Juvederm Q&A
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Reuse Juvederm Syringe for Future Injections?
asked 4 years ago by anon
Latest answer by Francis R. Palmer, III, MD
Question viewed 8,449 times
Tags: reuse, safety
I have had Juvederm injected in my horizontal forehead lines by a plastic surgeon in Dec. They said they used a half of the syringe and I could come back in 6 months for another set of injections with the remaining product in the syringe. I read on your forum this should not be done. Is this standard? In addition, I felt that the injection sites were too few and lumpy. Any suggestions or comments. Thank you
30 answers to Reuse Juvederm Syringe for Future Injections?
+1
Reuse Juvederm Syringe for Future Injections?
No, the syringe should never be reused under any circumstances. Once used, the syringe and contents are considered contaminated and no surgical, medical board or society would ever sanction such an action. You, as the consumer, might be tempted to do such a thing to save some money however, the MD should know better and politely explain why that is not in your best interest from a safety or best medical practices issue. How would you ever really know that you were...
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+8
Discard Old Filler Syringes
It is not suggested that half used syringes of any filler product be reused at a later date. Many physicians who attempt to save money for their patients, will label and save half-used syringes for use at a future appointment.
It is not recommended that this be done for a variety of reasons, but primarily you don't want the remaining product in the syringe to become dried out or contaminated. The syringes come sterile in the original packages, and once the product has been opened, you cannot...
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Arnold W. Klein, MD
Beverly Hills Dermatologic Surgeon
Beverly Hills Dermatologic Surgeon
+6
Juvederm
Juvederm should not be opened and reused after a long period of time due to the potential for infection.
+4
I disagree with "you can always find another area to use extra filler".
Aside from the question of whether it is safe to reuse a syringe within a specified time period, I really disagree with several of the physicians here who say there is no reason to have any left over, because "you can always find other areas to put it." In my opinion, this kind of thinking leads to people ending up over time looking like a distorted version of themselves, and not just like a younger, more rested version. If you have had the right amount for you, and you...
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+4
Juvederm- saving the syringe for future use?
Typically an experienced injector can estimate how much filler you will need for any given area before beginning the procedure. If you know you only need half of a syringe to start, you can just buy a smaller volume to begin with. Then if you need more you can come back and buy more. The product is sterile until it is opened. One it is opened and used, it is no longer technically sterile. I personally would not save a syringe for 6 months. I do think it is reasonable to keep the product...
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Anita Patel, MD
Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon
Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon
+3
Juvederm, like other prefilled syringes should be used once opened.
The risk of incubating an infection in the syringe over those months is far greater than the slight potentiial financial savings
+3
Reusing Juvederm
First and most important question, should someone be using Juvederm in the forehead. I think that this is generally a poor choice. While there may be some exceptions, there are better products to use in the forehead such as Botox and even surgery (brow lift). As you now know, with a few exceptions, Juvederm is not good in the forehead. Usually storing Juvederm is not even an issue because it's easy to find places the product will make a difference and you can...
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+3
Storing open product is not safe
We do not store any open Juvederm. There is a risk of contamination and infection, even if you keep the product in the fridge. Actually there is always some place else where one can inject the not used product: nasolabial, cheeks, ....
Robert Kasten, MD
Mainz Dermatologic Surgeon
Mainz Dermatologic Surgeon
+3
Reusing Juvederm
There are some physicians that save the remnants and give patients 6 months or even a year later the remainder of the juvederm. These are the risks of doing do:
When Juvederm or any filler is administered into your skin it is injected. Once you open the juvederm and use it there is a good chance that bacteria may enter the juvederm syringe. The small amount of bacteria from your skin or needle tip usually don't cause a problem right after the juvederm syringe is opened and...
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Chris Thiagarajah, MD
Washington DC Oculoplastic Surgeon
Washington DC Oculoplastic Surgeon
+3
Poor practice to reuse syringe
Because Juvederm (as is true with all cosmetic dermal fillers) is a sterile product, it is very poor practice to store unused product for future use six months later. Not only is this discouraged by the manufacturer, it is generally considered unnacceptable to ever store product even for a short time. Doing so for up to 2 weeks is understandable for specific situations; however, this should be far and few in between.
In an effort to avoid wasting a very expensive product, most patients will...
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+3
Re-using Juvederm and Restylane syringes
Both Restylane and Juvederm manufacturers do not recommend re-using syringes for future treatments.
Some physicians re-use the syringes after use for the next several months. It is one of the off-label uses of these products.
Off-label treatments, while not FDA approved for a particular indication, are used for many different products, and it usually means they haven't been studied enough for this off-label use. Usually the product has been studied and is approved for other uses. For example...
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Stella Desyatnikova, MD
Seattle Facial Plastic Surgeon
Seattle Facial Plastic Surgeon
+2
Juvederm
It is not recommended to reuse syringes secondary to risk of contamination. It is recommended and most sterile to use the products in one treatment. This should provide more filling and a more complete treatment.
+2
Reusing Juvederm or Restylane Syringes can be safe
Unlike many of the other opinions here I feel it is very safe to save a partial syringe as long as it is done carefuly, FOR THE SAME PATIENT and for a limited time. A recent study showed complete safety with no bacterial contamination when partially used syringes of hyaluronic acid (Juvederm, Restylane) were capped off and saved for up to three months.
As long as the contents of the syringe are kept sterile and only used on the same patient, I see no reason not to give patients the...
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+2
If your injector reuses your Juvederm syringe, ask how they prevent contamination
Some injectors may elect to do this. This approach must be used with caution, as there is the potential risk for contamination and ultimately, infection.
If you and your injector elect to do so, you may want to ask them about this and the methods they use to help prevent such a problem.
