What is Juvederm?
Juvederm is a filler that is made up of HA (Hyaluronic Acid). Hyaluronic Acid is a natural substance that can be found in our skin. HA holds 1,000 times its weight in water. HA is what gives our skin cushion, elasticity, and fullness. Unfortunately, as we age, the amount of HA production within the skin decreases which leads to the loss in the volume, sagging, and wrinkled skin. Juvederm comes in multiple forms such as Juvederm Ultra and Juvederm Ultra Plus. The difference between Juvederm Ultra and Juvederm Ultra Plus is the amount of cross-hatching within the HA-gel. If there is more cross-linking, then the gel is firmer.
What Areas Can Be Treated Using Juvederm?
Juvederm Ultra can be used in any parts of our face to increase volume and fill lines & creases. Dermal fillers are generally designed to address the static lines. Static lines are the lines that are evident in your skin when you are not creating an expression. Juvederm was first used to fill the smile lines but has since been used to fill marionette lines, contour the jawline, restore the temples, cheeks, tear-troughs, and correct lip lines. Juvederm can also add volume and sculpt the lips for people with naturally thin lips. Juvederm results are generally subtle that will leave you feeling and looking at your best.
What is the Difference of Juvederm from the Other Dermal Fillers?
Juvederm is one of the most versatile fillers because it can be used in almost all parts of the face. Juvederm has a low risk of forming nodules, but it cannot be injected too close to the surface of the skin because it can result in a bluish tinge called the tindell effect. Juvederm is considered one of the safest fillers because it can be reversed.
What Is the Recovery Period after Juvederm?
The downtime is very minimal, and most patients can return to work immediately. Patients can have minor swelling and bruising that completely resolves within 1 week. There is virtually no recovery period. Your physician may ask you to avoid strenuous exercise and alcohol for 24-48hours to minimize the risk of bruising. Any bruising can easily be covered with make-up.
How is Juvederm Administered?
The process is safe and relatively painless. Most patients can return to work immediately after their treatment. You must come-in 30-45 minutes before your appointment to apply lidocaine cream. The lidocaine cream anesthetizes the skin so that the Juvederm injections do not hurt. The Juvederm is injected into the skin with a fine needle and the results are immediate.
What should I do before my Juvederm injection?
To minimize bruising, we advise that you stop all blood thinners at least 5-days before your treatment. Do NOT stop a blood thinner is you have been directed by a physician to take a blood thinner after having had a stroke, heart attack, pulmonary embolism, or if you have an irregular heartbeat or artificial heart valves. Also, please stop over the counter pain medication and supplements that thin the blood. Pain medications to stop include Ibuprofen, Aleve, Advil, Aspirin, Midol, etc. Nutritional supplements to stop include Vitamin E, Fish-oil, Gingko, Garlic, and Ginseng. You may resume these medications and supplements 2 days after the procedure.
Benefits of Juvederm
One of the key benefits is the fact that Juvederm can be injected into almost all areas of the face. However, it is advisable to talk to your physician about what you want to achieve. Juvederm cannot fill fine lines in thin skin. Since there are a number of fillers on the market, it is important to discuss your options with a medical physician. During the initial consultation, you will be given an explanation as to what happens to the face as we age and the opportunity to view before and after photos. You will need to discuss with your physician if Juvederm is the correct corrective option for you.