How does Juvederm work?

Juvederm gel of hyaluronic acid that is injected into the skin in tiny amounts to add volume, lifting up and smoothing out unwanted wrinkles.

What is hyaluronic acid?

Hyaluronic acid is a natural substance that is found throughout your body. It gives volume to the skin, lubricates the joints and gives the eyes their shape. The hyaluronic acid in Juvederm is stabilized for long duration.

Is there an allergy test required?

No testing is needed because the hyaluronic acid is not from animal or human origin.

Is Juvederm FDA approved?

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has recently approved Juvederm®, an injection for the correction of moderate to severe facial wrinkles and folds, such as nasolabial folds, the lines between the nose and mouth. Juvederm is made of a biodegradable non-animal stabilized hyaluronic acid (NASHA) which is completely biocompatible with human hyaluronic acid.

What areas of the face can be treated with Juvederm?

Juvederm can be used for smoothing out folds and wrinkles, lip enhancements and shaping facial contours.  The most common areas are the nasolabial folds (from the base of the nose to the angle of the mouth), the lips and the glabellar lines (between the eyebrows), although other sites can also be treated.  Very superficial or very deep wrinkles may be difficult to correct.

What can I expect after treatment?

Immediately after the treatment, you can expect slight redness, swelling, tenderness or an itching sensation in the treated area. This is a normal result of the injection. The discomfort is temporary and generally disappears in a few days. After a lip treatment, the lips may become swollen and look somewhat uneven. This can persist for a few days (up to a week).

What precautions will I need to take after treatment with Juvederm?

During the first 48 hours after your treatment, do not massage or rub the treated area. If you have had a lip enhancement, avoid puckering your lips for the first two days after the treatment. Until the initial swelling and redness have resolved, do not expose the treated area to intense heat (e.g. in a tanning booth or by sunbathing) or extreme cold.

Are there any side-effects associated with Juvederm?

Injection-related reactions such as swelling, redness and tenderness might occur. Other types of reactions are very rare, but about 1 in 2000 treated patients have experienced localized reactions thought to be of a hypersensitive nature. These have usually consisted of swelling or redness at the injection site, sometimes affecting the surrounding tissues.

How long do the results last?

It has been shown in clinical trials that Juvederm is effective for up to one year, in some people.  Individual results may vary.  Juvederm maintains its shape using the body’s own moisture.  The hyaluronic acid in Juvederm is hydrophilic or water loving.  As the hyaluronic acid gradually degrades, each molecule binds to more water and over time, the same volume can be maintained with less hyaluronic acid.  This ability of hyaluronic acid to bind to water is what helps provide lasting results.

Are there any contraindications to receiving Juvederm?