Juvederm - What technique should I use to massage Juvederm into place?

Juvederm really shouldn't need to be massaged at home. . .but if you must. . .remember to be very gentle, massage three times a day (don't feel like you need to keep playing with it all day) for three days and you should be fine.

As with any filler, you will have some swelling for a few days.  What you are feeling can certainly be the swelling - it will be worsened (you may cause more swelling and bruising) with massage.  If you are really worried about it so that you want to be "sure" that it's massaged out, you'll probably be so aggressive that you could cause additional trauma.

Of course, the best option is to see the provider that performed the injection.  They know what to expect and will give you the best advice.

Maybe your doctor already had concerns that some of it was injected in a "little different" place than he wanted. . .so he felt comfortable telling you to massage it back into place.  If he knows you well and has given you this advice, then you are correct in following it.

The technique of massaging between your fingers (usually only one) and your thumb works well.  I like to place one inside the mouth and the other on top.  Perform this gently.  Sometimes firm, even, slow pressure is good.  I find that sculpting/molding the area immediately following injection has greatly reduced (or eliminated) the need to have patients massage at home.

Have fun but don't overdo it!

Without examining the area, it’s impossible to give exact directions here on a “home massage technique” for Juvederm. Although this can be done in some situations, keep in mind that post-treatment swelling may be not only from the Juvederm itself, but also from bruising, and inflammation due to an injection 3 days ago.

In this situation, I would recommend seeing the doctor that did this injection. If your doctor wants you to massage this area and you’re not sure how to proceed, it’s best to have him examine the area and then guide you on how to massage it. He may also attempt to massage in the Juvederm himself, or allow swelling to subside before taking other action. In short, seeing your doctor will help yield the best results.

If you can’t see your doctor now, be sure to follow up with him 10-14 days after the injection. By then, bruising and swelling is usually gone, and the long-term effects of Juvederm will be visible.

If you can see the actual thread of Juvederm under the skin this could mean that it was injected too close to the skin. Wait 4-5 days. If you still see the actual thread, your doctor can squeeze it out. 

The rule of thumb in medicine is: "When you are not sure, Do Not Touch."

I would wait until you see your doctor before doing anything. Because you only had your injection three days ago, it is possible that the fullness you are experiencing is actually swelling.

There is the possibility that the Juvederm has migrated slightly and will need to be massaged, but at this point, I would wait until your physician can evaluate things and let him or her determine if massage is the best solution.

Unwanted massage can displace the Juvederm and actually negate any benefit you might have had.