Juvederm: Before & after facial fillers

BritMums recently did a project with Juvederm, the dermal fillers that smooth away wrinkles. As part of that project, BritMums cofounder Jennifer Howze tried it out. Here’s her experience.

I always wanted to age gracefully, naturally, relishing my lines for the experience they paid testament to. In this vision of the future, I always looked something like the mature Georgia O’Keefe or ageing Julie Christie. In actuality, I couldn’t help feeling that my face was looking less like a work of art than a saggy pair of longjohns, all out of shape and baggy in the wrong places.

I’d had several friends who had dabbled in injectable fixes; they’d done careful research, seen vetted practitioners, and were delighted with the results. So when we started a project with Juvederm, I was intrigued to find out if it was for me.

 

 

What is Juvederm?

Juvederm facial filler is injected under the skin to plump out areas that naturally lose volume as we age — the apple of our cheeks, the lines between our nose and the corners of our mouth, around our lips. It contains hyaluronic acid, which is a naturally occurring substance in the body. Alison Telfer, a qualified medical nurse who heads up The Glasshouse Face and Skin Clinic in Clapham, London, describes using Juvederm as putting back something that we’ve lost over time. Telfer has used Juvederm in her practice for years and instructs other practitioners in its correct placement and usage. If I was going to get it done, this was a good woman to see.

Step 1: The consultation

Like many of us, I know what I don’t like about the changes in my face. At my consultation, I laid these out for Telfer. Disappointingly, she agreed with every one: circles under my eyes and deepening lines between my nose and the outer corners of my mouth, which dragged down the whole look of my face.

When we look in the mirror, we make small adjustments with the muscles in our face to look better, adjustments we may not even be aware of. In the pictures Telfer took, I saw a less flattering image than even I was accustomed to.

To lessen the “tear troughs” and “nasolabial lines” — terms that don’t make you feel any younger, I’ll tell you — Juvederm could plump up the tissue from underneath and provide support. I decided to take the plunge (or plunger?) and made an appointment a few weeks hence.

Step 2: The procedure

Telfer did the injections herself. First she used a cold compress on the skin, then injected around the areas that needed plumping. Juvederm is available in different “weights”, depending on where it will be placed on the face. A less pliable version is placed in areas that require more structure, a more “watery” version is injected where more movement is needed.

The injections were uncomfortable but not painful. Telfer massaged the area around the nasolabial lines, and, reassuringly, kept checking her work along the way to make sure the results were symmetrical and natural.

Step 3: Aftercare

I was told to avoid exercise for 24 hours after treatment, and fully read the Juvederm safety information and list of side effects. Perhaps the most unusual caution was to avoid “extreme facial expressions” so the gel wouldn’t shift. Caution: Absolutely no gurning!

According to Juvederm, the most common side effects are tenderness and bruising. I experienced a bit of both. The most severe was bruising below my left eye, which lasted about 2 weeks and which I covered with my usual concealer. Only my husband seemed to notice.

I went back a few weeks later for a follow-up visit. Telfer performed a small top-up on one side of the nasolabial lines to account for asymmetrically deeper creases.

The cost and frequency

Juvederm lasts for 9 months to a year. Telfer suggests topping up after about 7 months, before the effects are completely gone and to provide continuity to your look.

Juvederm is priced according to the amount that’s used. The Glasshouse charges from £285 for nose to mouth creases, lip enhancement, and deep forehead lines, and from £400 for cheek enhancement. My treatment would have cost around £700.

The result

I was nervous about having something injected into my face, both from the health standpoint and aesthetically. I didn’t want to ruin my face or look “done”.

I felt more relaxed knowing that if something went wrong, Telfer could immediately give me another injection that would dissolve the Juvederm. (In rare cases, if the gel is misplaced, it can block circulation to the skin, something immediately apparent.)

As with any procedure, it’s important to find a fully qualified practitioner. Don’t just turn up as a salon to see an unresearched aesthetician as they may not have much practice or experience. You can find a list of clinics near you via the Juvederm website.

The soreness was minimal, the bruising a little more apparent than I would have liked, but once the blueish area faded, I felt like my face looked refreshed and perfectly natural.

When I looked in the mirror, the image I saw better matched the image of myself I have in my head: grown-up, yes, but aging gracefully like I’d imagined.

www.juvederm.co.uk

Have you considered cosmetic procedures like Juvederm or had it yourself? Tell us your experience in the comments section.

This post is part of a BritMums project sponsored by Juvederm. Jennifer Howze received a complimentary consultation and the offer of treatment, which she took up. All opinions are the writer’s own.