Juvederm is a non-animal based injectable filler made in the laboratory. Juvederm is a synthetic form of hyaluronic acid – a material that is in the joints and bodies of all living things. Hyaluronic acid is also the main ingredient of Restylane. It is a complex sugar that maintains its three dimensional shape in the body by attracting and holding large numbers of water molecules. Among its many natural functions, hyaluronic acid maintains the volume of the skin, keeps skin hydrated and maintains the shape of the eye. As we age, we lose hyaluronic acid from the skin and it loses its volume and structure.

Like BOTOX Cosmetic and collagen, Juvederm injectable gel is applied under the skin to instantly restore your skin's volume and smooth away facial wrinkles and folds, like your “smile lines” or “parentheses” (nasolabial folds). Injecting Juvederm into skin folds and wrinkles replaces that structure and volume. It further acts as a spongy shock absorber for nerves located in the connective tissue throughout the body. Juvederm is biocompatible, supplementing the body's natural hyaluronic acid, which age has depleted.

Juvederm provides a smooth, natural look and feel. Studies show superior results of Juvederm compared to a collagen-based dermal filler. Almost 90% of all study volunteers who were treated with both Juvederm injectable gel and another dermal filler preferred Juvederm!

Juvederm’s unique manufacturing process produces the highest concentration of cross-linked hyaluronic acid of any currently available hyaluronic acid dermal filler for long-lasting results. The final result is a gel with a smooth consistency that flows easily into the skin and provides a smooth, natural look and feel. All other currently approved hyaluronic acid dermal fillers are made of granular consistency gels. And, Juvederm is the first hyaluronic acid dermal filler that has demonstrated its safety and effectiveness in persons of color.

Juvederm improves your appearance by lifting and adding volume to the wrinkles and folds in the treatment area. After six to nine months, the biocompatible compound is naturally absorbed into the body.

The transparent Juvederm gel is injected with a syringe into the mid- to deep dermis of your face. The dermis is the subsurface skin layer that contains connective tissue, nerve endings, sweat and oil glands, and blood vessels. Juvederm is indicated for injection into the mid to deep dermis for correction of moderate to severe facial wrinkles and folds (such as nasolabial folds).

With Juvederm the injection process takes only about 15 minutes and results are immediate. Plus, there's minimal recovery or downtime. So you can step into your doctor's office for treatment and step right back into your life.

The injectable gel filler is available in three formulas:

• Juvederm 18: a fluid gel targeting the superficial (upper) dermis for fine lines such as crow's feet.
• Juvederm 24: a denser gel targeting the mid-dermis for moderate lines such as forehead winkles.
• Juvederm 30: the most dense gel, targeting the deep dermis for deep naso-genian grooves (the folds between your cheeks and nose) and nasolabial folds, for enhancing lip volume, and for reshaping cheek contours.

A Juvederm advantage is its pliant gel consistency, which may provide a smoother, more natural-looking appearance than some of its more rigid predecessors. Another advantage is that Juvederm may last longer, maintaining the improved appearance for six to nine months. The benefits may last even longer if you have a follow-up treatment a few weeks after the first treatment. Side effects with Juvederm are rare, but may include redness, tenderness, or pain at the injection site. If these occur, they usually subside within three days. Rarely, discoloration may occur, but this is reversible. Firmness, swelling, bumps, and bruises are also rare side effects, which should subside within seven days.

Juvederm treatment is long-lasting but not permanent. The length of time a treatment maintains its effect is very individual and depends on many factors, such as your age, skin type, life-style and muscle activity, as well as the injection technique. Experience shows that Juvederm can be effective for up to 6 months or more after the treatment of lines and folds.

Together with Dr. DeVera, you can draw up a plan for regular future visits to maintain the results of your Juvederm treatments. Most patients choose to have a follow-up treatment approximately six to 12 months after the initial treatment of wrinkles, lines and folds.

Allergies to Juvederm are extremely rare. Because Juvederm is free of animal products and because the body recognizes hyaluronic acid, adverse reactions to Juvederm injection are unheard of. Juvederm has been used successfully in Europe for many years before it came to the US.  

