Juvéderm injections are widely considered to be one of the safest cosmetic procedures available today. Side effects following Juvéderm treatment are rare. Nevertheless, they sometimes occur.

The vast majority of Juvéderm side effects involve site trauma secondary to the injection procedure; these can include temporary redness, pain and tenderness during injections, and swelling and bruising afterwards. Patients may be advised to avoid medications such as aspirin and non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDS) for the week prior to and the week following the procedure to minimize such reactions. Patients may also be advised not to expose the treated areas of their faces to sunlight or extreme cold. While wearing makeup is fine, be sure to use a light touch when you’re applying that foundation!

If the physician miscalculates and the gel is not injected into exactly the right skin layer, negative reactions involving the formation of subcutaneous lumps and granulomas can also result.

Juvéderm injections are riskier in some parts of the body than others. A Juvéderm treatment that involves the area around the eyes, for example, carries the potential for far more complications that a Juvéderm treatment involving the reduction of nasolabial folds. If you are contemplating a Juvéderm procedure involving the area around your eyes, be sure to choose a physician who has a lot of experience performing this procedure.

In a very small number of cases, patients have had allergic reactions to the hyaluronic acid in Juvéderm. Allergan, the company that manufactures Juvéderm, stresses that Juvéderm should not be used on any patient who has a history of severe allergies (particularly to bacterial proteins) or on any patient with a history of anaphylactic reactions or episodes.