Dermal fillers are the closest thing to modern magic in the field of anti-aging therapy. However, these fillers are temporary. As a result, patients frequently wonder how long a dermal filler will last? Various products are capable of lasting for only 36 months, but if patients are fortunate, some fillers can last up to a year if their tolerability of the treatment is optimal. For example, hyaluronic acidthe common active ingredient in many fillershas a track record of lasting for 12 months in the body before it fully disintegrates.
Juvederm Voluma offers a solution that goes beyond the norm. The US Food and Drug Administration has approved Juvederm Voluma for the use of amplifying facial volume. This filler can last for two years. This impressive longevity is a testament to the innovative and cutting-edge technology that lies in its formulation and the manufacturing of its hyaluronic acid.
The solution of choice hyaluronic acid
Before proceeding with this discussion of Voluma, it is important to understand what hyaluronic acid (HA) does. This substance has taken the spotlight in the aesthetics industry for the last decade due to its biocompatibility and efficacy in the body. In a younger body, the concentration of natural HA is widely distributed in the dermal extracellular matrix, providing nutrients, hydration, and volume. A person’s concentration of hyaluronic decreases with aging and environmental stressors, such as photodamaging UV rays, unhealthy smoking, and alcohol consumption.
HA is by nature a glycosaminoglycan or sugar molecule that attracts and binds water molecules. As such, hyaluronic acid provides hydration in the skin, which serves to volumize the skin so as to make it appear plump and radiant. It also regulates fibroblastic migration and activation, which can help develop a new collagen network. The introduction of new HA to sunken, dehydrated skin can be beneficial in reestablishing these properties.
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Introducing Juvederm Voluma
Juvederm Voluma is a product from the Vycross dermal filler range created by Allergan, a multinational pharmaceutical company. It is a robust HA-based dermal facial filler that is indicated for cheek recontouring and volumizing and minor to moderate augmentation for the lower-face region. The implant is a sterile and nonpyrogenic colorless gel that has been mixed with 0.3% lidocaine that reduces any significant pain during the treatment, leaving the patient comfortable during the injection process. This filler is safe for use in adults aged 21 and above who are experiencing age-related volume loss.
Juvederm Voluma comes in a Luer-locked, sterile syringe that contains 2ml of this solution at a concentration of 20mg/ml of hyaluronic acid. It is best advanced into the subcutaneous tissue, the deep dermis, and even at the upper periostea region. Generally, patients require a touch-up treatment one month after the first initiation. It is best used with a 23G ultra-thin needle and/or a 18G cannula for the maneuvering of the product in various injection depths.
Many patients who have taken Voluma treatment have reported that immediate improvement can be seen. Most importantly, these patients were highly satisfied, as this treatment is as cost effective as it is efficacious. After the initial injection and the touch-up dose, a youthful radiant look is sustainable for up to two years.
How can Juvederm Voluma last for two years?
The novelty of Voluma is that its HA is derived from the fermentation of equine streptococci bacteria and, as a result, is of non-animal origin. The HA is later being processed with a reticulating agent, which results in the creation of a network of cross-linked HA. With the use of the Vycross technology, a strong but smooth gel is formed through the combination of 90% low-molecular-weight HA and 10% high-molecular-weight of HA. This technology also enables a higher concentration of cross-linking between the HA strands.
Generally, the half-life of non-purified and non-processed HA is only 12 hours. [5] For most HA-based dermal filler products, the HA generally breaks down in a year. With the strong cross-linking bonds between Voluma’s HA and its mixture of differing molecular weights, Voluma can resist degeneration within the body for a longer stretch of time than other competing fillers. It is unclear as to what exactly causes the natural degeneration of HA in the skin, but with its strong network of HA, this filler can maintain its effects in the skin for a substantial amount of time. The maintenance treatment is also valuable insomuch that it provides an extra boost to the Juvederm Voluma’s longevity.
The thickness of Juvederm Voluma is not only beneficial for its endurance; instead, this thickness makes Voluma capable of producing a great deal of volume to the cheeks and the chin. Voluma’s cross-linked HA creates a sturdy block that can conform to the neighboring tissues without provoking any adverse reactions in the skin, except in cases where the treated individual is hypersensitive to parts of this filler. Most importantly, the thickness of this filler means that practitioners do not to need overcorrect the skin; rather, they only need to administer the appropriate dose for each patient.
Patient considerations
Other attractive advantages of Voluma are the convenience of the treatment, as it can be done in less than an hour, and its minimal downtime. Injecting Juvederm Voluma is a noninvasive procedure that only require an injection into the targeted area and a gentle massage afterwards for sculpting and natural contouring. Patients can easily return to their daily life after the treatment session.
There are, however, minor or mild effects that can come about through the use of Juvederm Voluma. These are primarily injection-related side effects, such as swelling, pain, itching, tenderness, transient erythema, and/or discoloration. These symptoms typically subside in one to two days, provided that the patient abides to proper aftercare methods, such as minimizing strenuous activities and exercise and exposure to the sun and high temperatures within 24 hours after the injection.
This treatment is not recommended for patients who have a hypersensitivity to hyaluronic acid and/or the other components of Juvederm Voluma. Additionally, it is also not recommended to perform a Juvederm Voluma treatment directly after other nonsurgical procedures such as deep chemical peels, laser treatments, and dermabrasion in case of causing a severe inflammatory response.
Conclusion
Juvederm Voluma, an impressive and highly sought-after dermal filler, has the ability to volumize large areas of the skin with visible results for up to two years. The Vycross technology used for production of Juvederm Voluma’s HA is one of the factors that makes Juvederm Voluma a strong gel, which is safe to use for a wide range of patients, and is also efficient. Patients now have an opportunity to reduce their expenses on cheek lifts thanks to Voluma’s long-lasting result(s) while still achieving the results of a younger and plumper look, in a comfortable and surgery-free treatment.
