For patients with well-defined wrinkles or creases, such as the fold between their nose and mouth and marionette lines around the mouth, most cosmetic practitioners agree that injectable fillers are the best non-surgical treatment available to date. Juvederm is cosmetic dermal filler which replaces lost volume and restores youthful contours to the skin to smooth away moderate to severe facial wrinkles and folds.

Juvederm is available as

1. Juvederm ultra: Nasolabial folds, lips and tear troughs.
2. Juvederm ultra plus: Used in correcting moderate to severe folds, such as nasolabial folds, mentolabial folds, cheek augmentation, oral commisures.
3. Juvederm voluma: Facial contouring

Juvederm treatments come in two different forms, designed to treat specialized problems. Both forms of the gel are based on the same kind of hyaluronic acid, but the sizes of the particles within them differ from one to the next. Juvederm ultra has smaller particles and is used in the thin upper layers of the skin to fill in fine creases and age lines. Deeper lines can be treated with Juvederm ultra plus injections, which can also be used to add volume to features like the chin and cheeks. Juvederm ultra plus lasts longer than Juvederm ultra.

One of the most attractive aspects of the Juvederm treatment is that it does not require a preliminary skin test. Because Juvederm is a non-animal-based filler and also colourless, there is very little chance that an allergic reaction will occur. This is good news for those who are interested in firming their face, reducing fine lines and wrinkles, and adding volume to lips, but are allergic to the animal components that are found in most other Injectable.

As we age, our skin changes. Over time, the natural volume of youthful skin begins to diminish as folds form. But with Juvederm, you don’t have to just sit back and let it happen. Juvederm is a smooth consistency gel made of hyaluronic acid- a naturally occurring substance in your skin that helps to add volume and hydration to your chin, cheeks, cheekbones, folds near your nose, eye trough, pouting of lips that have become hollow or thin due to weight loss or age-related facial fat loss.

Frequently asked questions?

How does Juvederm work?

The transparent Juvederm gel is injected with a syringe into the mid- to deep dermis of your face. The dermis is the subsurface skin layer that contains connective tissue, nerve endings, sweat and oil glands, and blood vessels.

Juvederm improves your appearance by lifting and adding volume to the wrinkles and folds in the treatment area. After six to nine months, the biocompatible compound is naturally absorbed into the body.

One advantage to Juvederm is its pliant gel consistency, which may provide a smoother, more natural-looking appearance than some of its more rigid predecessors. Another advantage is that Juvederm may last longer, maintaining the improved appearance for six to nine months. The benefits may last even longer if you have a follow-up treatment a few weeks after the first treatment.

The procedure

Before receiving treatment, you should stop taking Aspirin, vitamin E supplements, and Fish oil supplements, as these can increase bruising or bleeding at the injection site and may also lengthen your healing time. Your doctor will advise you if any other medications you are taking could interfere with your treatment, and these medications should be avoided as well. If you have any other health concerns, make sure to share these with your doctor, as well.

A mild anesthetic is advised, although not always necessary. It may be topical, or a dental block as requested by a patient. Fillers are injected directly into the skin in tiny amounts by an ultrafine needle, resulting in minimal discomfort. The procedure is simple, convenient and the results are practically instantaneous. Treatment time is approximately 20 minutes.

The results are seen instantaneously, although there may be some redness for a few days. Fillers can last from 6-12 months.

When used with BOTOX cosmetic, erbium laser resurfacing, facial peels, and our cosmeceuticals, the long-term results are excellent.

After care

Juvederm aftercare is simple and does not generally interfere with the daily routines of patients. Patients should avoid over exposure to heat and sunlight, as they might increase swelling and bruising at the injection site. Also, chemical peels, laser skin resurfacing, laser skin tightening, and other laser enhancements should be avoided as there is a chance that they may cause inflammation. Post-treatment pain should be minimal. A common complaint among those who have undergone Juvederm treatment is swelling, though this should subside in the first few days after the injection. Healing time varies from person to person, however, so some may experience redness and swelling slightly longer than others.

Doctors will advise their patients to avoid flexing their facial muscles in the area of treatment. Stretching your muscles can disturb the Juvederm gel. For the first 24 hours after treatment, it is best to avoid sudden movements in the enhanced area. For example, a patient who has undergone a Juvederm treatment for lip augmentation might be advised against excessive laughing, as this will stretch the surrounding muscles and may bother the Juvederm gel. As part of the Juvederm aftercare procedure, it is also advisable to use a cold pack as needed to reduce swelling and redness at the injection site.

Results

The results of Juvederm tend to last 6-9 months. Touchups may be needed after six months in areas that are more prone to movement, such as the lips. Also, some patients desire a touchup treatment during the first two weeks after their initial procedure. After this time, you may choose to undergo another Juvederm treatment, and since each subsequent treatment tends to last longer than the previous one, your results can be easily maintained by seeing your doctor regularly. If you don’t choose to have additional Juvederm injections, the hyaluronic acid will absorb naturally into your skin, and leave no trace of cosmetic filler.

The most important thing to remember about Juvederm treatment and other injectables in its class is that they are temporary and the effects will eventually fade.

Remember, you get the best results when Juvederm is used with BOTOX cosmetic, erbium laser resurfacing, facial peels, and our cosmeceuticals.

Side effects

Side effects with Juvederm are rare, but may include redness, tenderness, or pain at the injection site. If these occur, they usually subside within three days. Rarely, discoloration may occur, but this is reversible. Firmness, swelling, bumps and bruises are also rare side effects, and should subside within seven days.