Juvederm® Sydney & Canberra

Frequently Asked Questions About Juvederm®

1. What is Juvederm®?

Juvederm® Gel is a new hyaluronic acid filler that is injected into the second layer of skin(dermis) to provide a smooth, long-lasting correction of facial wrinkles and folds.

There are four formulations of Juvederm®:

• Juvederm® REFINE Injectable Gel is the least viscous of the products and is used for very fine lines and wrinkles such as smokers lines around the mouth.

• Juvederm® ULTRA Injectable Gel is used in contouring and volumising facial wrinkles and folds. It can also be used to create definition and pouting of the lips.

• Juvederm® ULTRA PLUS Injectable Gel is more highly cross-linked, resulting in a more robust formulation used for volumising and correcting deeper folds and wrinkles. It can also be used to increase the volume of the lips.

• Juvederm® VOLUMA Injectable Gel is the thickest and most viscous of the four products, and is used for large areas for volume replacement and can be used in the cheek area.

2. Is Juvederm® approved in Australia?

Juvederm® REFINE, Juvederm® ULTRA, Juvederm® ULTRA PLUS and Juvederm® VOLUMA are all approved in Australia by the TGA.

Juvederm® Refine Injectable Gel is approved for use in filling of fine wrinkles and facial lines by injection into the superficial dermis.

Juvederm® ULTRA Injectable Gel is approved for the filling of medium and deep wrinkles of the face by injection into the mid dermis to create definition and pouting of the lips.

Juvederm® ULTRA PLUS Injectable Gel is approved for the filling of medium and deep wrinkles of the face by injection into the mid and/or deep dermis to increase the volume of the lips.

Juvederm® VOLUMA Injectable Gel is approved for restoring volume to the face.

3. What is hyaluronic acid?

Hyaluronic acid is a natural complex sugar that gives volume to the skin. It is found in the second layer of skin called the dermis. As the skin ages, there is a gradual loss of hyaluronic acid resulting in skin sag, wrinkles and a loss of volume. The hyaluronic acid in Juvederm® helps to improve wrinkles and restore volume to areas affected by the aging process. Juvederm® adds volume to the skin by attracting water to the area where it is injected. Hyaluronic acid absorbs more than 1,000 times its weight in water to add volume to skin.

4. What does “cross-linked” mean?

Cross-linking refers to a chemical process in which individual chains of hyaluronic acid are chemically bound or “cross-linked” together, transforming liquid HA into a soft solid or “gel”. The firmness of the gel depends on the degree of “cross-linking”. The body absorbs cross-linked HA more slowly, which results in a longer duration of effect.

5. What do dermal fillers do?

As the body ages, skin loses elasticity and volume. Dermal fillers are placed below the skin’s surface to diminish the depth of facial folds and wrinkles.

6. Where can Juvederm® be used?

Juvederm® can be used in any part of the face where there are lines caused by saggy skin or where there is a loss of volume. Facial contouring with Juvederm® can be used in the following areas:

• Nasolabial folds- the lines between the nose and the corner of the mouth
• Lip augmentation – both the lip border and the body of the lips
• Cheek contour augmentation
• Glabella- the frown lines between the eyebrows
• Lipstick/Smoker’s lines- lines above the top lip
• Hollows under the eyes
• Crow’s feet or smile lines
• Marionette lines- the lines between the corner of the mouth and the chin
• Depressed corners of the mouth
• Chin augmentation
• Acne & Chickenpox scars.

7. What does the injection process involve?

Ice is generally left on the treatment area to help numb the area and/or an anaesthetic cream is used. A local anaesthetic is also incorporated in the product allowing for a more comfortable procedure as you continue with the treatment. Juvederm® is then injected into the dermis (the second layer of skin) in tiny amounts with a very fine needle. The result is instantaneous, producing a long-lasting, natural enhancement, which is gentle and safe to the skin. The procedure takes twenty to thirty minutes.

8. How soon will I see results?

The results can be seen immediately. Juvederm® provides instant and long-lasting wrinkle correction.

9. What will I look like after treatment?

Immediately after the treatment, you can expect slight redness, swelling, tenderness or an itching sensation in the treated area. This is a normal result of the injection. The swelling and discomfort in facial lines and hollows is mild and generally disappears within twenty four hours.

There is no downtime with treatment of the facial line and hollows. After a lip treatment, the lips become swollen and may look uneven. This can persist for up to a week.

If a dental block is performed you will feel numb for two to three hours after the treatment and you may require the next day off work if the lips become too swollen.

10. How is Juvederm® different to other dermal fillers?

Juvederm® Injectable Gel is produced with proprietary HYLACROSS technology to create a long lasting smooth gel.

11. How long does Juvederm® treatment last?

In research studies, Juvederm REFINE® Injectable Gel can last for three to four months, Juvederm ULTRA® at least six months, Juvederm® ULTRA PLUS will last around nine months and Juvederm® VOLUMA around eighteen to twenty four months.

12. Are there any adverse effects after treatment with Juvederm®?

During clinical trials with Juvederm®, no patients discontinued the study due to lack of effect or any adverse side effects.

Recorded adverse events were usually temporary injection site reactions, the majority of which lasted only three days or less. Patients sometimes experience injection site redness, pain, firmness/hardness, swelling, lumps/bumps, bruising, itching and discolouration. Lumps are rare and can be dissolved by your treating doctor if they persist.

13. What precautions should a patient take after treatment with Juvederm®?

If you have had a lip enhancement with Juvederm®, avoid smoking, kissing and makeup for the first twenty four hours after treatment. Until the initial swelling and redness has resolved, do not expose the treated area to intense heat (e.g. sauna or sunbathing) or extreme cold.

14. What is my next step?

For more information contact Cosmos Clinic on 1300 138 797 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              1300 138 797      end_of_the_skype_highlighting or email at info@cosmosclinic.com.au

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