dr. Akhavan. 

How Much Does It Cost?

Price-wise, as with all injectables, the cost can range slightly, depending on who you go to. On average though, you can expect to pay anywhere between $750-$1,500 per syringe. 

Melissa Gorga’s White Fur Slides on Her Instastories

Real Housewives of New Jersey 2023 Instagram Fashion

Melissa Gorga looked comfy cozy in her white fur slides while going to see the movie Air. If you love shoes you’ll like the movie because it’s all about sneakers and the business/marketing behind them. And if you realllly love shoes then you’ll love this post too because it’s about these fur slides and the fact that you absolutely need a pair.

Sincerely Stylish,

Jess

Click Here to Shop Her Birkenstock Slides

Photo: @melissagorga

Originally posted at: Melissa Gorga’s White Fur Slides