Juvederm®

Introduction
Hyaluronic acid is a hydrating substance found naturally in skin and soft tissue, providing volume and youthfulness to our appearance. As we mature, there is depletion of hyaluronic acid in our skin and soft tissues, leading to wrinkles, folds, and sagging. Juvederm® is a hyaluronic acid soft tissue filler useful in correcting many of these skin and soft tissues changes. Juvederm® received FDA-approval for cosmetic use in 2006 and is available in two formulations in the United States, known as Juvederm® Ultra and Juvederm® Ultra Plus. It is processed by a patented Hylacross gel technology delivering a natural feel and longevity of volume restoration.

How is Juvederm® useful?
Juvederm® is a versatile injectable filler with the ability to soften wrinkles of the face or body, restore volume loss, or augment facial and body, if desired. Listed below are some examples of how Dr. Liu uses Juvederm®:

Wrinkles

• Smile lines (Nasolabial folds)
• Perioral rhytides (Smoker’s lines around the mouth)
• Marionette lines (Downward turn of the corner of the mouth)
• Glabellar lines (Frown lines)
• Forehead wrinkles
• Neck wrinkles
• Décolletage wrinkles (Chest wrinkles)

Volume Restoration

• Cheeks
• Under the eyes
• Chin
• Jaw
• Temples

Structural Contouring

• Lip Augmentation
• Nose
• Cheeks
• Chin
• Jowls
• Eyebrows
• Hands
• Footpads

Before

After Juvederm Lip Augmentation

Before-Lipstick Drawn on Skin

After Juvederm Corrected to Desired Fullness, No Lipstick on Skin

What is the difference between Juvederm® Ultra and Juvederm® Ultra Plus?
The difference between Juvederm® Ultra and Juvederm® Ultra Plus are the size of the hyaluronic acid molecules and the amount of cross-linking of the molecules for stability. In general, Juvederm® Ultra Plus is used for deeper folds and larger volume restoration.
                       

What should I do before treatment?
Before treatment, you should discuss with Dr. Liu your medical history, including allergies and medicines. If you are taking blood thinners, ask your doctor if it’s safe to discontinue prior to Juvederm® treatment to reduce the risk of bruising. Juvederm® treatment is contraindicated in certain situations; some of these are listed below:

1. History of multiple severe allergies
2. History of allergies to Gram-positive bacteria proteins

Does Juvederm® injection hurt?
Juvederm® injections are well tolerated. Various methods for comfort are available including gentle nerve blocks, topical numbing cream, cooling of the skin, and/or mixing of anesthetic solution with the filler.

What is the recovery time?
The majority of patients have none to minimal down time. Occasionally, a bruise may develop, which resolves in a few days. If you take a blood thinner medication, ask your doctor if it can be discontinued prior to Juvederm® treatment, to minimize the risk of bruising. Other steps can be taken to minimize bruising (please click here).  There may be some swelling noted after the procedure, which can be minimized with ice and rarely lasts more than a day.

How long does it last?
Most patients can expect immediate and sustained results between 6 to 12 months.

Are there any side effects?
Side effects are uncommon and usually minor and temporary if seen. You may experience soreness or bruising at the injection site. Rarely, people experience lumpiness or irregularity in the treatment area.  These typically resolve with gentle massage or observation.

What do I do after the treatment?
Dr. Liu has outlined patient instructions after injectable filler procedures here.