Juvéderm™ is a smooth consistency gel made of hyaluronic acid which is a naturally occurring substance in your skin that helps to add volume and hydration. Your healthcare professional eases Juvéderm™ injectable gel under the skin 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).

Juvéderm™ has a unique manufacturing process that provides a high concentration of cross-linked hyaluronic acid for long-lasting results. It also creates a smooth consistency gel that flows easily into the skin during the injection process and provides a smooth, natural look and feel so everyone will notice (but no one will know)! Only Juvéderm™ is so smooth. Other hyaluronic acid fillers currently on the market are made of granular consistency gels.

Because Juvéderm™ injectable gel is a simple, nonsurgical wrinkle treatment, there is minimal recovery or downtime. So you can make an appointment to stop by your healthcare professional's office 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 your healthcare professional's office for treatment. (Please note that although this experience is typical, the routine at your healthcare professional's office may be different.)

Before you go: Some doctors 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. Ask your healthcare professional what he or she recommends.

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

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

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

The procedure: Your healthcare professional will ease the Juvéderm™ injectable gel under your skin to augment, or fill, wrinkles and folds. Following the injection, your healthcare professional 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 Juvéderm™, 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. Your healthcare professional 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 one treatment could smooth your lines and wrinkles for up to 1 year! However, results may vary and correction is temporary. Supplemental "touch up" treatments may be required to achieve and maintain optimal results.