The age-defying enhancement provided by skin-smoothing dermal fillers has come a long way since the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the first one in 1981. Zyderm effectively diminished the appearance of fine lines and shallow scars by utilizing bovine collagen. However, results only tended to last three months, and it had limited effectiveness in treating moderate to severe wrinkles, lines, and folds. It also required patients to undergo skin testing due to its potential to induce an allergic reaction. The FDA did not approve any other dermal fillers until 1991 and approved the first hyaluronic acid dermal filler in 2003.

Tampa, Florida’s Health + Glow Medical Spa offers dermal filler treatments that effectively fill in lines, wrinkles, and folds while adding volume that combines to enhance one’s youthful appearance. Health + Glow’s lead physician, Dr. Swapna M. Kallikadan, enthusiastically promotes dermal fillers as one of the best non-surgical means of minimizing signs of aging and plumping lost facial volume. To help you better understand how dermal fillers work, we’ve drafted this comprehensive guide to Juvéderm®, one of Health + Glow’s most popular dermal filler options.

Understanding Juvéderm®: The Basics

First approved by the FDA in 2006, Juvéderm® is a line of dermal fillers developed by Allergan, Inc., that rely on hyaluronic acid as their primary ingredient. The initial FDA approval allowed for the use of Juvéderm® to treat facial wrinkles and folds. Since then, the FDA has approved eight other Juvéderm® formulations, with one including a local anesthetic to improve patient comfort and the others designed with different hyaluronic acid consistencies and hydrating properties to add volume to specific facial areas and provide longer-lasting results.

The Juvéderm® Advantage: How It Works

Juvéderm’s® effectiveness at restoring facial volume and minimizing the appearance of wrinkles and lines is attributed to its primary ingredient, hyaluronic acid, a naturally occurring sugar compound found within the skin. Hyaluronic acid is a water-retaining space filler found between collagen and elastin fibers that helps maintain volume and keep skin supple. As we age, our skin’s hyaluronic acid levels decrease, which causes the skin to lose volume and become more susceptible to forming lines and wrinkles. Juvéderm® restores lost hyaluronic acid to plump and smooth the skin and continues to work over the ensuing months by promoting greater skin hydration.

The Versatility of Juvéderm®: Common Uses

Juvéderm’s® first formulation was primarily used to reduce the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines and add volume around the mouth and nasolabial area. It has since been supplanted by other formulations that provide enhanced, longer-lasting results. Current Juvéderm® formulations offered by Health + Glow include:

• Juvéderm® XC—for the temporary plumping of thinning lips.
• Juvéderm® Voluma XC—corrects age-related volume loss in the cheek area for up to two years.
• Juvéderm® Ultra XC—primarily used to plump and add fullness to lips, it can also be used to help reduce the appearance of moderate to severe nasolabial lines.
• Juvéderm® Volbella XC—used for lip augmentation and reduce the appearance of vertical lip lines.
• Juvéderm® Vollure XC—Helps correct moderate to severe facial wrinkles and folds, especially around the nasolabial area, with results lasting up to 18 months.

The Art of Customization: Tailoring Juvéderm® to Your Needs

Your Juvéderm® treatment can be fully customized by Health + Glow to deliver the outstanding results you seek. During a consultation with one of our qualified medical practitioners, we can determine which formulation best addresses your areas of concern and strategize injection sites for optimum results.

The Treatment Process: What to Expect

Juvéderm® treatment at Health + Glow begins with a thorough facial cleaning with alcohol or antiseptic. We may use a numbing cream or cold packs to numb the area and constrict blood vessels to reduce the risk of bruising at injection sites. When ready, your health practitioner will carefully inject the filler into the target areas and gently massage the area with their fingertips to help spread the formulation through the skin. This action is repeated until the Juvéderm® is evenly distributed throughout the targeted area. Know that Juvéderm® formulations contain pain-reducing lidocaine to reduce pain at the site, though you may feel some discomfort if your session includes work around the sensitive lip area.

Results and Recovery: Enjoying Your Youthful Beauty

Increased skin volumes and a reduction in the appearance of wrinkles and lines will be immediately noticeable, though it may take a week or two for the minor swelling to go down enough to see your complete results. While no downtime is needed, along with mild bruising and swelling, you might experience temporary redness, itching, and discoloration. Intermittent application of ice or a cold compress can help alleviate these common side effects, as can arnica, which can reduce pain, swelling, and bruising. To help reduce these side effects, you should also avoid taking blood-thinning medications or supplements for a week or two prior to your treatment and refrain from strenuous exercise for at least 48 hours after your session.

Choosing a Provider: Finding Your Trusted Partner in Beauty

Because Juvéderm® formulations are primarily composed of hyaluronic acid, which is naturally found in the body, there is little risk of an allergic reaction or other complication relating to the filler. The most significant potential for an adverse effect can occur if the filler is unintentionally injected into a blood vessel. Thus, you should always seek out a Juvéderm® provider who is knowledgeable about facial anatomy and trained in facial injections, such as those at Health + Glow. A qualified provider also helps ensure that your Juvéderm® session will provide you the outstanding aesthetic results you seek.

Contact Health + Glow to Schedule Your Juvéderm® Session

To learn more about Health + Glow’s expertise with Juvéderm® treatment and other dermal fillers, schedule an appointment with our Tampa, Florida, medical spa today. Health + Glow offers a broad range of other health and beauty treatments, including preventative medicine, body contouring, revitalizing IV drips, and anti-aging therapies, so further explore our website to see the numerous ways we can help significantly enhance your health and beauty.