What is hyaluronic acid?
Hyaluronic acid is a substance which is normally found in the tissues and helps by moisturizing and providing volume to the skin. Hyaluronic acid has been used by more than 20 years in other medical specialties and is currently the most commonly used wrinkle filler by its results and safety.
What is Juvederm ®?
Juvederm ® is hyaluronic acid gel produced by Allergan laboratory, which also produces Botox ®, the most used botulinum toxin worldwide. Juvederm ® is FDA approved in the US, recently available in Argentina, and authorized by ANMAT.
Juvederm has two presentations: JUVÉDERM ® ultra XC, and JUVÉDERM ® Ultra Plus XC, hyaluronic acid with and without lidocaine.
What is Juvederm indicated for?
Juvederm ® is a hyaluronic acid gel indicated for patients who want to remove facial wrinkles; particularly moderate to severe facial wrinkles and folds such as nasolabial folds and tear trough. It’s also indicated for lip definition and enhancement.
How is Juvederm ® applied?
Using a fine needle, Juvederm ® is injected directly into wrinkles, creases or lips until to obtain the volume and desired effect.
How long does the procedure take?
It depends on the number of areas to be treated, generally between 15 and 30 minutes.
What should I expect about results?
You should see an immediate improvement in the treatment areas. Most patients need one treatment to achieve optimal wrinkle smoothing. Supplemental “touch up” treatments may be required to achieve and maintain optimal results.
How long do Juvederm ® results last?
Juvederm ® effects, as well as all hyaluronic acid, are temporary, lasting between six months and up to one year.
Is the Juvederm ® application painful?
One of the main advantages of Juvederm Ultra Plus is that it contains hyaluronic acid and lidocaine which provides anesthesia in the treated areas, minimizing pain and discomfort.
What are the post-procedure care considerations?
After filling wrinkles or lips with hyaluronic acid, makeup can be used.
It is recommended not to take massages, not using ice, not using creams or lotions during the first 24 hours.
For the first 24 hours following treatment, you should avoid strenuous exercise, excessive sun or heat exposure, and consumption of alcoholic beverages in order to help minimize the risks of temporary redness, swelling, and/or itching at the treatment sites.
Juvederm ® does not require prior allergy test.
What are the possible side effects of Juvederm ®?
With Juvederm ®, there is minimal recovery or downtime.
Most of the adverse effects are low to moderate and short-termed (7 days or less). The most common effects are temporary reactions to the injection area such as redness, pain, swelling, bruising, itching, irregularities, or discoloration.
It is important to be aware of the possible collateral effects, as well as following Doctor’s instructions to avoid possible complications; it also important to keep the label product with yourselves to ensure traceability and because it will be useful information for future applications.
Learn more about Juvederm ® hyaluronic acid at http://www.juvederm.com/