This month patient question: “I saw a commercial for Voluma. What exactly is it and what does it do?”
Dr. Patel’s answered:
Voluma is a unique new filler from the makers of Juvederm and Botox. It was approved by the FDA in December 2013 and is the first filler to claim it can “temporarily correct age-related volume loss in the cheek area of adults over the age of 21.”
This is possible because it contains something called hyaluronic acid which is proven to restore age-related volume loss in the cheeks and cheekbones. As we age, a combination of fat and bone absorption causes skin to sag and a hollowing of the cheeks to develop. Voluma works to temporarily restore the effects of aging and provide a younger, tighter appearance where applied. Voluma treats the root problem of mid-face aging changes, and improves the appearance, convexity, and contour of the area!
Patients who dislike returning for frequent refills would be happy to know that Voluma can last for up to two years. Like other fillers, Voluma is made of hyaluronic acid, a natural substance found in the skin. While most fillers are injected into the nasolabial folds, like laugh lines, Voluma goes deeper and is applied to the top of cheek bones. This allows physicians to reverse signs of aging by lifting the face.
Similar to other fillers, Voluma has a few side effects, which include tenderness, bruising, and swelling; all of which clear up within a week of treatment.
Before Voluma, surgery was the only option to tighten the overlying skin and lift the deeper soft tissues.