Juvederm is commonly used for filling in nasolabial folds or “smile lines”. Juvederm is also used for filling in glabellar lines (“frown lines” or “11 lines”) between the eyebrows . It is also used for filling in “marionette” lines at the corners of the mouth . Juvederm is also used to eliminate under eye dark circles by filling in the groove underneath the lower eyelid (“Non Surgical Eye Lift”) and for enhancing the lips. Anyone who would like to address the mentioned aesthetic concerns and does not have an active infection at the site of injection is a good candidate for Juvederm. Juvederm can also be safely combined with other injectable fillers like Radiesse or Restylane.  

Like Restylane, Juvederm dissolves evenly and uniformly. Bumps do not form. The area injected will go back to looking exactly the same as it did prior to injection. There will be no loose skin, the lips will not develop extra lines, and the skin will not look stretched out.
When Juvederm dissolves, it is excreted from the body and does not leave even a trace behind.

Juvederm's generic name is hyaluronic acid gel. It is FDA Approved. The FDA's approval of Juvederm was based on data from a double-blind, randomized and controlled clinical trial. A total of 439 subjects were followed for six months after injection with one of three Juvederm formulations in one nasolabial fold, and Zyplast (bovine-based collagen) in the other. Juvederm was found to provide a more persistent wrinkle correction than Zyplast over the 6-month course of the study, with up to 90% of subjects maintaining at least a 1-grade improvement in nasolabial fold correction with Juvederm compared to 36-45% with Zyplast. At the conclusion of the study, up to 88% of subjects expressed a preference for Juvederm while only 5-12% expressed a preference for Zyplast. In addition, among non-Caucasian patients (all Fitzpatrick Skin Types), Juvederm was found safe and effective and demonstrated no increased risk of hyperpigmentation or hypertrophic scarring.

Before Juvederm treatment, it might be recommended, but not necessary, to discontinue the use of any medications that may prolong bleeding, including aspirin and non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDS), at least 1 week prior to treatment with Juvederm in order to reduce the risk of bruising or bleeding at the injection site. Juvederm is injected directly into the skin using a fine needle to reduce injection discomfort. In some cases, the treatment area may be anesthetize to further minimize discomfort. Following the injection, the treated areas might be lightly massaged. The Juvederm procedure is quick and easy. The injection itself usually takes only about 15 minutes.

Immediately after the injection an ice pack will be applied to the treatment area to prevent swelling. Correction is temporary; therefore, touch-up injections as well as repeat injections are usually needed to maintain optimal corrections.

Juvederm side effects were usually mild to moderate in nature, did not require intervention and lasted seven days or less. The most common Juvederm side effects included temporary injection site reactions including redness, pain/tenderness, firmness, swelling, lumps and bumps and bruising.

Because Juvederm injectable gel is a simple, nonsurgical treatment, there is minimal recovery or downtime. So, patients can make an appointment for treatment and get right back to their life right after the treatment.

For the first 24 hours following Juvederm treatment, the patient 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. After the treatment, some temporary injection-related reactions may occur, including redness, pain, firmness, swelling, and bumps. Studies have shown that these are usually mild to moderate in nature and clear up on their own in 7 days or less. If the patient experience swelling at the injection site, an ice pack may be applied for a brief period. The patient should see an immediate improvement in the treatment areas. Most patients need one treatment to achieve optimal wrinkle smoothing, and the results last up to 6 months or more. However, results may vary and correction is temporary. Supplemental "touch up" treatments may be required to achieve and maintain optimal results.

Schedule for a Juvederm appointment by calling or emailing us. Dr. Devera will discuss with you your medical history, including any allergies you may have or medications you may take, and will tell you more about wrinkle treatment with Juvederm. Juvederm injectable gel does not require an allergy test.

Laser, Beauty and Wellness Center at Orange County Medical Spa is only a few minutes away from cities such as Anaheim, Buena Park, Cerritos, Garden Grove, Irvine and Tustin. Our facility is the ideal place to go for your non-surgical medical cosmetic procedure and aesthetic spa treatment if you live in or near Orange County.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQs) ABOUT JUVEDERM

• What is Juvederm?

