Juvederm
Juvederm is a relatively new cosmetic treatment that is becoming popular as a safe and natural alternative to plastic surgery. Juvederm treatment uses an injectable gel to fill facial lines and reduce facial wrinkles. Juvederm gel is made from hyaluronic acid, a substance that occurs naturally in the skin, tendons and muscles. Hyaluronic acid has been used for medical treatment since the 1990s for arthritis, eye surgery and wound repair. In 2006, the FDA granted approval for Juvederm to be used for facial cosmetic treatment.
Often called a next-generation filler, Juvederm is used to remove smile lines which appear between the nose and corners of the mouth. It can also be used as lip filler and to fill in facial hollows and scars. The hyaluronic acid in Juvederm hydrates the skin and adds volume, giving the skin a smooth and natural appearance. The effects of Juvederm are noticeable but not overly obvious.
Juvederm is different from Botox, which immobilizes targeted facial muscles to diminish the appearance of lines. In contrast, Juvederm is a dermal filler which removes facial lines by providing filler material beneath the skin. Juvederm has no effect on the muscles of the face and fewer side effects as compared to Botox.
Cosmetic procedures which involved dermal fillers are becoming increasingly common due to their safety, relative low cost and ease of treatment. The temporary nature of dermal filler treatments like Juvederm is also an attraction for many people, since the results are reversible and will disappear within a few months.
Who is Juvederm for?
Juvederm is for people with moderate to serve facial wrinkles and lines. Juvederm is most often recommended for nasolabial folds, which extend from the nose to the corners of the mouth and are commonly known as smile lines or laugh lines. It's also recommended for oral commissures, which are lines which extend from the corner of the mouth to the chin and which are sometimes called marionette lines.
Studies of Juvederm have shown that it is more effective in erasing facial lines than other dermal fillers such as collagen. When volunteers were injected with both Juvederm and collagen dermal filler, over 90% reported that they found the results from Juvederm to be superior. In addition, Juvederm is the only hyaluronic acid filler which has been approved by the FDA as both safe and effective to be used by persons of color. The risks of hyperpigmentation and hypertrophic scarring which can occur with other dermal fillers in people of color are not present with Juvederm.
There are no age limits on who can be treated with Juvederm, but it has not been extensively tested on people under the age of 18. In addition, Juvederm is not guaranteed to be safe for women who are pregnant or breastfeeding and should be avoided in those situations.
How Juvederm Works
Juvederm treatment is a non-invasive cosmetic treatment which is prescribed by a doctor. A fine needle is used to insert Juvederm beneath facial lines and into the dermis, which is the inner layer of dense skin beneath the epidermis (surface skin) of the face. Juvederm gel fills in areas in the soft tissue of the dermis. The hyaluronic acid in Juvederm can absorb up to 1000 times its weight in water, allowing it to add significant volume under lined and sagging skin.
The manufacturing process for Juvederm results in a high concentration of cross-linked acids, which gives the gel a smooth texture that allows it to flow into the dermis during injection. This smooth texture and even flow provide the face with a natural feeling and appearance. According to Juvederm's manufacturer, the cross-linked hyaluronic acids are what give this treatment a competitive edge and make it last longer than other dermal filler treatments.
In order to allow doctors to create treatment plans tailored to specific patient needs, Juvederm gel is manufactured in two slightly different formulas. Juvederm Ultra is aimed at lines and wrinkles of medium severity, while Juvederm Ultra Plus is for more severe cases. The doctor who prescribes Juvederm will decide which version is best for an individual patient.
A Juvederm injection treatment takes about 15 minutes following an initial consultation with the doctor who will be providing the treatment. Because Juvederm has a smooth consistency, a fine needle can be used and the gel will flow smoothly and easily during the injection. While the injection is taking place, there may be some discomfort. This discomfort may continue for a short time after the injection. For this reason, some doctors choose to anesthetize the injection spot on the face with an ice pack or numbing cream before the injection. Injections in the area of the nose and lips usually cause the most discomfort.
Unlike surgical cosmetic treatments, no recovery time is needed for most Juvederm treatments. When the area being injected is small, most people can resume their normal activities immediately. In cases where the area being injected is larger, one or two days may be required for recovery.
How often is Treatment Recommended?
The improvements brought on by Juvederm are temporary, lasting up to 6 months. Juvederm is eventually absorbed into the body and facial lines will reappear. Depending on which area of the face is being treated, Juvederm treatments are recommended every 6 to 9 months. The doctor who prescribes Juvederm can make specific suggestions for how often treatments should be repeated.
Juvederm Side Effects
Juvederm is a safe treatment and the side effects are for the most part mild. These mild side effects may include redness, swelling and bumps at the injection site. The side effects usually disappear within a week. Since a skin injection is involved, there is a slight risk of infection which should be treated with antibiotics.
Many doctors ask people who are scheduled to receive a Juvederm treatment to avoid aspirin and other anti-inflammatory medications for a week prior to treatment, since these medicines can contribute to bruising and prolonged bleeding at the injection site. People with suppressed immune systems should use Juvederm with caution since it may cause an increased risk of infection. Caution should also be exercised by persons with a history of scarring or pigmentation disorders, since the interaction between Juvederm and these conditions has not been studied in depth.
Some of the serious side effects which have been experienced by a small group of people include reactions of the immune system which cause facial lumps (known as granulomas). These lumps cannot be easily treated. People with severe allergies, especially to bacterial proteins, should avoid using Juvederm. People with a history of anaphylaxis, a life threatening hypersensitivity to proteins and some drugs, also should avoid Juvederm.
Receiving Juvederm injections after chemical peels or laser treatments brings a risk of inflammation at the injection site. This is also the case if Juvederm is used before one of these treatments has completely healed.
Who can Provide Juvederm?
Juvederm must be prescribed by a doctor, but can be administered by most healthcare professionals. Juvederm is most often administered by plastic surgeons, dermatologists, eye specialists (ophthalmologists) and ear, nose and throat doctors (otolaryngologists). A doctor who is experienced with dermal fillers and other types of cosmetic treatments is the best person to seek out for Juvederm injections.
