Get to know the Juvederm family of fillers.
The Kardashian isn’t the only family you should keep up with! Introducing Juvederm, the famous family of fillers that includes Juvederm Ultra XC, Juvederm Ultra Plus XC, and Juvederm Voluma. Being some of the most popular fillers, we think it’s important for our readers to get to know this family a little bit better.
The Juvederm family is made up of injectable hyaluronic acid dermal fillers which uses Hylacross technology, a unique manufacturing process that provides a high concentration of cross-linked hyaluronic acid. Hyaluronic acid is a naturally occurring substance made from long chains of sugars that exist naturally in the skin. As we age, we start to lose hyaluraonic acid, which causes the skin to lose structure and volume, contributing to the wrinkles and folds on our face.
Juvederm Ultra XC
How it’s different:
Juvederm Ultra XC is a filler used to smooth out moderate lines along the sides of your nose and mouth, and plump up your lips. It has less cross-links than Juvederm Ultra Plus XC which produces a slightly thinner filler that doesn’t last quite as long.
What it’s great for:
Juvederm Ultra XC is great for scar correction, slight lip enhancement, and moderate facial wrinkles and folds. This is a great alternative for someone who is unsure about taking the plunge with Juvederm Ultra Plus XC. Also, it is less expensive than Juvederm Ultra Plus XC.
How long it lasts:
Juvederm Ultra XC can last up to six months.
Juvederm Ultra Plus XC
How it’s different:
Juvederm Ultra Plus XC is used in the same areas as Juvederm Ultra XC, but it has a different formula that contains more cross-links, which produces a thicker, more long-lasting filler.
What it’s great for:
Because it is thicker, Juvederm Ultra Plus XC is great for smoothing out deeper wrinkles and folds and is often used as a temporary alternative to lip implants.
How long it lasts:
Juvederm Ultra Plus XC can last up to a year.
Juvederm Voluma
How it’s different:
Juvederm Voluma uses higher cross-linking and a lower molecular weight particle of hyaluronic acid to achieve a more stable, longer lasting gel. The gel is very thick, so it is not appropriate for areas where the skin is thin such as the lips or eyes.
What it’s great for:
Juvederm Voluma, as the name suggests, is great for adding volume, while providing contour and a subtle lift. As we age, cheeks start to loose volume and skin begins to sag. Juvederm Voluma instantly corrects age-related volume loss in the cheek area and is a great non-surgical, but temporary alternative to cheek implants.
Beauty Insider Tip: We often use Radiesse for the cheeks and Dr. Yoo explains why: “They both do a great job of treating the cheeks. However, Radiesse is significantly less expensive than Voluma. Unlinke Radiesse, Voluma is nice in that it can be dissolved if the patient doesn't like the look or results. Voluma is more resistant to dissolvers (hyaluronidase) than other hyaluronic acid fillers (i.e. Restylane, Juvederm, Belotero, etc) which is also why it lasts longer.”
How long it lasts:
Juvederm Voluma can last up to two years.
Where Juvederm doesn’t work great
To treat dynamic wrinkles:
There are two types of wrinkles: dynamic wrinkles and static wrinkles. Dynamic wrinkles are caused when we squint, smile, frown, or make any facial expressions. To treat dynamic wrinkles, you need to control the expressions that cause the wrinkles. Botox is perfect for addressing the dynamic wrinkles, such as forehead lines, crow’s feet, and frown lines, because it blocks signals from the nerves to the muscles making it difficult for the muscle to contract and form the expression that causes the wrinkles to appear and deepen.
Static wrinkles develop because our skin’s natural substance such as collagen, elastin, and hyaluronic acid decrease over time which causes us to lose volume. Juvederm addresses static wrinkles (adds volume), but is not appropriate to treat dynamic wrinkles.
To treat under eye hollowness:
Juvederm is hygroscopic meaning that it attracts and holds water. This property can be beneficial in some areas, but not around the eyes. Filling around the eyes to the point of correction will mean that later, when the Juvederm absorbs more water, the injected area will look unnaturally puffy. Belotero, a different type of filler, is not hygroscopic which is one of the main reasons why Belotero is Dr. Yoo’s filler of choice for underneath the eyes.
What to expect after a Juvederm treatment
The first thing you should expect after a Juvederm treatment is for the treated area to be swollen. Don’t be alarmed if your lips look larger than you anticipated. It can take up to 14 days for the swelling to subside and for you to see the final results of your new perfected pout. Also, some patients have the habit of touching their lips or cheeks afterwards and are alarmed when they feel lumps and bumps. While some of the lumpiness will smooth out over time, you may always feel small differences and this is normal. The important aspect is how the area looks, visually, not how it feels. As with any injection, you may experience some bruising or redness around the injection sites. You can expect side effects with Juvederm Ultra XC and Ultra Plus XC up to 14 days and side effects with Juvederm Voluma can up to four weeks. Think of it this way: since results with Juvederm Voluma last the longest (up to two years), the side effects can take the longest to subside.
Regular treatments are a must
Keep in mind, fillers are temporary, so touch-ups and repeat injections are needed to maintain the results. The upside is that less material is usually needed for repeat injections. If you are looking for more permanent results, surgery is required. Unsure about what treatment plan is right for you? Schedule a consultation with our double board certified facial plastic surgeon, Dr. Yoo.
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