Is it safe to save a Juvederm syringe for six months?
Saving a Juvederm syringe for six months is not recommended. Dr. Anita Patel of Beverly Hills explains the product is sterile only until it is opened, and once opened and used it is no longer technically sterile, so storing it that long risks contamination for future injections.
How long can leftover Juvederm reasonably be kept for a touch-up?
Leftover Juvederm can reasonably be kept for a couple of weeks if you may need a touch-up at a follow-up visit. Dr. Anita Patel of Beverly Hills advises removing the used needle, recapping the syringe, using a new needle for the second injection, and clearly labeling it with the patient name.
How can I avoid buying more filler than I need?
An experienced injector can usually estimate how much filler an area needs before starting. Dr. Anita Patel of Beverly Hills notes that if you only need half a syringe, you can buy a smaller volume to begin with and simply purchase more later if additional product is required.
Why does filler sometimes look lumpy or irregular after injection?
Lumpy or irregular filler results come down to the injector's judgment and technique. Dr. Anita Patel of Beverly Hills explains the treatment must suit the problem and be injected with proper technique, since deep forehead lines are often softened with Botox while filler must be placed carefully to avoid irregularities.
I have had Juvederm injected in my horizontal forehead lines by a plastic surgeon in Dec. They said they used a half of the syringe and I could come back in six months for another set of injections with the remaining product in the syringe.
I read on your forum this should not be done. Is this standard? In addition, I felt that the injection sites were too few and lumpy. Any suggestions or comments. Thank you.
Typically an experienced injector can estimate how much filler you will need for any given area before beginning the procedure.
If you know you only need half of a syringe to start, you can just buy a smaller volume to begin with. Then if you need more you can come back and buy more. The product is sterile until it is opened. One it is opened and used, it is no longer technically sterile.
I personally would not save a syringe for six months. I do think it is reasonable to keep the product around for a couple weeks if you have some left over and may do a touch-up on the follow-up visit. If that is done, to avoid potential contamination, I recommend removing the needle used, recapping the syringe, and using a new needle on the second injection.
It is also important to keep that syringe clearly marked with the patient name. Regarding the lumpy and irregular appearance, that is related to your injector’s judgment and technique. First, the treatment needs to be appropriate to solve the problem. For example, Botox is typically used to soften horizontal forehead lines.
Really deep lines may not be fully corrected and may be addressed with filler. If filler is chosen, it much be injected with proper technique to be successful, and avoid irregularities like those you describe. The bottom line is choose your injector carefully!