Dermal Fillers

Juvéderm

Juvéderm

Juvéderm Orange County

PLUMP IT, SMOOTH IT, LIFT IT – JUVEDERM IT

Dermal fillers are gel-like substances used in aesthetics to enhance facial features, body features, or to restore lost volume. Restoring lost volume in the face reduces fine lines, smoothes wrinkles, and/or enhances facial contours. Dermal fillers treatments have become one of the most popular aesthetic treatments as it is non-surgical, has minimal downtime, and produces immediate results. 

There are many different types of fillers used for facial/body contouring or for replacing lost volume such as hyaluronic acid (HA) fillers, Calcium Hydroxylapatite fillers, Poly-L-lactic Acid, Polymethylmethacrylate fillers (PMMA), and Autologous fat grafting.

There are several different brands of dermal fillers with Juvéderm being one of the most popular brands worldwide. Other common dermal fillers used in the US are Restylane, Radiesse, Belotero, and Versa.

What is Juvéderm?

Juvéderm is a hyaluronic acid (HA)-based dermal filler.  Juvéderm is derived from Streptococcus Equi bacteria and thus contains no animal proteins. Juvéderm is commonly used to enhance facial features, specifically cheeks, lips, and around the mouth. 

The name ‘hyaluronic acid’ was coined by two researchers, Karl Meyer and John Palmer, from Columbia University. These researchers determined two functions of hyaluronic acid, hydration of the skin and sustaining the skin’s plump appearance. This acid was not used for medical purposes until the 1990s. Juvéderm was approved by the FDA for cosmetic use in 2006. It is manufactured by Allergan, a global pharmaceutical leader headquartered in Dublin, Ireland.   

Juvéderm is a line of products designed with varying  HA consistency in order to treat different areas. For instance, there are thinner versions of Juvederm which are designed for lips and more thicker versions of Juvederm designed for lifting or contouring cheeks. The initials ‘XC’ indicates the presence of  anesthetic numbing agent, lidocaine,  that is added to the product for extra comfort during the procedure. 

Juvéderm Ultra XC: Adds volume and fullness to the lips and cheeks. It also reduces the appearance of fills in fine lines and wrinkles. The results last up to a year. 

Juvéderm Ultra Plus XC: Adds volume to the face by filling in lines and wrinkles. The results last up to a year. 

Juvéderm Voluma XC: Adds volume to lift and contour the cheeks. Reverses age-related volume loss. The results last for up to 2 years. 

Juvéderm Vollure XC: Adds subtle volume to reduce fine lines and wrinkles. The results last for up to 18 months. 

Juvéderm Volbella XC: Targets thin lips by adding volume. It has the added benefit of smoothing the appearance of vertical lines on the lips. The results last for up to a year. 

Achieving optimal results requires an understanding of the facial anatomy and the changes that occur with age. Many times a combination of dermal fillers are necessary to achieve desired results.

Treatment

A dermal filler treatment typically takes 20-45 minutes depending on how many dermal fillers are used. The treatment is performed using tiny needles or cannulas depending on the clinician and the area. For added comfort a local anesthetic may be used. Although you may get immediate results, swelling is common and the final results typically take up to 2 weeks. The results typically last 12-24 months depending on the type of Juvéderm. 

Before / After

Juvéderm Benefits:

  • Restores lost volume and enhances facial features
  • Decreases the appearance of facial wrinkles and folds
  • Lip augmentation, commonly known as lip plumping
  • Used to reduce the appearance of lip lines, nasolabial folds (smile lines), marionette lines, tear trough (dark circles, eye bags), frown lines, scars (acne scars, trauma scars)
  • Enhances or contours cheeks, jawline,  chin, forehead, nose (non-surgical nose correction)
  • Reduces the appearance of jowls
  • Minimally invasive with the use of tiny needles
  • Minimal discomfort the with use of a local anesthetic
  • Quick results that can last up to 2 years
  • Reversible if you do not like the results

Dermal Filler Pre & Post Care Instructions

Pre-Treatment Instructions

  • Plan this treatment at least 2 weeks before any important event to allow adequate time for possible swelling and bruising to subside.
  • Medications or supplements that may increase your risk of bleeding should be avoided 3-7 days before treatment. These include, but are not limited to, anticoagulant medication, antiplatelet medication, aspirin, aspirin-containing medications, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, fish oil, flaxseed, garlic, Ginkgo Biloba, ginseng, omega 3 fatty acids, St. John’s Wort, and vitamin A or E. You should consult with your physician before discontinuing anything prescribed or recommended by your physician.
  • Stop drinking alcohol 1-2 days before injections.
  • Consider taking Arnica the day of treatment.
  • If you have a history of cold sores of Herpes Simplex Virus, you may be recommended to take an antiviral medication before treatment.
  • Eat a meal or light snack before treatment. Notify the clinician if you have a needle phobia, prior to treatment. This allows the clinician to take the appropriate precautions to ensure your treatment is as comfortable as possible.

Post-Treatment Instructions

  • Avoid touching the treated area for 6 hours. After that, light makeup can be applied and the area can be gently washed with soap and water.
  • Immediately after the treatment, there may be slight redness, swelling, tenderness, and an itching sensation in the treated area. This is a normal result of the injection. The inconvenience is usually temporary and generally disappears in less than 6 hours after injection into the skin and less than 1-2 days after injection into the lips. Occasionally the initial swelling after lip treatment may last longer. Occasionally some patients experience swelling for about 1 week and the lips can look somewhat uneven during this time. This means that the result directly after the treatment should not be seen as the final result. 
  • If you have swelling, apply cold compresses to the treatment area for 5-10 minutes every hour as needed.
  • If you have previously suffered from facial cold sores, there is a risk that the needle punctures could contribute to another eruption of cold sores.
  • If you have any pain, you may take Tylenol.
  • Avoid alcohol for 24 hours after treatment.
  • Avoid strenuous activities 1-2 days after the procedure. Walking is acceptable.
  • No excessive sun or heat until any initial swelling and redness have resolved.
  • Avoid squeezing or massaging the treated areas for several hours after treatment as this could subtly change the results.
  • Apply sunscreen with broadband protection (UVA and UVB) and have a sun protection factor of SPF 30 or more.
  • Medications or supplements that may increase your risk of bleeding should be avoided 2-3 days after treatment. These include, but are not limited to, anticoagulant medication, antiplatelet medication, aspirin, aspirin-containing medications, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, fish oil, flaxseed, garlic, Ginkgo Biloba, ginseng, omega 3 fatty acids, St. John’s Wort, and vitamin A or E.
  • This treatment is temporary and the duration of the effect can vary from patient to patient. You may wish to consider additional treatments before the effect has completely dissipated.
  • Optimal results are generally achieved with patients who continue treatments routinely.
  • Contact the office or seek medical attention if any concerning or unusual side effect occurs.