Dermal fillers are an excellent way to create and maintain nonsurgical cosmetic improvements of the face. A series of these injections plumps depressions in the skin, softening the look of lines, wrinkles, scarring, or loss of volume. By treating different areas of the face, the doctor can improve a patient’s aesthetics, creating a more attractive overall look with improved texture or added curvature to areas like the cheeks and lips. Some of the most transformative results are available through Juvederm Vollure XC injections, performed at Dr. Schwartz’s practices, Palm Beach Face in West Palm Beach and Boynton Beach, FL.
What is Juvederm Vollure XC?
Juvederm injections have been FDA approved since 2006. The long-studied main component of the substance, hyaluronic acid, was studied by researchers in the 1930s, but was not used in the medical field for another sixty years. Hyaluronic acid is naturally occurring in the body. When injected under the skin, it draws natural internal moisture to the site. Medical injections have been available to patients for years to treat conditions like osteoarthritis of the knees. The formulation provides a special padding to the joints, which move with greater ease and less pain due to the lubricating effects of hyaluronic acid. Though already present at these anatomical connections, the addition of the material in areas where it has been depleted over time has proven beneficial.
In more recent years, the plumping properties have been approved for use in the face. While cosmetic injections are not medically beneficial, patients elect to undergo Juvederm injections because of the noted improvements a series can create to the face. This, in turn, can boost a person’s self-confidence, which is an important component of mental health.
Juvederm Vollure XC has been FDA-approved for use by cosmetic medical professionals for patients 21 and older since April of 2017, though it was available in Europe under the name “Volift” for a number of years prior. The formulation is the only one touted to deliver up to 18 months of improvement to the nasolabial folds, which are the lines that form between the outer nostrils of the nose, often reaching the outer corners of the lips. These lines form parenthesis in the lower face and can add years to one’s appearance, obscuring the position of the cheekbones and creating a downturned look. Most doctors find that the product also delivers impressive results to the marionette lines (named for marionette puppets as the vertical lines span from the corners of the lips to the jawline) and horizontal lines of the chin. Juvederm Vollure XC uses the patented technology Vycross, which is cross-linked hyaluronic acid of varying chain lengths. Different molecular weights are used to create the product. The benefit is that this formulation of Juvederm is more malleable, with improved lifting capabilities. Because of the increased projection the product offers, Juvederm Vollure XC is effective in treating moderate nasolabial folds. Additionally, it has also been shown to last longer, with less swelling as a side effect.
A Common Problem Area: The Nasolabial Folds
Also called laugh lines or smile lines, this feature is most visible when people smile. During the aging process, the lines become more prominent, even while at rest. The depth of these nose-to-mouth lines can add years to a person’s appearance. They act as parenthesis, highlighting wrinkles of the lips. They can also detract from the position of the cheekbones, restructuring the look of the face and its natural arches. The idea is to soften the appearance of the lines as the face can appear too one-dimensional and flat if these lines do not exist within the skin. It is through Juvederm Vollure XC that these cosmetic objectives can be achieved.
What Other Types of Juvederm Injections are Available?
Below is a guide to the numerous Juvederm products available to treat a wide array of patients’ concerns.
Juvederm Ultra
This hyaluronic acid filler can remain in place for 9 months to a year, and it is composed of a smooth gel formula. Other hyaluronic acid fillers available have a granular texture that may be less predictable once in place under the skin. The consistency of this filler is more compatible with the smooth underlying tissues of the face. The Hylacross technology in Juvederm Ultra injections provides a 9% cross-linked hyaluronic acid that remains truer to form over time. The best applications for this formulation are plumping depressed scars, adding contour to the face, moderate augmentation of the lips, and filling moderate smile and marionette lines.
Juvederm Ultra XC
This version of Juvederm is nearly identical in composition to Juvederm Ultra, but it contains the added benefit of the pain reliever lidocaine. The additional ingredient serves as a local anesthetic to provide patients with more comfort during an injection procedure. The results and location applications are the same with Juvederm Ultra XC, but patients can choose this formula if they are concerned about the temporary side effects of the treatment.
Juvederm Ultra Plus
As the name suggests, Juvederm Ultra Plus is a more advanced injectable. The hyaluronic acid filler is 11% cross-linked and is a more viscous formula. More potent and thicker, Juvederm Ultra Plus is ideal for advanced signs of aging of the face. There is greater longevity of results, lasting for around 12 months, and it treats at deeper layers of skin. It can provide more dramatic changes to the skin, including fuller lip augmentations, facial contouring, and the filling of wrinkles around the eyes and mouth. It is also a great option to minimize the look nasolabial lines.
