Juvéderm™
The loss of volume in and under skin is a visible sign of aging. Over
50% of the population is between 25 and 64 years of age, including the
Baby Boomer generation (ages 40-60) which looks to fight aging the most.
Fillers can reduce lines, restore volume, and contour facial folds.
What is Juvéderm™?
Juvéderm™ is an injectable, smooth gel dermal filler for
the correction of moderate to severe facial folds and wrinkles. It
comes from non-animal sourced hyaluronic acid (HA), which is naturally
occurring in the body. Juvéderm™ is not collagen; it is
cultivated from bacteria, which means it’s pure and free from
any potential animal contaminants.
How does Juvéderm™ work?
Juvéderm™ is injected below facial folds and wrinkles
to fill the area just below the surface of the skin, lifting it. Cross-linking
of the HA, which is the chemical processing of HA to bind strands of
polymers to each other, extends duration. More cross-linking means
more resistance to enzymatic degradation; without cross-linking, HA
would be absorbed into the body in less than a week.
Two formulations of Juvéderm™
- Juvéderm™ Ultra – optimally formulated
for versatility in contouring and volumizing wrinkles and folds
- Juvéderm™ Ultra Plus – robust formulation for volumizing
and correcting deeper wrinkles and folds
A key difference in formulation is the higher degree of cross-linking
in Juvéderm™ Ultra Plus, which results in 20% higher viscosity.
This increased viscosity creates a more robust product well suited
for deeper facial folds.
Because Juvéderm™ is created with proprietary HYLACROSS™ technology
(high amounts of cross-linked HA), it creates a smooth-consistency
gel which results in a smooth, natural look and feel for patients and
not a granular-consistency gel like other HA dermal fillers.
It is clinically proven to persist up to 6 months or longer in both
formulations. And in the key clinical trial Juvéderm™ injectable
gel was overwhelmingly preferred by patients over study control.
The Procedure
In terms of the actual Juvéderm™ injectable gel treatment,
it’s an in-office procedure. There can be some discomfort injecting
into facial folds, but pain management is fairly routine with either
a nerve block, local anesthetic, or application of ice just before
injection. Dr. Mark has a choice of injection technique; either a threading,
a serial puncture, or fanning technique will yield good results. It
is important not to overfill with Juvéderm™ because there
is no “shrinkage.”
Aftercare
For redness or discomfort, an ice pack can be applied for brief periods.
The patient is advised to avoide extended sun or heat exposure, consumption
of alcoholic beverages, and strenuous exercise for 24 hours following
the treatment. Dr. Mark will discuss with you when make-up may be
applied and is available for you to call if you have any concerns.
Information courtesy of Allergan, Inc.