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.
Juvederm™ 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. Juvederm™ is not collagen; it is cultivated from bacteria, which means it's pure and free from any potential animal contaminants.
Juvederm™ 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.
A key difference in formulation is the higher degree of cross-linking in Juvederm™ Ultra Plus, which results in 20% higher viscosity. This increased viscosity creates a more robust product well suited for deeper facial folds.
Because Juvederm™ 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 Juvederm™ injectable gel was overwhelmingly preferred by patients over study control.
In terms of the actual Juvederm™ 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. Bernstein 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 Juvederm™ because there is no "shrinkage."
For redness or discomfort, an ice pack can be applied for brief periods. The patient is advised to avoid extended sun or heat exposure, consumption of alcoholic beverages, and strenuous exercise for 24 hours following the treatment. Dr. Bernstein 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.
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