Juvederm Volbella is a dermal filler in the Juvederm family, manufactured using cutting-edge Vycross Technology. As a low-viscosity hyaluronic acid filler, Juvederm Volbella is soft and spreadable for complete and even integration with treated tissue. Many patients may not have a full understanding of what Juvederm Volbella can achieve in comparison with other Juvederm products. In this article, we will take an in-depth look at this lip filler to offer insights into Juvederm Volbella.

Where and how should you use Juvederm Volbella?

Juvederm Volbella is indicated for lip treatment and for correcting wrinkles around the mouth area. In a study evaluating the effectiveness of Juvederm Volbella for lip enhancement, it was found that Juvederm Volbella was just as effective as Restylane-L and treatment resulted in less swelling. When used to treat the lips, Juvederm Volbella provides the best results when used subcutaneously to coat the orbicularis oris muscle in the cutaneous lip and vermillion. Via this treatment, the filler hydrates and fills in fine perioral lines in a natural-looking manner that does not appear overdone and unnatural.

In addition to these indications, Juvederm Volbella can also be safely used to correct wrinkles in other regions. It can also be used to treat the following areas:

• The glabella region, the forehead, tear trough region, the decollete
• Crow’s feet lines and infraorbital hollowing, and cheek accordion lines.

Juvederm Volbella can be administered with a needle if treating targeted lines or with a cannula, in order to minimize bruising and swelling, when treating areas such as the under-eye region. Suitable injection techniques for this dermal filler include tunneling, serial puncture, fanning, or a combination of all these techniques.

What is the difference between Hylacross and Vycross ?

The Juvederm family of products includes fillers that are manufactured with one of two technologies: Vycross or Hylacross. Juvederm fillers made with Vycross include Juvederm Voluma, Vollure, and Volbella, while the Hylacross products include Juvederm Ultra and Ultra Plus. Hylacross products are made of highly cross-linked high molecular weight strands of hyaluronic acid, whereas Vycross based products consist of a mix of low and high molecular weight hyaluronic acid. The different compositions of Hylacross and Vycross affect their treatment behaviour and, in turn, the effects they produce.

For one, Vycross products do not expand as much as Hylacross products when inserted into the skin, so they typically do not cause as much swelling. As a result, the  risk of side effects is minimal, and both the practitioner and patent can be assured that they are likely to get only expected results with a Vycross product, such as Volbella. In addition, as Juvederm Volbella diffuses easily, the likelihood of the Tyndall effect occurring with this filler is low. Vycross products have a relatively high G prime and a lower level of cohesivity, which results in a higher level of malleability for these products, as compared to the Hylacross products with similar indications.

How does Juvederm Volbella compare with the rest of the Juvederm Vycross range?

With a low hyaluronic acid concentration (15mg/ml), a low G prime, and low cohesivity, Juvederm Volbella is the thinnest and most spreadable of the Vycross products. While a high-viscosity dermal filler like Voluma is suitable for deep injections to volumize and lift the skin, and a cohesive yet malleable filler like Vollure is able to treat severe wrinkles while maintaining the face’s natural dynamics, a thin, easily diffused gel like Volbella is ideal for superficial injection into the lips and minor wrinkles.

Which is the better product for treating the lips?

Other Juvederm products, such as Juvederm Ultra XC, can also be used in the lips. Juvederm Volbella has a thin and spreadable consistency. When used in the lips, it provides a high-quality finish and can be used to add subtle volume for minor corrections or adjustments. Juvederm Ultra XC is a more cohesive gel and therefore is more suited to adding fullness to thin lips. In addition, Juvederm Ultra XC is approved for other uses, including the correction of medium to deep facial wrinkles. Both Juvederm Ultra XC and Juvederm Volbella have similar duration of action of about one year. Ultimately, the choice of filler will depend on the patient’s aims. For instance, some patients may find that the subtle effect that Volbella provides is insufficient; conversely, other patients may find the natural enhancement to be exactly what they were looking for. In all cases, a patient should receive advice from an experienced professional on the right dermal filler to use.

Conclusion

The Vycross range of products are an excellent addition to the Juvederm family. Juvederm Volbella is the softest of these dermal fillers and is useful for superficial placement to correct fine lines and for indications that require small volumes of filler. As with other Vycross products, Juvederm Volbella does not swell to a substantial degree and is malleable, making it appropriate to treat delicate areas with thin skin, like the under eye and forehead regions.