Juvederm side effects - discussion

As an expert physician trainer, let me make a few points on behalf of the patients being injected with fillers. Several people have pointed out that it is not only the chosen product but also importantly who is injecting the filler. Fillers are like sculpting. You MUST have an artist's eye to do great work with these products. It is also critical that the person injecting a substance into your skin have a profound knowledge of the facial anatomy and location of blood vessels , nerves and muscles. These products need to be placed strategically and safely to get long-lasting results. I have seen over 12 month persisting results with Restylane and Perlane. You should never rely on drug company marketing but rather speak to your dermatologist, plastic surgeon, or facial plastic surgeon (skin experts) regarding how many injections they have done and what their results are in their hands!!! I cannot stress enough that if you are having skin treatments for rejuvenation or any reason you need to seek out a skin expert...you must ask yourself has your injector dedicated their medical career to training and expertise in understanding all of the facets of the skin. If so, they should be able to answer all of your questions to your satisfaction and provide reassurance that you are in good hands for your filler treatment!

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I had Juvederm injected into my labial folds yesterday morning.I am 38 & those lines have been bothering me since my 20's.I was very nervous as this is my "face" & what ever I see in the mirror is ME versus having a substance injected in me & not looking like myself.The shots hurt alot!!!! I looked in the mirror & immediately thought too much was used. ( 1-vial)as the day progressed & finally had the courage to touch it I was really freaked out.You can actually feel the stuff in your face it's gross!!!I am still sore & feel like a cross of a chipmunk & a monkey!My face is swollen & my cheeks are puffy.I look like a distorted image of myself.I called the office & they said swelling was normal in the site injected well I am swollen in the check area too.I prayy to God that this goes down.I hate myself!!!My whole life I was told what a beautiful girl I am now I feel & look like a freak!!!

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I have had Restalyn done on my lips and nasolabial folds by a highly reputable plastic surgeon in Las Vegas 2 years ago. I was 27 at the time but I had these lines or folds from my nose to lips on both sides for at least a year. I went back 3 times since than. I love the results. I agree with going to a doctor who specializes in fillers and skin treatments. I had no bruising but I had bumps which went away after a week. My lips healed in a few days. The nurse put ice before and massaged the area during treatment. I even got lidocaine in my lips so I felt nothing. I beleive that if you are considering getting this make sure that you choose the BEST and most reputable doctor (even if you have to pay more). I've had friends who had fillers by other doctors and were unhappy with the results but when they come to my doctor were more than happy with their results. I am a beleiver and I now can't imagine not getting my fillers maintained regularly. Yes, I'm hooked. :)

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I had Restylane put in my upper lip for the second time last week. The first procedure was done 10 months ago. The results are amazing, just like the first one. I had duck lips for 2 days and by the 3rd day, the swelling had gone down considerably to make the area appear more normal looking. What helped with the swelling is frequent ice pack application 3x a day for 10 minutes each. I didn't have any bruising whatsoever. I never tried Juvederm yet but I'm really happy with the Resty as it lasts a long time on me (10-11 months). I'm also very happy with my doctor. He did a great job for both the first and the second procedure.

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Although there are differences between Juvederm and Restylane, the injector's preference is probably more important in obtaining your optimal result. Both contain hylauronic acid. Restylane comes in 1 cc syringes where Juvederm comes in 0.8 cc syringes. Although you get a little more Restylane than Juvederm in the syringe, there is actually a little more Hyaluronic Acid in the Juvederm Syringe. The Juvederm absorbs a little less water after it is injected than the Restylane, but after a few days the difference appears to be minimal. As far as pain goes, the skill of the injector is FAR more important to minimizing pain than the choice of fillers. Many injectors will mix anesthetic into the fillers before injecting (this is off label). By combining a custom made topical anesthetic and mixing the local anesthetic into the syringe, most of my patients rate the pain of the injections as a 1 or 2 out 10. In the next few years, almost all of the fillers will be shipped premixed with local anesthetic. As far as bruising is concerned, there is not much difference. Again the skill of the injector is far more important for minimizing bruising. Having the patient avoid asprin, aleve, motrin etc for a week prior to the injection is also very helpful. If I think the patient is going to have any excessive bruising, I may treat the site with an IPL device to stop the bruising before it starts. Lumps should rarely be a problem. By injecting slowly and massaging the area, the fillers should not show any visible lumps. Keep in mind that both products are actually surgical implants--this means you may feel them with your fingers or tongue, but you should not see any lumps. If a lump does develop, it is very easy to dissolve it with Hyaluronidase. The cost of both products is about the same in the USA. The price that a patient will pay varies widely and depends more on the location, the skill of the injector, etc. Some studies say Juvederm lasts a little longer, but that varies a lot between individual patients. If either product is injected too deeply, they will appear to disappear more quickly. If either product is injected to superficially, both can leave a blue discoloration (this is called the Tyndall effect). Excellent results can be obtained with both products. Michael Sinclair, MD www.epilution.com

