By Chris Bavender
A new cosmetic injectable filler recently approved by the FDA will be available for use in October, and a Carmel plastic surgeon will be one of the first to offer the treatment.
Juvaderm Volbella XC, commonly known as Volbella, received FDA approval May 31. Dr. Mark Hamilton is one of two physician trainers in the state for Allergan, Volbella’s manufacturer. As part of that, he is involved with the initial use and training for products such as the new filler.
“Volbella is specifically designed for hard to treat lip lines. These require very superficial placement of the filler, which can often lead to visibility (a blue discoloration known as the Tyndall effect),” Hamilton said. “In addition, the product induces little swelling, so when treating fine lines, the injector has the ability to treat just the line and not create swelling of the entire area. With other fillers, the entire area can become swollen and look distorted – typically not a great tradeoff for the fine line.”
Most fillers are made from hyaluronic acid, a natural component of the skin. Their main effect is to add volume lost with the aging process. Volbella has different characteristics than other fillers that gives it several advantages, Hamilton said.
“The most important is the Vycross technology. All are hyaluronic acids, but Vycross technology allows for a longer lasting product – one that lasts up to a year in lip lines and the lips,” he said. “Belotero and Restylane Silk typically last less than half that.”
Pricing information hasn’t been provided by Allergan, but Hamilton expects it will be similar to the other Juvaderm fillers at around $500 per syringe.
Volbella is only FDA-approved for the area around the mouth.
“Its characteristics may make it a nice option for fine lines elsewhere, such as crow’s feet or wrinkles that appear between the eyebrows,” Hamilton said. “Future studies will need to be done to explore these possible treatment sites.”
