Juvederm - Related Questions

Q: I had Juvederm injected into my lips about 3 weeks ago by a very new doctor in Baton Rouge. The swelling has completely gone down, and at first glance my lips look fine (not the results she promised but they look ok). This is my problem: when I feel my lips, they feel hard, accompanied by pain if I squeeze. Is this normal? It has been 3 weeks.

A: Lips are very hard to get right and shaping the lips and injecting gently to prevent lumping is something that comes with experience. I have been injecting lips since 1983, and I still feel I get a little better every year, even with so many years of experience. Juvederm is normally the softest of all HA fillers, so this is very unusual. I would suspect you were injected too high in the mucosa and it needs to be reduced with hyaluronidase. The good thing about Juvederm and restylane is they can be dissolved if the result is not quite right.

Q: I am planning on getting Juvederm in my lips. What should I do to prepare?

A: First, to reduce the risk of bruising, discontinue non-medically necessary aspirin, fish oil, vitamin E and ibuprofen. Second, get a prescription of Valtrex to reduce the risk of the injection trauma triggering a herpes simplex (cold sore) flare. Lastly, look at the doctor's before and after pictures to make sure the results from this provider are what you want. You do not want to be surprised with duck lips!

Q: I am over 50 and have never smoked, but have suffered with fine smokers lines all around my lips for years. Why? And what can I do to fix this? I do not want to look like a monkey.

A: Many people who have never smoked get perioral rhytides (lip wrinkles). It can be inherited, from too much sun, from chewing the inside of your mouth, whistling, talking, using a straw and lip pursing. There are several options: A little Botox can help reduce unintended lips pursing but might be a problem for those who talk for a living. Whistling can be impossible for several months post-Botox. Laser resurfacing using Active/Deep FX can help too, but the most common and easiest solution is Juvederm. I like the Ultra FX for this and I will often add a little extra lidocaine in this area to thin the product out and prevent lumping and upper lip swelling (that "monkey look") as well as further reduce pain in this sensitive area. Results typically last 6 months in this dynamic area.

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