Juvederm XC
Since its FDA approval in 2006, Juvederm gel has rapidly become the dermal filler of choice because of its smooth consistency, long lasting results and ease of use for the physician injector. Juvederm is an injectable gel made of cross-linked hyaluronic acid. Hyaluronic acid is a large, water-absorbing molecule that is naturally present throughout the bodies of all mammals. Back in 1934, researchers at Columbia University studied the properties of hyaluronic acid and found that one of its major functions in the body was maintaining the volume and hydration of skin and connective tissues. However, hyaluronic acid in its native form is a liquid. If you inject native hyaluronic acid into the body, it is broken down by enzymes in about 1 day. That’s where the idea of cross-linking came from; if you chemically bind the large hyaluronic acid molecules together with sulfur bonds, the liquid becomes like a viscous gel and is much more resistant to degradation by the body’s natural enzymes.
Allergan, the makers of Botox Cosmetic and Juvederm, developed a patented process for cross-linking hyaluronic acid called Hylacross™ technology. Unlike the cross-linking technology of older fillers like Restylane and Hylaform that created rougher, more granular gels, the Hylacross™ technology creates and incredibly smooth consistency gel that actually lasts longer than older fillers like Restylane. This smooth consistency gel is both easier to use for the physician injector and yields a smoother, more natural looking result for the patient. In the photo below, you can see the smoothness of the Juvederm Ultra and Ultra Plus gels on the left versus the Restylane gel on the right, which appears gritty and granular.
Recently, Allergan launched Juvederm XC, which is the same Juvederm gel we already know but with the added benefit of having the local anesthetic lidocaine mixed in with the hyaluronic acid. The lidocaine used is a solution of 0.3%, preservative-free lidocaine. As soon as the Juvederm XC is injected, the lidocaine quickly diffuses into the surrounding tissues and numbs them. This makes for a more comfortable experience for the patient, especially when treating sensitive areas like the lip. In a clinical study that was performed leading up to the 2010 FDA approval of Juvederm XC, patients felt the local anesthetic effect of the lidocaine within just 3 seconds of the initial injection. And in that same study, 93% of patients reported that the injection experience was more comfortable than when a non-lidocaine gel was used.
Juvederm also provides the flexibility to tailor the dermal filler experience to each patient’s unique needs. Juvederm comes in the Ultra form, a thinner but highly cross-linked gel for more delicate areas of the face or finer wrinkles, and the Ultra Plus form, a thicker, more highly cross-linked form that provides more robust volumization for deeper folds.
You can find more information about Juvederm XC as well as before and after photos and safety information on Allergan’s website by clicking on the following link, or you can call us at Bella Luce Medispa at 714-846-5950 and we’ll be happy to answer all of your questions and concerns about Juvederm XC dermal fillers. You can also view Dr. Lawton doing live injection videos on our YouTube channel by clicking on the YouTube link below.
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