Juvederm Ultra XC

What is JUVÉDERM® Ultra XC?

JUVÉDERM® Ultra XC is an injectable gel that temporarily adds more fullness and plumps thin lips—whether your lips have thinned over time or you simply want fuller lips—in adults over the age of 21. JUVÉDERM® Ultra XC is also approved for smoothing and correcting moderate to severe parentheses lines, such as nasolabial folds (smile lines around the nose and mouth), in adults.

How long does JUVÉDERM® Ultra XC treatment last?

JUVÉDERM® Ultra XC lasts up to one year, with optimal treatment.

What are the potential side effects of JUVÉDERM® Ultra XC?

For lip augmentation, most side effects were mild or moderate in nature with duration of 14 days or less. The most common side effects were temporary reactions at the treatment site such as tenderness, swelling, firmness, lumps/bumps, and bruising.

For treating lines and wrinkles, most side effects were mild or moderate in nature with a duration of 7 days or less. The most common side effects included temporary injection-site reactions such as redness, pain/tenderness, firmness, swelling, lumps/bumps, bruising, itching, and discoloration.

How does JUVÉDERM® Ultra XC work?

JUVÉDERM® Ultra XC temporarily adds volume to facial tissue and restores a smoother appearance to the face. The lidocaine in the gel improves the comfort of the injection. Also, JUVÉDERM® Ultra XC temporarily adds fullness for lip enhancement in adults over the age of 21.

Pre Care Instructions 

• Avoid the use of Aspirin, NSAIDS, Ginko Biloba, Garlic Supplements, Green Tea, Flax Oil, Cod Liver Oil, Vitamins A and E, and essential fatty acids for up to 1 week pre and post injection as they will increase your risk of bruising.
• Do not drink alcoholic beverages 24 hours before (or after) your treatment to avoid extra bruising.
• You may take Arnica tablets 2-3 days prior to your injection to reduce the risk of bruising.
• Do not apply products that are potentially irritating for 2 -3 days before and after treatment (examples- tretinoin/retin-a, glycolic acid, benzoyl peroxide, hydroquinone).
• Inform your provider if you have a history of cold sores to receive advice on antiviral therapy prior to treatment.
• Do not use the above stated if you are pregnant or breastfeeding or are allergic to any of its ingredients. Please inform your provider if you have any questions about this prior to the treatment.         

• Minimize strenuous exercise and exposure to extensive sun or heat within the first 24 hours following treatment. Exposure to any of these may cause temporary redness, swelling, and/or itching at the injection site.

Day of Treatment 

• You may use topical anesthetic medication in office before your scheduled appointment (please arrive 30 minutes prior to procedure).
• Arrive with a clean face. Please do not wear makeup.
• You May experience a mild amount of tenderness or stinging during and following injection.
• Redness and swelling are normal. Some bruising may also be visible.

Post Care Instructions 

• Ice (but avoid firm pressure) for 15 minutes 3 times the day of treatment

• You may take Acetaminophen/Tylenol if you experience any mild tenderness/discomfort

• Do not massage treated areas after treatment

• After treatment there will be moderate swelling and redness with possibility of bruising. These symptoms will resolve in about 7 days. You may apply or take Arnica tablets to help decrease the amount of bruising

• Avoid extended UV exposure until any redness/swelling has subsided. Apply SPF.

• Avoid strenuous exercise for 24 hours to reduce bruising. You may resume other normal activities/routines immediately.

• Avoid laser, IPL, or skin tightening treatments of the area for at least 2-3 weeks.

• You may continue your topical products as mentioned above 1 week after injection. 

Do not use these products if you have a history of multiple severe allergies or severe allergic reactions (anaphylaxis), or if you are allergic to lidocaine or the Gram-positive bacterial proteins used in these products.

The most commonly reported side effects with JUVÉDERM® injectable gels included redness, swelling, pain, tenderness, firmness, lumps/bumps, bruising, discoloration, and itching. 

Most side effects will resolve with time. Your doctor may choose to treat side effects persisting over 30 days with antibiotics, steroids, or hyaluronidase (an enzyme that breaks down hyaluronic acid).

One of the risks with these products is unintentional injection into a blood vessel. The chances of this happening are very small, but if it does happen, the complications can be serious and may be permanent. These complications, which have been reported for facial injections, can include vision abnormalities, blindness, stroke, temporary scabs, or permanent scarring of the skin.

As with all skin injection procedures, there is a risk of infection.