Juvederm Side Effects
Juvederm at Lake Norman Oral and Facial Surgery is a group of injectable dermal fillers which use hyaluronic acid. The fillers offer patients 9 months to a year of improvement for moderate to severe facial wrinkles and folds. They are commonly used on the nasolabial folds or the lines which appear from the nose to the corners of the mouth. Juvederm can also be used for lip augmentation.
Two clinical studies, which were conducted in the U.S., evaluated the safety and effectiveness of Juvederm Ultra or Juvederm Ultra Plus. In the study, about 145 subjects were followed for 24 weeks following the injection of Juvederm in one nasolabial fold. In comparison to the Zyplast dermal filler, a bovine-based collagen, which was injected into the opposite nasolabial fold, the Juvederm injection site reactions were similar in their duration and frequency, mild to moderate in severity, did not require medical intervention, and typically lasted about a week. About 80-90% of patients experienced redness, pain or tenderness, firmness, swelling and lumps or bumps, bruising occurred in about 60% of patients, and discoloration and itching occurred in about 35% of patients.
About 88-90% of patients maintained improvement with the use of Juvederm at 24 weeks. In comparison, 36-40% of patients maintained improvement with the use of Zyplast. At the conclusion of the study, 84-88% of the patients preferred Juvederm Ultra injectable gel, 5-10% preferred Zyplast, and 5-6% of the patients did not have a preference.
Of the 146 subjects, 111-116 of the patients returned for a complimentary follow up treatment around 36 weeks following the initial injection. 48 participants returned for a follow up treatment after 36 weeks. Nearly 75-81% of participants maintained an improvement through the Juvederm Ultra injectable gel.
Within the first 24 hours following the procedure, it is important to avoid the following:
- Rigorous exercise
- Extreme heat or sun exposure
- Consuming alcoholic beverages
Exposure to any of the above items can lead to temporary redness, swelling, and itching near the site of the injections. If swelling does occur, place an ice pack over the swollen area for a few minutes. Your doctor will communicate when you can resume wearing make-up after the procedure.
Most side effects from Juvederm are mild and temporary. In most cases, these side effects are resolved within a week or less. The most common side effects include reactions at the injection site and include:
- Bruising
- Redness
- Pain or sensitivity
- Itching
- Firmness
- Swelling
- Lumps or bumps
- Discoloration
- Infection
Juvederm injections should not be used in patients who have a history of severe allergic reactions such as a history of anaphylaxis. Patients should also not use Juvederm if they have a history of allergies to the Gram-positive bacterial proteins. Juvederm Ultra XC and Juvederm Ultra Plus XC should not be used with patients who are allergic to lidocaine.
Juvederm injectable gel should not be injected into blood vessels. This can result in a blockage of the blood vessel which can cause skin tissue death, impairment the vision, and even cause a stroke. If there is an active inflammatory issue at the injection site, treatment should not proceed until the inflammation issue is resolved.
Juvederm should never be administered without the supervision of a licensed health care professional.