Dermal Fillers
At Complete Care Family Medicine, we use two kinds of Dermal Fillers to smooth lines and wrinkles. These are JUVÉDERMT Injectable Gel and Cosmaderm.

What Is JUVÉDERMT Injectable Gel? Recently approved by the FDA, JuvédermT injectable gel is a "next-generation" dermal filler. This smooth consistency gel helps to instantly restore your skin's volume and smooth away facial wrinkles and folds, like your "smile lines" or "parentheses" (nasolabial folds-the creases that run from the bottom of your nose to the corners of your mouth).

JuvédermT is a smooth consistency gel made of hyaluronic acid-a naturally occurring substance in your skin that helps to add volume and hydration. We ease JuvédermT injectable gel under the skin to provide a smooth, natural look and feel-so everyone will notice (but no one will know)! JuvédermT in-jectable gel is the first FDA-approved hyaluronic acid dermal filler that is proven to be safe and effective for persons of color.

What to Expect During Treatment
Because JuvédermT injectable gel is a simple, nonsurgical treatment, there is minimal recovery or down-time. So you can make an appointment to stop by for treatment on the way home from work or the gym, or even while the kids are at soccer practice-and get right back to your life. Here's what to expect when you visit us.

Before you go
We recommend that you avoid any medications that can prolong bleeding, such as aspirin and non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDS), for at least a week prior to treatment in order to reduce the risk of bruising and bleeding at the injection site.

When you arrive
If this is your first visit, we will ask about your medical history, including any allergies you may have or medications you may take, and we will tell you more about wrinkle treatment with JuvédermT. JuvédermT injectable gel does not require an allergy test.

Determining your treatment needs
We will examine the soft tissue of your face to assess the depth of wrinkles and folds to determine your treatment. JuvédermT injectable gel is available in two formulations- JuvédermT Ultra for versatility in contouring and volumizing facial wrinkles and folds, and JuvédermT Ultra Plus, a robust formulation for volumizing and correcting deeper folds and wrinkles. This allows us to better tailor treatment to your unique needs. We may even take pretreatment photographs so you can see the difference after treatment!

Before the procedure
Although anesthesia is not required, wel may use topical or injectable anesthesia to numb the treatment area first.

The procedure
We will ease the JuvédermT injectable gel under your skin to augment, or fill, wrinkles and folds. Following the injection, we may gently massage the treated areas. The procedure is quick and easy. The injection itself usually takes only about 15 minutes.

After the procedure
With JuvédermT , there is minimal recovery or downtime. For the first 24 hours following treatment, you should avoid strenuous exercise, excessive sun or heat exposure, and consumption of alcoholic beverages in order to help minimize the risks of temporary redness, swelling, and/or itching at the treatment sites. After the treatment, some temporary injection-related reactions may occur, including redness, pain, firmness, swelling, and bumps. Studies have shown that these are usually mild to moderate in nature and clear up on their own in 7 days or less. If you experience swelling at the injection site, you can apply an ice pack for a brief period. We will tell you when makeup may be applied after your treatment.

Seeing results
You should see an immediate improvement in the treatment areas. Most patients need one treatment to achieve optimal wrinkle smoothing, and the results last up to 6 months or more. However, results may vary and correction is temporary. Supplemental "touch up" treatments may be required to achieve and maintain optimal results.

What is Cosmaderm?
Cosmaderm is a bioengineered dermal filler derived from human fat. It behaves in a similar way to JuvédermT, and treatment and results are similar to those above. We will consult with you to determine which procedure works best for your specific needs.

Important Safety Information
Serious heart problems and serious allergic reactions have been reported rarely. If you think you're having an allergic reaction or other unusual symptoms, such as difficulty swallowing, speaking or breathing, call us immediately, or go to the nearest emergency room.

Photos courtesy of Allergan, Inc. Irvine, CA 92612.  .