Juvederm XC, Voluma, and Volbella: Forth Worth’s Dr. Peter Damico Compares and Contrasts

There are many dermal fillers available to patients today who are looking to address the aesthetic problems associated with lines and folds. Diminished levels of collagen, fat, hyaluronic acid, and elastin can change the texture and contours of a face, making men and women alike look older, run down, or both. One of the most popular solutions comes from the maker of Juvederm^® XC, Voluma^®, and the new Volbella®.Forth Worth’s Dr. Peter Damico regularly sees patients interested in learning the specific benefits of each member of the Juvederm^® family.

First, their similarities: All three are hyaluronic acid-based fillers made by Allergan, manufacturer of the muscle-relaxing BOTOX^®, double-chin-reducing Kybella^®, eyelash-lengthening Latisse^®, SkinMedica^® skincare line sold only in doctors’ offices for healthier skin, and other cosmetic products.

Approved by the FDA in 2016, Volbella^® is the most recently unveiled of the fillers, all of which are designed to improve the look of the skin where injected. The fillers work in two primary ways: by replacing lost hyaluronic acid, which retains moisture, and by physically filling out the target area with a gel that takes the place of collagen.

In the case of Volbella^®, the injections are finely tuned, using only a very small amount of gel for each session. This effectively reduces the appearance of thin lines on and above the lips, often referred to as “smokers’ lines.”

The way the gel is produced for Volbella^® and Voluma^® is unique, employing  proprietary technology known as Vycross™ that first debuted in the United States in 2013. While all three gels are smooth, the two made with Vycross™ have a particularly smooth texture that helps with ease of administration and yields soft, natural-looking results. The technique of blending and cross-linking different weights of hyaluronic acid also contributes to the gel’s duration in the skin.

While Volbella^® is approved for use on the lips and correcting perioral rhytids or lines, which appear as wrinkles around the mouth, Voluma^® is designed to add significant volume to the face. As collagen and fat diminish in the skin, structural support for facial tissues is lost, leading to sagging. This can impact the shape and look of the face in a couple of ways: primarily by creating flat or sunken patches in the mid-face, where there once was a pleasant roundness, and by allowing now-lax tissue to obscure jawline definition and create the look of wobbly jowls.

Though the two fillers operate on the same principle, Volbella^® works in small, subtle ways, while Voluma^® noticeably restores volume and can last for up to two years, under ideal circumstances. Volume replaced by Voluma^® essentially remakes that needed structure, physically lifting the lax tissue and restoring definition to the jawline and face.

Similar to Voluma^®, Juvederm^® XC is intended for volumizing. The gel is typically applied to larger wrinkles and lines that form around the mouth, including nasolabial folds, which are often referred to as “parenthesis” for their resemblance to the curving punctuation marks, as well as moderate to severe marionette lines, corner lines, and vertical lip lines.

Another formulation, Juvederm Ultra^®, also works on the lips. Whereas Volbella^® introduces a subtle change that addresses fine lines and definition, Juvederm Ultra^® focuses on volume to enhance the lips, making them fuller and plumper while still natural-looking.

Any patient interested in addressing lines on their face, or other volume-loss-related cosmetic issues, is encouraged to seek out a doctor who has specific training and experience with injectable cosmetics. Many people offer Volbella^® and similar products, but not everyone’s results will be the same—in terms of safety, or terms of aesthetic impact. Choosing the right professional, who can in term help the patient choose the dermal filler (Volbella^® or otherwise) or other option that will best meet the patient’s needs, is key.

Learn more about the many available formulations of Juvederm^®, including the new Volbella^®, from Fort Worth’s Dr. Peter Damico. Inquire about scheduling a consultation by calling (817) 738-9268 or visiting the Skin Care Fort Worth contact page.