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Hi I am married to a plastic surgeon, the host of a beauty podcast called Beauty Now on I tunes plus my family started the company that bought juvederm.. My opinion..I have used both..is that restalyn hands down..better for lips..lines around the lips etc.. juvederm better around the eyes,...lighter.. I think they both last the same..although it seems like restalyn lasts longer but probably because it is thicker.. if you have those lines from nose to lip..I love Radiesse.. it lasts almost 2 years.. I think juvederm hurts less if that is a factor.. but restalyn is thicker and better for lips..

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I ask the doctor if the Restylane injected under eye will just fill the bags, she reassured me only bruising that would last the most two weeks. three weeks later my eyes were not only bruised gray black, but the bumps and sites were a mess under my new bags!( I had a plastic surgeon in cherry hill area of nj with a very good reputation do the work.) needless, to say I look like I had fought sonny Liston in his hey day.. it cost me 1800... to make me look so horrid for my daughters wedding that the photographer took all my shots at least five feet away ..no closeup with daughter. After the third week the doc viewed the before and after that she took, and said "Really Mrs. c don't you see the improvement" ..I said doctor you are looking at the before. oops!!she offered me a laser treatment in which she would not charge me ..of course I have to use and buy her products ... before the treatment .6 weeks later I remain with lopsided new bags, bumps on site she injected , bumps she claims are sweat glands? and of course black gray darkness under eyes..I am going to another plastic surgeon (more money) and see if her (old doctor)offer of laser will address the darkness under both eyes..only hope the bumps and sweat glands leave in a couple of months > I will make friends with my bags ..do not do anything a couple of weeks before an event !! even the best screw up when they become greedy.she was pitching plastic surgery from the minute I entered her office!!

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I think Drs are learning too..that is why we need to make sure they do lots of injections.. My husband..a plastic surgeon will only use human collagen.. around the eyes.. it is very light but has to be redone..more.. Also..make sure not to take asperin or any anti imflammatory type pain relievers .. vit e, st Johns wort.. etc..at least a week before injections or you will bruise.. The good news is that the restalyn will go away..but in the meantime... interview a dr that believes in light fillers around the eyes.. I am so sorry you had a bad experience.. I love restalyn for the lips and other areas of the face.. a Dr should ask you what you dont like about yourself..what brought you to the office.. and not try and sell you on procedures you dont think you need.. that is a way to give us all low self esteem.. an example.. is when a woman with a huge nose walks in..and the dr is like we can take that down..and she replies she loves her nose.. it was just a mole..she wanted gone.. usually most drs are great with this..so find another one you can trust....

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thank you for the quick and thoughtful notes, yes I will not get the laser treatment, which she touted , she, the doctor said I would receive at NO Cost! she snapped her fingers and said " The darkness would be zapped away"!!I will contact medicis....since I live in south Jersey , Philadelphia is closer .Therefore, a doctor in Mainline will take a look at this disaster.hopefully he will employ antidote, as far as the dark stains he might also have an answer. I never had darkness under my eyes , bags yes! neither do I have a Bleeding problem,which she suggested might be cause of darkness.my regular Doctors have said that the fact that I had two operations last year no problems at all with healing or loss of blood did not indicate I had a bleeding problem . By the way I was off any asprin like med for two weeks before she touched me!

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I am curious what laser treatment she told you she could do.. I do think that Fraxel helps with dark circles but that takes a few treatmets.. It did with mine but that is not the solutiion to your problem.. even if you have a bleeding problem.. I do.. I have ITP.. and I dont bruise like that.. it is when they dont ice and are hard..but bruises can occcur with the most care and pre care..but it shouldnt be as severe as you explain.. It does sound like you need to go to another dr who does hundreds of these.. restalyn will go away with some time.. try human collagen..very light for under eyes..but you have to go a couple times.. so sorry you are going through this.. Most companies..will protect their drs..and we are not saying she isnt great at most things.. just you should know you can only use light fillers around eyes.. take care.. tt

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