Today Allergan, the pharmaceutical company which manufactures Botox,  announced the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) approval of JUVÉDERM® XC, a new formulation Juvederm which contains lidocaine to make the treatment of moderate to severe facial wrinkles and folds much more comfortable.

Juvederm has a smooth consistency gel which makes it easier to inject and provides a more natural looking result which lasts for up to a year. This new formulation of Juvederm maintains the same result and also contains 0.3% lidocaine, which numbs the treatment area within seconds. Hopefully, this will reduce the need for any additional anesthetic.

The FDA approval was based on clinical data in a multicenter, double-blind, randomized clinical trial in which patients received injections of Juvederm or Juvederm XC in each nasolabial fold. 93% of patients reported less pain when treated with the new formulation of Juvederm compared to those treated with the non-lidocaine formulation.

Juvederm XC is now available for ordering nationwide. Just like other Juvederm products, it must be administered by a trained medical professional.