203-335-3223

Voted Best & Top Plastic Surgeon in Fairfield County & Connecticut

“I have a much more confident overall attitude about myself and I’m happy to say the experience was definitely a success!” — LD

Jeffrey Rosenthal MD
Board Certified Plastic Surgeon l Former, Chief Plastic Surgery at Bridgeport Hospital

140 Sherman Street, Fairfield, CT 06824
Rosenthal Cosmetic Surgery & Skin Care Center

"Where Art Meets Science"

FAQs About Juvéderm

What is Juvederm?

Juvederm is an injectable filler used to soften deep folds and reduce wrinkles in the faces of patients. The substance is largely hyaluronic acid, a substance normally found in the skin, muscles, and tendons of mammals.

How does Juvederm produce a contour improvement?

Juvederm works to fill and shape lips, lines and creases around the mouth and lower face.
The HA (Juvederm) products come in various forms depending upon the number of particles suspended in the solution.  Juvederm Ultra Plus is best for the creases and contour changes around the mouth, jaw and cheeks.  Back to questions

How many syringes of product will you need?

Typically, most patients require at least two syringes to start the process, but this will depend upon how many areas are to be softened and contoured. The more areas of concern require additional volumes to fill.  It is like waxing your floor.  Put a bit of wax in the middle of the floor and spread it out.  If the floor is small, you will be able to cover the entire area.  Larger floors will be inadequately covered or only have a very thin veneer of wax.  So too, the HA products can only be spread so far.  You may have a procedure and after a few weeks require additional HA to complete the contouring.   Back to questions

What are the side effects of Juvederm?

Most side effects are mild or moderate in nature, and last 7 days or less. The most common side effects include temporary injection-site reactions such as: redness, pain/tenderness, firmness, swelling, lumps/bumps, bruising, itching, and discoloration

How long does it last?

The manufactures note that the HA products may last 6-12 months.  However, certain areas of the face, such as the lips will have faster volume depletion due to their movement.  Each person is an individual, so predicting precise longevity is difficult. Back to questions

How much pain should I expect?

Most physicians will only place a cream or ointment on the top of the skin and then inject the HA products.  As you can imagine, this would be less than comfortable. Back to questions

The process of numbing your mouth requires up to 1 hour by Dr. Rosenthal, with offices in Fairfield and Greenwich, Connecticut.  First, an ointment is applied topically to the area to decrease the sensitivity and potential bruising.  Secondly, a gel is placed on your gums and inner lips to numb these areas before a numbing liquid is injected, similar to a dentist.  Thirdly, more numbing liquid is placed deep under the skin to allow you the most comfort during the HA procedure.  Generally, the areas to be injected with the HA products are fairly numb to afford you the most comfort during the sculpting procedure. Additionally, the Juvéderm has a numbing solution mixed in it to make you comfortable.  Back to questions


Will I be bruised and swollen?
Since the HA products draw fluid into the skin, one can expect swelling for a few days.  They also affect clotting in the areas of injection causing some bruising.  The degree and extent of swelling varies with each individual and may last between 3-7 days on average.  Makeup can be used the day after the procedure to camouflage these areas. Back to questions

Are there potential risks?

With any procedure there are potential risks of complication. These are generally few and infrequent. Bruising that lasts a bit longer (longer than 7-10 days) than expected with swelling can occur. The injections to sculpt your face require multiple entry points with a very fine needle (after the area is numb). These pin points may stay around for more than 1-2 weeks, and there is always the rare occurrence where the mark(s) does not disappear.

The face is not even or symmetrical and thus only relative symmetry can be obtained. No face is symmetrical before or after the HA products. Since the products fill the skin and hold fluid, there is a chance of having extra fullness or small thickenings in or under the skin. Usually they disappear with time and massage, but there is the rare chance of their staying. Allergic reaction or the HA products causing temporary or permanent discoloration to the skin is another rare complication.  Back to questions


What to expect:
The HA products enable Dr. Rosenthal the opportunity to artistically sculpt your face giving it a softer, fuller and more youthful appearance. By taking the time to properly numb your face, mouth and lips, Dr. Rosenthal can produce a natural fullness.  This transformation comes about by layering the products in such a way to lift, contour and augment your own tissues. Back to questions

What is Juvederm Voluma?

Juvederm Voluma is the newest HA (hyaluronic acid) soft tissue filler to gain FDA approval. It has been available in Europe since 2005 and is used in 72 countries worldwide. Juvederm Voluma is the newest filler in the family of Juvederm products, and is formulated with lidocaine for added comfort during treatment.

What is Juvederm Hydrate?

Juvéderm Hydrate™ is not classified as a filler or volumising treatment. Rather this product has been specifically designed to improve skin hydration and elasticity in the face, neck, décolletage and hands.

Lips

With age, the pink lining of the lips begins to sag and becomes less taught.  This is due to loss of muscle volume of the lips.   Juvéderm can be used to build up and enhance your lip line and lip fullness.  Back to questions


What about the corners of the mouth
These droop like other areas of face.  The HA products can subtlety elevate these folds. Back to questions

Lip lines

Vertical and horizontal lines in the upper and lower lips can be softened and contoured. Back to questions


Creases next to the mouth
Folds extending from the nose to the corners of the mouth and beyond are attributable do to the laxity of the cheek tissues. The HA products act as a scaffolding to re-support and contour these folds.  The deep folds are pleasingly softened with great care not to overfill them which would result in an unsightly bulge. Back to questions

Jaw line

When the jaw line sags a bit and is no longer crisp and smooth, HA products can build up some of the depressions adjacent to the chin.  Back to questions


Cheek-Forehead-Temples
Hollows in this area can be softened with HA products; however, deep cavities will require another product called Radiesse.

When do I see Dr. Rosenthal again?

We have a complimentary follow-up evaluation 2-4 weeks after the first treatment session.  This is to judge the contour improvement and to see if additional filling with the HA products is necessary to achieve the desired results.

What else can I do to improve my appearance?

Skin Care: Start by protecting your skin with medical grade skin care products that really do something.  Choose a reflective block during the peak of the day and chemical absorbent block at other times.   Use products with glycolic acid ingredients to remove the outer uneven layer of the skin where pigments dwell, soothing moisture creams to hydrate the dry skin, and by all means use facial cleansers which will not dry your skin.

You are located in downtown Fairfield, Connecticut – where do most of your patients come from?

Because of Dr. Rosenthal’s expertise, experience, artistry, creativity and surgical skill and his vast interests in the arts, where he has held numerous art shows and charity events displaying his artwork in the United States and Europe –  our patients have come from all parts of Connecticut from New Haven County including Woodbury, Roxbury and Southbury; Fairfield County including Greenwich, New Canaan, Norwalk, Westport, Southport and Fairfield and as far as Westchester, Manhattan and even parts of Europe.

Art of Plastic Surgery Fairfield CT