Juvederm Ultra Plus XC
This advanced Juvederm filler offers all the same benefits of Juvederm Ultra Plus but it has added lidocaine to help control any sensitivities that occur within the skin. While Juvederm Ultra Plus XC is a great option to keep pain at bay, there are other ways to undergo this cosmetic treatment. A topical anesthetic can be applied to the area(s) of skin to be treated and remain on the skin for 30-40 minutes. Numbing agents can also be injected into the skin to prep it for the cosmetic injections. Some patients also respond well to using a cold compress on the treatment sites for several minutes before the session begins.
Juvederm Voluma XC
Created to restore or add volume to the cheeks and mid-face, Juvederm Voluma XC is injected deep into the skin for dramatic results. This non-surgical filler, like all Juvederm products, is created with hyaluronic acid. The jelly-like texture also contains the local anesthetic lidocaine like the other XC products. Experts agree that results can remain for up to 2 years, creating a long-term solution to the natural aging process. After injection deep into the dermis, Juvederm Voluma XC effectively lifts and plumps the cheek region to provide realistic but impressive improvements. Patients must be over 21 years of age to be eligible for this treatment.
Candidates for Juvederm Vollure XC
Candidates for Juvederm Vollure XC injections must be over 21 years of age. Though the treatment is non-invasive, ideal patients are in good health. They should have realistic expectations about the changes possible through the procedure, as there are certain limitations to every cosmetic procedure due to patient anatomy and modern science. Interested individuals are advised to postpone a Juvederm Vollure XC session or explore other treatment options if they are pregnant, under age 21, or allergic to the ingredients in the filler, including hyaluronic acid and lidocaine.
Frequently Asked Questions About Juvederm Vollure XC
All Juvederm injections are hyaluronic-acid based, and are therefore able to be reversed by the enzyme, hyaluronidase. The material dissolves away area particles of the substance, which can be beneficial to patients for a number of reasons. With expert application, negative side effects are unlikely, but still remain possible. Patient dissatisfaction, infection, swelling, and compromised blood vessels are all reasons why the procedure might be reversed.
The American Society of Plastic Surgeons provides the following list of fillers containing this main ingredient:
Captique, Elevess, Esthelis, Hylaform, Juvederm, Perlane, Prevelle, Puragen, and Restylane.
Other dermal injections are available with varying chemical makeup. Dr. Schwartz can advise which he has had most success with.
While some patients request Juvederm Vollure XC injections as a standalone procedure, others request additional cosmetic treatments to achieve their desired results. Juvederm Vollure XC can be paired with other dermal injections or a Botox treatment. Patients may opt for surgical measures on areas of their face to complete their transformation. The doctor can perform blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery), facial implants, or neck lift surgery to address other signs of aging that may occur alongside less voluminous cheeks.
How long will Juvederm Vollure XC results last?
Patients can expect that results from these injections will remain for up to 18 months. Over time, the results can dissipate, but Juvederm Vollure XC was formulated with the intent to provide longer-lasting results than other fillers.
How does Juvederm Vollure XC differ from Juvederm Voluma?
The two most recent developments from Allergan’s Juvederm line are Juvederm Voluma followed by Juvederm Vollure X. Voluma is a slightly heavier substance and has less elasticity than Vollure XC. Vollure provides more dramatic, longer-lasting results versus its predecessor. Voluma is recommended for use in the cheek area as it is less flexible. This is because the cheeks create less movement from the mouth, so a firmer material is more effective and appropriate for the mid-face region.
Meet Michael L. Schwartz, MD FACS
Dr. Schwartz of Palm Beach Face in West Palm Beach and Boynton Beach, FL, is a board-certified facial plastic surgeon through the American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and the American Board of Otolaryngology. He is an expert in all aesthetic facial procedures, including nonsurgical, minimally invasive, and surgical options. He offers patients the latest products and technology to provide expert results. For over 30 years, the doctor has cared for patients and has found his passion through cosmetic transformations.
Due to the small proportions of the face in comparison with the rest of the body and the fact that it’s always visible, the facial anatomy expert understands how each adjustment to a person’s features can dramatically alter his or her looks. Aside from providing improvements to each patient’s appearance, the doctor is also skilled in facial reconstructions. Those who have been affected by genetic conditions, disease, and trauma are often eligible to undergo restorative procedures. The doctor is careful to not only address form, but also function in each of his cases.
Dr. Schwartz and his staff encourage prospective patients to take the first step in their personal journey by contacting the office of Palm Beach Face in West Palm Beach or Boynton Beach, FL, by scheduling a doctor-patient consultation. Call (561) 228-5888 or fill out the West Palm Beach Contact Form or the Boynton Beach Contact Form. Those with busy lifestyles or who live outside of Florida may be eligible for a Skype Consultation.