Juvederm is a soft tissue filler made up of hyaluronic acid gel. Hyaluronic acid (HA) is a naturally occurring substance in the skin, and its native function is to absorb up to 10,000 times its weight in water molecules! This water molecule network gives the skin a plump appearance and helps cushion deeper structures. As we age, UV sunlight and environmental stressors degrade native HA and its surrounding water cushion shrinks. As a result, the skin deflates and loses its supple quality. By injecting Juvederm HA gel into the skin, we can replace what has been lost, restoring a youthful appearance.
Because Juvederm is manufactured as a very smooth product, it is most often used in the lips or to fill lines in the lower face. It typically lasts 6-9 months. Like native HA, internal processes gradually break it down and eliminate it from the body.
Juvederm Voluma is a stiffer version of Juvederm that is meant to replace zones of volume loss. Most often it is used to volumize the upper cheeks. This helps restore youthful plumpness and lifts sagging lower cheeks and jowls. Because of its stiffer character, it typically lasts 12-24 months before it is broken down and naturally eliminated.