The Plastic Surgery Group

The Plastic Surgery Group, P.C., in Chattanooga, Tennessee offers the latest skin care procedures, including Juvederm. For more information on the plastic surgery procedures we offer, visit our plastic surgery procedures page or call our plastic surgery staff at (423) 756-7134 or (800) 634-3334. You can also e-mail us your questions and we will be in touch with you shortly.
JUVEDERM Injectable Gel - Optimal Control of Facial Wrinkling

"Injectables" are products that plastic surgeons have been using for years to treat facial wrinking. Over the last several years, the types of injectables available and their applications have gone through an explosive growth period. Fortunately, they have also been refined considerably. In 2007, the reliability and predictability of injection therapy, in trained hands, is at an all time high The history of "Injectables" has been somewhat checkered. Early bovine (cow) collagen products required pre-testing, had short lifetimes, and some significant side effects. Fat injections have had mixed reviews for years because of their complexity and unpredictability of result from patient to patient as well as practitioner to practitioner. The emergence of hyaluronic acid fillers has solved many of the problems of skin reactivity and lumpiness in results. Of these products, JUVEDERM has been especially effective.

Dermal fillers are compounds that can be used to elevate the central depression in a wrinkle. This effectively effaces the wrinkle and eliminates it. Hyaluronic acid is a naturally occuring sugar molecule found in all mammals. It is part of the make up of our connective tissue. It has no cells and is minimally reactive to the surrounding living tissue. It is so effective because it works like a sponge and absorbs water at 1000x its weight. This is the means by which it can increase volume and density of the place in the skin into which it is injected.

JUVADERM has introduced two products. It is supplied in the "Ultra" and "Ultra Plus" types. Advances have been made in our ability to manipulate the hyaluronic acid molecule. By bonding the molecules together, JUVADERM has managed to produce products that can treat both superficial and deeper wrinkles. "Ultra Plus" is also more effective in treating the thicker skin of men. This bonding process has also made JUVADERM more resistant to breakdown by enzymes leading to a longer lasting result. The unique formulation of this new injectable also allows for a smoother consistency, permitting easier and more fluid injection into the treatment site.

So what are the indications for the use of JUVADERM? I think it is an excellent choice for the treatment of facial wrinkling in a wide variety of areas, and in a wide variety of patients. Wrinkling around the mouth including the lips, smoker's lines, nasolabial foldds, and marionette lines are especially responsive to treatment. Scientific studies have indicated that both products maintain at least 1 grade improvement in the appearance of these areas at six months. Although people absorb the product at different rates, over-all its staying power is quite good. Injections would not usually need to be repeated more frequently than every 6 months. JUVADERM can also be helpful with the correction of acne or traumatic scars and lower eyelid bagginess in selected patients.

This type of product expands aesthetic surgery to a population that has virtually no down time or cannot medically tolerate any anesthesia. JUVADERM is typically injected after application of topical anesthesia. If the product is being used to enhance lip fullness, I recommend an anesthetic block like the type your dentist commonly uses. After injection there may be some redness or bruising which is short lived. The results are immediate, but I think that they improve over the course of a week as the product diffuses and attracts water. JUVADERM is rapidly becoming one of our prime weapons in the battle against aging. For further information contact your American Board of Plastic Surgery Certified Certified physician or visit the JUVADERM website.