Procedures >> For the Face >> Juvederm Treatment

Juvederm Injections - Procedure Overview

Juvèderm^TM is manufactured by Allergan, Inc. This is an informational website not associated with Allergan, Inc.

The name alone suggests what this cosmetic procedure is all about. Juvederm ... the prefix "juve" suggests youth and the second part "derm" indicates skin. So there you have the basic purpose of Juvederm injections — to obtain more youthful skin and overall appearance.

Obviously, however, there is a lot more you should know about Juvaderm injections before deciding whether or not to have them. So in this article we will cover all aspects of this cosmetic procedure: what it is, how it works, how much it costs, pros and cons and more.

Reducing Wrinkles With Fillers

Juvederm is one of several products that are designed to reduce facial wrinkles and thereby render a more youthful appearance. Juvederm (and related products) are referred to as soft tissue fillers or dermal fillers by those within the cosmetic surgery industry.

Specifically, these fillers are designed to smooth out the part of the face between the nose and the mouth (known as the nasal / labial fold). These tissue fillers have become increasingly popular in recent years, partly due to the increasing number of products available. For example, Restylane (a product of Q-Med) and Radiesse (by BioForm Medical) are two other popular products with similarities to Juvederm injections.

But this article is specifically about Juvederm so let's keep our focus on that:

Juvederm is one of the latest injectable fillers to hit the market. Plastic surgeons and dermatologists use it to soften the "folds" in the nose-mouth area mentioned previously. Juvederm injections are also used to reduce wrinkles within this area of the face.

Active Ingredients in Juvederm

As with most of these injectable fillers there are several ingredients within Juvederm injections. But the primary active ingredient is something called hyaluronic acid or hyaluronate. This substance is found within the skin and muscles of mammals. (most notably within the skin of mammals). This same ingredient is found in Restylane and other injectable filler products.

Juvederm received approval by the FDA in June of 2006. According to the FDA notes, Juvederm is a hyaluronic acid gel that is injected into the middle layer of skin to temporarily correct moderate to severe facial wrinkles and folds. The word "temporarily" is a key part of that sentence, and the rest of the FDA notes echo the temporary nature of Juvederm.

Risks of Juvederm

All cosmetic procedures have various risks associated with them, and this procedure is no different. The key here, as always, is to educate yourself on the risks of Juvederm so that yuo can make an informed decision and ensure your personal safety. According to the FDA website, Juvederm injections "should not be used in patients with severe allergies and a history of anaphylaxis or in patients with allergies to bacterial proteins."

The official Juvederm website (by the makers of this cosmetic product) goes on to list various situations where risks of Juvederm might apply. This includes patients on immunosuppressive therapy, women who are pregnant, and patients using other cosmetic procedures such as the chemical peel procedure. Learn more at JuvedermUSA.com.

Average Cost of Juvederm

As with any procedure for cosmetic improvement, the cost of the procedure is important. Most insurance companies do not cover cosmetic procedures, so the cost of Juvederm injections becomes even more important to the person considering it. The cost of this procedure will vary depending on the location, the skill of the person giving the injections, and other factors.

With all of that being said, here's what we have been able to find regarding the cost of Juvederm treatments. Prices seem to range between $300 and $1,000 per injection with the average being around $600.

As mentioned, this will vary based on the exact formula being used, the city, the skill of the person giving the injections, etc. It seems that most people only have one Juvederm injection per treatment / visit, while some have a second syringe for better results.