First there was Juvederm Ultra, then came Ultra Plus, a thicker version. Now Allergan has given us Voluma. All three products carry the XC designation indicating they contain Lidocaine, a local anesthetic that makes the injections virtually painless. All three are composed of hyaluronic acid which is a substance found in abundance in our own skin and cartilage. These injections are manufactured without any animal products, and we have never seen an allergic reaction.
Because these products are reversible with an injection of the enzyme hyaluronidase, results are practically fool proof in the right hands.
Juvederm Ultra has been available for over 12 years. Being the thinnest of the trio, it is ideal for use in lips, correcting nasal defects, fine lines on the face and neck, and even to plump sagging ear lobes. It can reduce the appearance of acne, chicken pox, and other scars. Except for lips, Ultra will last nine to 12 months.
Juvederm Ultra Plus arrived about five years ago. It is a thicker version of Ultra and has great value in areas like naso-labial folds (smile lines), marionette lines and for chin augmentation. Again, it is reversible and can last up to fifteen months.
The three-dimensional approach now includes the only FDA approved filler for mid-face, Voluma XC. Introduced in December 2013, Voluma is an amazing product. “Amazing” being the word used by most patients who see instant results. It is specifically FDA approved for use in the upper face. When injected correctly it produces an instant lifting of the entire face including the naso-labial folds, marionette lines, and jowls. Voluma’s unique cross-linking molecules allow the FDA to state it gives a two-year improvement. In fact, 94 percent of the women in the studies said they looked five years younger at six months and 72 percent three years younger at two years post injection.
Craig Ingber, MD, board certified facial plastic surgeon at Dermacure of Valencia and a black diamond injector of the Juvederm family, has already injected over 180 syringes of this latest miracle and proclaims it as a “face lift” in a syringe. Voluma XC is injected deeper then other fillers and should be used by physicians like facial plastic surgeons with an intimate knowledge of facial structures.
DermaCure Medical Aesthetics is located at 27871 Smyth Drive, Suite 100 in Valencia. For more information, please call 661-257-8400 and visit www.dermacurevalencia.com.