  Juvederm is an injectable smooth gel dermal filler composed of hyaluronic acid. Hyaluronic acid is a natural substance that already exists in the human body and it gives the skin fullness. It restores natural volume, which tends to decrease with age and sun damage.
  

• What is Hyaluronic Acid?
  
  Hyaluronic acid is a naturally occurring substance found in all mammals that helps to hydrate and add volume to your skin. In addition to its use as an aesthetic treatment, hyaluronic acid has also been used for more than 20 years for injection into arthritic joints to aid movement as well as for eye surgeries and wound repair.
  
  
• What is the difference between Juvederm and Restylane?
  
  

  Juvederm contains a higher concentration of cross-linked hyaluronic acid and is more concentrated than Restylane. Whether that translates into a major difference in duration of effect remains to be seen. Juvederm is more preferable to Restylane for wrinkle correction and lip enhancement because Juvederm is smoother and less viscous. There seem to be less bumps and less pain with Juvederm than with Restylane. Juvederm is also supposed to last around 8 months, as compared to 6 for Restylane.

• Is Juvederm approved by the FDA?
  
  Juvederm injectable gel is the first FDA-approved hyaluronic acid dermal filler that is proven to be safe and effective for people with dark skin.
  
  

• What can be expected at a Juvederm treatment?

  In an initial complimentary consultation, the doctor will ask about areas of concern to determine where Juvederm will be injected. Juvederm is then injected under the skin to fill in facial wrinkles, folds and to bring fullness to the lips. The results are instantaneous.
  
  When you come in for your Juvederm injection appointment, you will have numbing cream placed on the area that is to be injected for about 10 minutes. If you are having lip augmentation withJuvederm, you will get a numbing injection on the inside of the lip – similar to a dentist’s numbing injection. Ice will also be applied for numbing and to prevent bruising/Once the area is numb and iced, Dr. DeVera will inject Juvederm with a very thin needle in a series of small injections. The area injected will then be gently massaged for a minute or two. You will be asked to ice the area injected intermittently – a minute on and a minute off, for the rest of the day. The entire process will take less than 20 minutes after numbing.
  

• Where can Juvederm be injected?

  Juvederm can be injected in the marionette lines, nasal labial folds and the lips.
  

• How long does a Juvederm treatment take?

  Juvederm treatment takes about 30 minutes.
  

• How long does Juvederm last?

  Juvederm results are clinically proven to last up to 6 months or longer. Follow-up treatments every 6 months is recommended.
  

• Are there any precautions before getting Juvederm treatment?

  To avoid any bruising or bleeding, it is recommended that the patient avoid aspirin, anti-inflammatory medication, St. John’s Wort and high doses of vitamin E supplements prior to Juvederm treatment.
  

• Do I have to wait until my previous injection of Restylane or Radiesse has completely disappeared before I getJuvederm?
  
  No,Juvederm can be used on top of Radiesse or Restylane without a problem.
  
  
• Are there any side effects with Juvederm?
  
  There are no known serious adverse effects associated with the use of Juvederm. Bruising and brief redness are rarely encountered. Bumpiness in the area of injection is considerably more rare with Juvederm than with Restylane, but it still happens every once in a while.
  
  
• Can I still get laser treatments like Fraxel or Photofacial or Thermage after having Juvederm treatment?
  
  Juvederm and Fraxel, Photofacial or Thermage are frequently done on the same day. If possible, any injection treatment is done after, not before, these laser procedures. Having had Juvederm, however, should not stop you from having Fraxel, Photofacial or Thermage. There are studies that show that fillers are not affected by these devices. So, once the filler has had time to integrate into the skin, which is usually about a week after the treatment, it is OK to do other laser treatments. They will not degrade or dissolve the filler.

Ready to Schedule your Juvederm Treatment? Contact Laser, Beauty and Wellness Center - Orange County's Medical Spa .

Laser, Beauty and Wellness Center also offers Botox, Erbium, Acne Treatment, Restylane, Photorejuvenation, Laser Hair Removal, Vein Treatment and Microcurrent holistic approach.

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