Voluma^®

Voluma^® is part of the Juvederm^® family of fillers. It is made by Allergan and has become one of the most popular fillers in the United States and across the globe. Each of the dermal fillers in the family—including Voluma^®—is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and made with a proprietary manufacturing process that cross links molecules of hyaluronic acid.

The human body naturally produces hyaluronic acid, a long-chain sugar molecule that serves to keep various parts of the body well lubricated. It provides excellent hydration in the skin because it avidly binds to water molecules. This results in a softer, more youthful look. In fact, a single hyaluronic acid molecule can retain approximately 1,000 times its weight in water.

Hyaluronic acid sits in a framework built by collagen in the skin, creating a partnership that makes skin strong, resilient, and flexible. Both collagen and hyaluronic acid degrade naturally over time. The body works to replace them so the skin can maintain its structure and suppleness. The replacement process dramatically slows as a person ages, so levels of both molecules begin to drop. Several conditions—including smoking, exposure to ultraviolet radiation, and air pollution—can cause the breakdown to happen more quickly. Without suitable levels of hyaluronic acid and collagen, the skin begins to lose its hydration supporting structure. Decreased hydration, skin laxity and loss, and shifting of fat all contribute to the formation of wrinkles and volume loss.

The hyaluronic acid found in Voluma^® is made in a laboratory. It has proven to be a safe and effective treatment to restore mid-face and jawline volume loss. Injections are even thought to stimulate new collagen production.

Voluma^®, a clear smooth gel, is easily positioned and stays in place. This is an important property for Voluma^®, since it provides ample support in the mid-face and jawline.

Voluma^® is approved by the FDA to address age-related volume loss in the midface, a condition that creates unattractive signs of aging. Mid-face fat loss causes the cheeks to flatten, trading youthful roundness for a hollow skeletal look. A lack of fat makes the face appear sunken and drawn. Mid-face fat also serves to hold up facial skin, so its disappearance leads to unwanted sagging and jowl formation along the jawline. This dramatically changes the desired youthful facial shape and proportions.

Once injected, Voluma^® refills hollows, revitalizes the midface, and provides renewed support to lift sagging tissues. This reduces the look of jowls and brings more definition to the lowermost portions of the face.

Because of its unique composition and cross-linking of hyaluronic acids, Voluma^® can last up to two years. Patients can best maintain their Voluma^® results by living a healthy lifestyle, avoiding smoking, eating well, and diminishing exposure to ultraviolet light.

A blunt-tipped cannula is used to inject Voluma^®. This tool is designed to reduce bruising, an unwanted side effect commonly experienced when only needles were used for filler treatments. A Voluma^® session lasts approximately 30 to 60 minutes, depending upon the number of areas being treated.

Results are immediately apparent after Voluma^® is injected. However, the results will continue to improve over weeks of time. Downtime after Voluma^® injections is minimal. Most patients choose to continue with their regularly scheduled activities in the hours after their Voluma^® session. Both pre- and post-treatment care instructions are given in order to maximize the Voluma^® results.

Other members of the Juvederm^® family have their own specific uses. Ultra gives thin lips a noticeable natural boost. Volbella^® focuses on more subtle enhancements to the lips and smooths out upper and lower lip lines. Vollure™ and Ultra Plus fill in nasolabial folds/”parentheses” and “marionette” lines around the mouth. Cirillo Cosmetic also offers injectables from other manufacturers, including the Restylane^® family, Belotero^® Balance, Radiesse^®, and Sculptra^®. All of these dermal fillers are available for use on their own, but are commonly combined to create a patient’s desired level of correction. Certain injectables do not use hyaluronic acid as their base, and thus, have different advantages and uses.

Some wrinkles are produced by muscle contractions repeatedly pulling the skin into furrows as they contract. For these “dynamic wrinkles,” the treatment of choice is a neuromodulator, such as BOTOX^®, Dysport^®, or Xeomin^®.

Skin tightening with radiofrequency energy is another option for women and men looking to improve the tone and contours of their face, as well as other areas of the body where laxity has led to visibly aged changes.