The injector drew Juvederm from a vile instead of a syringe and charged me much less than normal. What I given a fake?

The use of facial fillers is rising in popularity. Juvederm, Restylane and Radiesse are popular among those seeking to minimize the appearance of fine lines and
wrinkles without surgical intervention.



However, as fillers have grown in popularity so have the
dangers of unqualified/unlicensed practitioners performing procedures at cut
rate with questionable materials. Many patients are unaware of the risks
associated with these procedures especially when performed by unqualified
individuals oftentimes using counterfeit fillers.



Tips for avoiding filler related disasters:

-Be
familiar with your injector. They should be licensed trained and experienced in
both the qualities of the different fillers and how they are to be employed (indications for use? where to use? how deep to be placed? how much volume?).
Board certification and experience is paramount.



-Be
familiar with your chosen product. The products have different qualities and
are thus uniquely suited for addressing different issues or concerns. Some are
longer lasting than others. Others are injected at different levels. Often times
patients are unfamiliar with available options and it is in these instances crucial that they select an experienced practitioner to guide their choices. Different
areas/concerns will often require different products.



-Follow
up is important. Often times, patients
will need a second look (a few weeks later) following their initial injection
to ensure that they have achieved the look that they were seeking. It is at
these visits that fine adjustments can be made.



As always a visit with your board certified plastic
surgeon can help you clarify what areas of treatment you would like to address
and which filler placed where will best address your needs.

Thank you for your question about Juvederm.  You are correct, Juvederm comes in a prepackaged syringe.  The product also costs much more than $150.  I am not sure what product you received but it does not sound like Juvederm.  Juvederm is a hyaluronic acid based filler (HA), HA is naturally occurring in our joints and skin.  The product stays where it is injected and therefore should not cause harm.  Depending on the product used, you should continue to have results for 8 months to a year and a half.
To be sure you receive the best treatment, see two or more experienced, licensed and board-certified providers in your area for a complete evaluation to make sure you are a good candidate and that it is safe for you to have treatment. I hope this helps

From what its sounds like, whatever you had injected was probably not Juvaderm at all.  You are right in that it comes prepackaged in its own syringe, and that you are not supposed to use that syringe for anyone else except that patient.  If it was drawn out of a vial, then it is hard to know what it was.  I would find a board certified plastic surgeon the next time you go for a medical procedure ( injections included).  That way you know you are getting someone who adheres to ethical standards and will use FDA products, etc.  I hope this helps.

Hello and thank you for the question.

I would be suspicious that the product injected into your lips was not Juvederm given that it was drawn from a vial and you were only charged $150. Juvederm comes pre-packaged from the manufacturer in a syringe. I recommend you follow up with your clinician and find out what the product injected into your lips was.

Best,

Glenn Vallecillos, M.D., F.A.C.S. 

Juvederm only comes prepackaged in a syringe from the manufacturer.  What he injected at this center I do not know. You shoudl ask him.