On October 1, 2015, Allergan, the leader in medical aesthetics achieved yet another milestone. Juvéderm Ultra, a consumer favorite was FDA approved for injection of the lip and vertical lip lines.
Juvéderm has been a long standing favorite amongst medical cosmetic practices for it’s exceptionally smooth texture, making it ideal for the lips. Juvederm is made up of a modified form of hyaluronic acid (HA), a naturally occurring sugar found in the human body. The role of HA in the skin is to deliver nutrients and help the skin retain its natural moisture and softness.
However, until now, using it for the lips was considered “off label”. So what does “off label” mean? To put it simply, it’s when a product is used in a way the FDA has not approved or does not have instructions for use on the product label. About 1 in 5 prescription products are used off label, it doesn’t necessarily mean it’s unsafe, it’s just not condoned by the FDA.
Juvéderm Ultra is commonly used in the lip to create a fuller appearance. Lip augmentation when done correctly looks very natural. We often use Juvederm to restore a lip volume back to that of younger years, to achieve the right proportion between top and bottom lips, or to get a pouty bottom lip appearance. In the FDA clinical trials, 78% of subjects reported an improvement in their overall satisfaction with the look and feel of their lips at one year after treatment.
The other approved FDA indication now for Juvéderm Ultra is vertical lip lines – those annoying vertical wrinkles around the mouth are mechanically etched into our faces every day, whenever we talk, laugh, or eat AND seem to appear overnight. Now patients can achieve the natural-looking results they have come to know and expect with Juvederm Ultra in their lips.
If you’re interested in learning more, our consultations are complimentary!