How long does Voluma last?

Juvederm Voluma is a colorless and smooth HA or hyaluronic acid gel with minor amounts of lidocaine (local anesthetic). It is used as deep injection for augmentation of cheeks and to undo volume deficits that occur in the mid-face area due to normal aging. Voluma is stated to be used in adults who are older than 21 years.

HA is a sugar that naturally occurs in the body. Its main function is to supply nutrients to the skin and assist it in retaining its normal softness and moisture. Lidocaine is added to Voluma so as to reduce any discomfort that arises during the injection.

Voluma is usually injected into the cheeks and areas near it in the mid-face region so as to correct the fullness and volume deficits caused by aging. The smooth gel filler injection often produces results that are long lasting. A touch up may be needed 30 days after treatment so as to get the perfect desired results.

Clinical trials have shown that the results last for 18 to 24 months. This may however differ from one person to another. After this initial period, patients need to undergo repeated Voluma injection treatments to retain the desired youthfulness of the face.

The costs for Voluma are dependent on the location of a patient and the kind of work that needs to be done on his/her face. Pricing for Voluma can range from $100 to $2000.

Uses of Voluma

As a person ages, the cheek region tends to lose its bounce and youthfulness. The skin tends to sag and the cheeks become flatter. Voluma gel injection has been designed to act on such effects of aging and temporarily reverse it. The gel gets injected into the cheek region and this helps lift and fluff up the skin. The result is additional volume in the cheek region, smoother shape and contour, and reappearance of a youthful glow to the face.

Voluma treatment: The procedure

Doctors use a small needle to inject volume into the cheek area. Once the first injection is given the doctor will wait for some time and allow the anesthetic lidocaine in the gel to work its magic and lower any accompanying pain. The rest of the treatment follows after this.

Voluma gel injection is used in small quantities at the treatment site till the area looks like effect desired of the treatment. Sometimes, doctors may gently massage the site of injection to ensure that the gel gets distributed evenly under the skin. Ice packs may also be used on the treatment area for a short duration so as to decrease pain and minimize swelling.

All injections tend to cause pain, during the procedure and after the injection is used. The same is the case with Voluma injectable gel. In clinical studies of Voluma use, subjects rated their pain levels as 3, on an average, based on a 0 to 10 scale wherein 10 was worst pain and 0 was nil pain. It may be noted that pain levels at the injection site are significantly minimized due to the presence of lidocaine in Voluma gel. Doctors may also use an injectable or topical numbing agent at the treatment area to further reduce the discomfort and pain associated with Voluma injection treatment. Patients who undergo additional skin treatments may also experience some soreness. In most cases, the treatment is usually comfortable and patients rarely feel anything besides a minor pinprick sensation when the injection is inserted into the skin.

Risks and side effects of Voluma treatment

As per results of clinical study, the side effects of Voluma treatment were moderate and typically lasted for 14 to 28 days.

Nearly all the side effects tend to disappear on its own in a few weeks. However, some may last for more than a month. Such persistent side effects may be treated with medicines like steroids, antibiotics, or hyaluronidase (it is an enzyme which processes and metabolizes HA).

Some of the common temporary side effects of Voluma treatment include:

• Swelling, tenderness, bruising, firmness, redness, pain, itching, and discoloration at the treatment area. Bumps or lumps may also develop at the site.
• In rare cases, patients have reported of vision disturbances after undergoing Voluma therapy.
• Most procedures that involve injections into the skin come with the risk of infections. The same is the case with Voluma injection gel.

Patients should avoid increased exposure to heat or sun as well as decrease vigorous exercising/workouts for a period of 24 hours after Voluma gel treatment. If this precaution is not followed, then there is increased risk to aggravation of swelling, redness, and itchiness at the site of the injection.

In case of swelling, an ice pack may be applied on the affected region. Consult a doctor before using makeup on the treated area.