Additionally, there is a "shelf life" to all injectables.
Jeffrey Kenkel, MD
Dallas Plastic Surgeon
Dallas Plastic Surgeon
+1
Lumpy Juvederm is not expected outcome.
The standard of care is to open and use a sterile syringe of Juvederm in one sitting. You should expect a smooth result. Perhaps a second opinion is in order.
+1
Do not store and reuse Juvederm
Juvederm should not be stored for that period of time and then re-used. Unless you can guarantee that the doctor is labelling the product meticulously with your information and storing it under sterile conditions, I would not recommend allowing an old syringe of Juvederm to be re-injected into your face at a later time due to risk of infection.
Kavita Mariwalla, MD
New Haven Dermatologic Surgeon
New Haven Dermatologic Surgeon
+1
Juvederm should not be stored and reused
Once a syringe of Juvederm has been opened and used it should not be stored an reused. To do so increases the risks that you may develop an infection at the injection site.
+1
Reusing a Juvederm syringe- Can you save some for later?
I agree with my other colleagues, you should not reuse a syringe 6 months later.
Why?
Infection.
You can always find someplace to put the extra.
Most seasoned injecting doctors are able to estimate the appropriate amount, so usually there is little/no extra.
Did we mention infection?
Particularly for the length of time (6 months), this is not a practice I would recommend. I have seen a new patient who receives their first injection coming back a day or two later for...
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Lauren Greenberg, MD
Palo Alto Plastic Surgeon
Palo Alto Plastic Surgeon
+1
Juvederm should not be stored and re-used!
The product label of Juvederm actually states that it is a single use syringe and should only be used as such. As for the risk of infection, I have never seen this but that doesn't mean it can't happen.
Always ask for a fresh syringe!
I hope this helps!
Warmest regards,
Gregory A. Buford, MD FACS
Gregory A. Buford, MD
Denver Plastic Surgeon
Denver Plastic Surgeon
+1
Juvederm syringes should not be stored and re-used
I agree with most of my colleagues that Juvederm and Restylane syringes should not be stored and re-used once the syringes have been opened. Even though the risk of contamination is probably very low, there is no reason to risk putting a contaminated product into yourself and having to deal with the subsequent complications that may arise. Remember, both of these products come in half syringes when less is needed.
I hope I was helpful.
Steven E. Rasmussen, MD
Austin Dermatologist
Austin Dermatologist
+1
Whether or not to reuse a Juvederm syringe
Because of the high risk of bacterial invasion, it is not a good idea to store an opened syringe for future use. Doing so would risk an infection.
+1
Do not save Juvederm
Juvederm is manufactured in a sterile syringe that is designed to be used in one sitting. Once it is opened, unused product should not be saved for future use. There is a potential for growth of organisms and infection when used in the future.
Joshua Zeichner, MD
Manhattan Dermatologist
Manhattan Dermatologist
+1
Do not reuse Juviderm syringe
The syringe that contains the Juviderm is sterile and once opened, sterility cannot be guaranteed. Therefore, the manufacturer does not recommend re-using the syringe after it has been opened.
Randy J. Buckspan, MD
Austin Plastic Surgeon
Austin Plastic Surgeon
+1
Reuse of Juvederm
In my practice I do not feel the benefit outweighs the risk. Risk include infection, breakdown of the product, or the accidental injection of someone elses material into your skin-- which could transmit infectious diseases such as Hepatitis or HIV. Furthermore, the reuse of a previously used syrings is not FDA approved and is not considered standard of care.
As for your unhappy results--- Forehead lines are best treated with Botox first. Some fillers may be added at a 2...
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+1
Juvederm Syringes
Juvederm syringes should be used in a single session. Any remaining product should be injected into another appropriate site or discarded. This is a cosmetic procedure to enhance your appearance, 'storing/saving' syringes is poor practice. It puts you at risk of infection and/or a poor cosmetic outcome.
Lisa Kates, MD
Annapolis Dermatologist
Annapolis Dermatologist
+1
Reusing filler syringes
Reusing filler syringes is not a good idea. First once the product is opened it should not be stored for any great length of time. Second there may be a risk tof injecting the wrong product back to the wrong patient.
+1
Do not re-use filler syringes
Fillers such as Juvederm or Restylane should not be re-used. If there is some filler remaining after correction of your lines, that remnant should be discarded. Each syringe is meant for one time use.
+1
Open Juvederm syringe should be discarded.
Hi.
1) Botox is best treatment for horizontal forehead lines, not Juvederm.
2) Open Juvederm syringe should not be saved, because of risk of infection.
3) Lumps are due to bad technique.
+1
Do not recommend reusing Juvederm syringe
While your plastic surgeon may be looking out for your economic health, this is not a good idea for your medical health.
Once the syringes are opened they can be subject to bacterial contamination. The sterility of hyaluronic acid products once they are opened has not been studied. This was looked at with collagen and bacteria was found not to grow in the product for at least six months. However, collagen is a protein and hyaluronic acid is a sugar product. Bacteria grow better in sugar...
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Arnold R. Oppenheim, MD
Virginia Beach Dermatologist
Virginia Beach Dermatologist
+1
Saving Juvederm filler syringes is not our practice
The manufacturer of Juvederm (Allergan) and other fillers do not recommend saving syringes. It is sometimes tempting to want to save a syringe to see what the outcome looks like after the swelling goes down (about 1-2 weeks); however, the risk of infection is present. We do not save syringes as a policy to reduce the risk of infection or contamination.
We have had some left over Juvederm from some of our injections and have seen that the residual Juvederm dries up pretty quickly. I am not...
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Tammy Wu, MD
Modesto Plastic Surgeon
Modesto Plastic Surgeon
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