What's the Difference Between Juvederm® Ultra & Ultra Plus?

If you’re considering dermal filler injections to treat fine lines and wrinkles on your face or volume loss in your lips, the name “Juvederm” might ring a bell.

Juvederm® is a family of dermal fillers manufactured by Allergan. Juvederm formulations currently marketed in the United States include:

Juvederm Ultra XC
Juvederm Ultra Plus XC
Juvederm Vollure XC
Juvederm Voluma XC
Juvederm Volbella XC
Juvederm Volux XC

All Juvederm formulations use hyaluronic acid (HA), a naturally occurring protein, as their active ingredient. Most also use a proprietary molecular cross-linking technology known as Vycross to create a unique smooth gel structure that may improve results. This is a big selling point: one of the biggest differences between Revanesse Versa and Juvederm Ultra, both of which are indicated for deeper fold and wrinkle treatment, is the cross-linked structure of the latter.

Today, we’re going to learn about two popular dermal fillers from Juvederm: Ultra and Ultra Plus.

What Is Juvederm Ultra XC?

Juvederm Ultra XC is a facial filler indicated for the treatment of smile lines and laugh lines — early signs of aging in the mid face. It’s also used in lip augmentation procedures, with demonstrable benefits for fine lip lines (including smokers’ lines).

Unlike some other Juvederm fillers that haven’t been studied in patients under age 35, Juvederm Ultra is appropriate for patients in their 20s and early 30s.

What Is Juvederm Ultra Plus XC?

Juvederm Ultra Plus XC is a facial filler that can also treat mid facial wrinkles, lip lines, and perioral lines that appear around the lips. It’s also used to treat lines in the lower face, along the chin and mandible (jawline).

Key Differences Between Juvederm Ultra and Ultra Plus

Both Juvederm Ultra and Juvederm Ultra Plus XC can temporarily slow or reverse telltale signs of aging, add volume to treated areas, and help patients reach their aesthetic goals.

But they’re not exactly the same. Some key differences between them include:

Juvederm Ultra Plus is thicker. Juvederm Ultra Plus is a slightly thicker formulation than Juvederm Ultra. This has a noticeable effect on its performance and its range of indications.

Juvederm Ultra Plus works better for deeper lines. Juvederm Ultra Plus is a better choice for deeper facial lines and wrinkles. The filler penetrates deeper into the skin and connective tissue, adding volume better than some other formulations.

Juvederm Ultra may be a better choice for lip augmentation. Due to its more delicate structure, Juvederm Ultra is better for “finer-touch” procedures such as lip augmentation.

Juvederm Ultra may require more frequent touch-ups. Juvederm Ultra results may fade sooner than Ultra Plus results, on the order of six to 12 months instead of 12 to 18 months.

Less Juvederm Ultra may be required to achieve desired results. Because Juvederm Ultra is indicated for finer applications like the lips and perioral area, less is needed to achieve the same results.

Like all hyaluronic acid fillers, Juvederm Ultra and Ultra Plus should be handled and administered only by a board-certified dermatologist or a licensed provider working under their direct supervision. To minimize the risk of side effects and more serious complications, always work with an injector who has completed an accredited dermal filler training course.