What is Voluma? Juvederm Voluma with lidocaine is a hyaluronic acid filler that adds cheek volume. It's manufactured by Allergan and is meant to be used in adults, ages 21 years and older. Voluma has been used in Europe since 2005. It has been approved in 72 countries to restore volume to cheeks.
I don't understand how it's different from other facial fillers. Most other fillers available are FDA approved only for injection into the nasolabial folds (smile lines), fine lines or lips. They are considered "wrinkle fillers" not volumizers. This part can be confusing, so we created a blog post that goes into more detail: The Aging Face | How Juvederm Voluma Restores Volume.
Why do you need Voluma? When you're young, you have pockets of fat in your face. The fat is evenly distributed and plumps the forehead, temples, cheeks, and areas around the eyes and mouth.
With age, that fat loses volume and shifts downward, so your features sink. Skin looks like it is sagging, but your face is actually losing volume - or deflating. Voluma takes the place of those lost fat pads. It adds volume by creating a scaffolding for your skin.
When Voluma is injected onto your cheekbones, it has a profound effect on your smile lines (nasolabial folds). Very little filler is needed to reduce your smile lines after Voluma!
Additionally, these injections trigger collagen production in your skin. Over time, the increased collagen will add even more fullness to the areas that you have injected.
What is hyaluronic acid? Hyaluronic acid is a sugar found naturally in the skin. It absorbs water and acts as a cushioning agent. When injected into the skin, the hyaluronic acid acts as a sponge and expands to fill wrinkles and support sunken areas. These types of fillers are better than other kinds of volumizing fillers because they are immediately reversible. Hyaluronic acid fillers can quickly be broken down with a shot of the enzyme, hyaluronidase.
Are there any other hyaluronic acid fillers that add volume? Juvederm Voluma and Restylane Lyft are both volumizing fillers made of hyaluronic acid.
How much does it cost? The average cost for Voluma ranges from about $700 to $1,000 per syringe. The price will vary depending on where you live and the qualifications of your injector. A plastic surgeon will charge more to inject than a medical aesthetician.
How many syringes will I need? Dr Benjamin Barankin, a Toronto dermatologic surgeon answers this question on RealSelf.com.
"The amount of Voluma needed per cheek depends on your age, if you lost weight, your genetics, etc. Your dermatologist or plastic surgeon can determine the right amount. For a young person, I would consider starting with half a syringe per cheek, and for an older person one to two syringes per cheek."
How long does Voluma last? It brings contour and a subtle lift to cheekbones for up to 2 years. The results are amazing!
Are the injections painful? Not all hyaluronic acid fillers contain lidocaine. If you are concerned about pain, you should ask your injector to use a formulation with this anesthetic. It significantly cuts the pain. You injector may apply a topical anesthetic or ice to the area before the treatment. That said, you may feel a burning or stinging as the hyaluronic acid gel is being injected.
How long does it take? If your provider uses a topical anesthetic, it takes at least 30 minutes to numb the area. Then expect to spend about 30 minutes getting your injections.
As we age, our face loses fat and bone. Facial skin looks like it is sagging, but our face is actually losing volume - or deflating.
Voluma replaces those lost fat pads. It adds volume by creating a scaffolding for your skin. Read more in our post, The Aging Face | How Juvederm Voluma Restores Volume.
What are the injections like? Voluma contains lidocaine, an anesthetic that makes the injections less painful. Prior to injections, you may have ice or a topical anesthetic applied to your skin. Your medical provider will inject the filler into your cheeks - and possibly your temples. Several injections are needed to get the best result. You may feel a burning or stinging as the hyaluronic acid gel is being injected. To reduce any swelling and redness, your injector may recommend icing the area for 15 - 20 minutes after the treatment. You will be able to gently apply makeup prior to leaving the office.
Are there any typical side effects? This answer comes from RealSelf.com.
"Because of where Voluma is injected, the cheeks can be sore and feel hard to the touch. This usually lasts a week after the injection. Unevenness between one side of the face and the other early after the injection is normal. Swelling might be different between both sides of the face," says Dr. Myriam Loyo, a plastic surgeon in Portland.
Are there any bad side effects I should know about? Yes, there can be. The FDA recently came out with new warnings that fillers can be accidentally injected into blood vessels causing RARE but SEVERE side effects such as stroke, visual impairment, blindness, and death of the surrounding skin and underlying tissue.
According to Forbes.com, "Plastic surgeons and dermatologists at the Cleveland Clinic estimated in 2013 severe adverse reactions from the dermal fillers occurred in 0.0001% of all such procedures – a rate of 1 in 10,000."
Look for signs and symptoms of possible blood vessel injection including unusual pain, vision changes, a whitening of the skin near the injection site, or any signs of a stroke (sudden difficulty speaking, numbness or weakness on one side of your body, difficulty walking, face drooping, severe headache, dizziness, or confusion) during or shortly after the procedure.
If I look overfilled or get a bad side effect, what can I do? Call your medical injector - immediately if you get one of the severe side effects listed above! One of the reasons I like Juvederm and other hyaluronic acid fillers so much is that they are immediately reversible. The hyaluronic acid is quickly broken down with a shot of the enzyme, hyaluronidase.
Is there anyone who should not get fillers? You shouldn't get fillers - of any kind - if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. People with multiple severe allergies, people who have had severe allergic reactions (anaphylaxis), and those allergic to lidocaine shouldn't use Juvederm. People who bruise easily may not be good candidates either. Talk you your injector to be sure.
Is Voluma worth the money? Voluma has a 87% "Worth It" rating on RealSelf.com! Six months after Voluma injections, patients evaluated their appearance as looking 5 years younger than they really were. At 24 months, they thought they looked 3 years younger. It's that good!
Then again, you might just be interested in Botox. Here's what to expect with your injections.