Posts Tagged ‘Juvederm’

New Juvederm XC Touts Benefits of Anesthetic

Monday, February 8th, 2010 by editor

Just a week after we posted about the benefits of using of lidocaine during cosmetic juvederm_bay_areainjections, the FDA granted clearance to the new Juvederm XC – a  filler with 0.3 % lidocaine. The new formula is the most recent addition to the list of “more comfortable” hyaluronic acid fillers.

Manufacturer Allergan Inc posted data about patient comfort obtained during clinical trials, reporting that over 90 percent of the 72 participating subjects said they experienced less pain with Juvederm XC.

That data is crucial, because some people have questioned the value of anesthetic contained in a dermal filler: Is it just for the sake of marketing? When Prevelle Silk came out in 2008, Dr. Joe Niamtu said this to Cosmetic Surgery Times:

“The issue with a hyaluronic acid filler with lidocaine is that it doesn’t work until you actually start injecting patients, and these injections are so quick, by the time the lidocaine takes effect, you’re almost finished”

I wouldn’t expect plastic surgeons to abandon the already effective methods of pain management, but if the Juvederm XC formula acts quickly enough and you get a more comfortable treatment, that can’t be a bad thing.  We’ll know more when the filler comes to San Francisco.

Tags:
Posted in Injectables | No Comments »

Cosmetic Injections: Can They Be Comfortable?

Monday, January 25th, 2010 by editor

If you’ve considered getting a little cosmetic work done, but find yourself hesitating botox_stratbecause of needles and potential pain, you’re not alone. Prevelle, Juvederm, Hydrelle, and Restylane are just a few of the products out there designed to restore facial volume and correct wrinkles. Many people are interested in the benefits but have to ask, “Just how much is this going to hurt?”

Lidocaine helps control discomfort and swelling

Today, a number of non-surgical facial procedures can be done with little or no discomfort, thanks to local anesthetics that numb one or more areas of the face beforehand. Lidocaine is the one most frequently used by plastic surgeons, and there’s no doubt it makes an injectable procedure more comfortable for the patient.

Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: , ,
Posted in Injectables | No Comments »

How soon before an important event can I undergo a cosmetic procedure?

Friday, July 3rd, 2009 by newseditor

 

A middle-aged patient asked whether she could receive injections of Juvederm 3 weeks before a wedding.  “Is it too late?” she asked.

I told her that it wasn’t too late, but sooner is better!  Juvederm, like other fillers, can cause some minor bruising. When my patients get treated before a wedding or important social event, I prefer to do it at least 2 to 3 weeks before the date. The more time you have, the better.

I have many wedding packages for brides and their bridal group that involve Botox, dermal fillers, microdermabrasion, etc. I don’t hesitate to inject fillers 2 or more weeks before an important event.

If we have less than 2 weeks, then I would choose to forgo dermal filler injections. 

Evolence is a collagen-based filler that is said to cause little or no bruising. However, I generally prefer Juvederm since the bruising is minimal and the benefits are first-rate.

Tags: , , ,
Posted in Injectables | No Comments »

How do patients know if their surgeon is performing a procedure correctly?

Wednesday, June 10th, 2009 by newseditor

A patient inquired about her surgeon’s peculiar methods asking, “how do I know if she is administering the treatment correctly?”  I told her that the key is finding the right physician.

If you want your car fixed, you don’t just take it to any old mechanic. You get a referral from a friend, or maybe you browse reviews on Google. Then, if you are happy, you return to the same mechanic in the future. If you remain unsure about your choice, you might just get an oil change and “try it out.”

A similar approach could be used when choosing a physician. Look for a reputable plastic surgeon or dermatologist first. Ask your friends, look at reviews on the web, and check out websites. Get to familiarize yourself with the physician during the consultation. Ideally, you will like your physician and then you will trust them because you have “done your homework.”

Non-surgical treatments like Botox and Juvederm aren’t permanent. If you are satisfied with your results, you will likely go back to the same physician. If you are unhappy, then you should definitely find someone else. 

Tags: ,
Posted in Plastic Surgery | No Comments »

Patient Surveys Provide Insight On Botox, Wrinkle Fillers

Monday, June 1st, 2009 by newseditor

A group of researchers working with the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) sent questionnaires last March to 687 patients who had received Botox and/or wrinkle filler treatment. 

The findings indicate that wrinkle treatments, such as Botox or Juvederm, are more ‘mainstream’ than people once thought. Some of those noteworthy findings are as follows:

 - Most survey respondents described themselves as healthy individuals.  95 percent of them reported exercising and 78 percent cited healthy eating habits.

 - Nearly 70 percent of the respondents who had been treated with Botox also opted for dermal filler treatment.

 - Who is the ‘typical’ patient?  According to the survey results, she’s “a married, working mother between 41-55 years of age with a household income of under $100,000.”

 - 66 percent of the respondents said they received Botox treatment 2-3 times per year.

 - 72 percent of the respondents chose Botox to treat glabellar lines – the vertical lines that appear between your eyebrows.  

 - 63 percent of the respondents chose dermal fillers to treat facial wrinkles and folds, mostly the nasolabial folds or ‘smile lines’ that travel from the nose to each side of the mouth. 

 - 87 percent reported that they discussed their treatments with others, and 70 percent said they received support from the people they told.

A full summary of the results is available (in MS Word) here.

Tags: , , ,
Posted in Injectables | No Comments »

Study of Identical Twins Reveals Facts About Facial Aging

Sunday, February 22nd, 2009 by newseditor

A scientific study published in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery analyzed identical twins with contrasting lifestyle factors to visibly check for signs of facial aging.  It revealed that the average person’s environment and lifestyle might play a more significant role than their genes, at least when it comes to the onset and visible progression of facial aging.

Author and ASPS surgeon Bahman Guyuron says, “we looked at identical twins because they are genetically programmed to age exactly the same, and in doing so, we essentially discovered that when it comes to your face, it is possible to cheat your biological clock.”

Participating subjects were photographed, surveyed, and members of an independent panel then analyzed the data.  The results yielded some interesting conclusions about lifestyle/environmental factors and their effect on facial aging.

Results provided by the panel revealed that subjects over 40 who were heavier than their identical counterpart actually exhibited a more youthful (facial) appearance. Dr. Guyuron speculates that this finding provides some scientific basis to support facial rejuvenation through volume restoration – i.e. the correction of facial lipoatrophy with dermal fillers like Radiesse or Juvederm.

The study also revealed that a higher perceived age difference was found in divorced subjects and those who had used antidepressants.

Tags: , , , ,
Posted in Skin Care and Products | No Comments »