First, they gave us BOTOX,  now Allergan has recently brought the first FDA approved filler to specifically address age related facial volume loss for adults.  Voluma has already been approved in seventy-two countries.  Dr. Christine Hamori, a board certified plastic surgeon from Boston, Massachusetts, discusses how Voluma works to prevent your cheeks from sagging.

By Dr. Christine Hamori, MD
and Susan Kamyab
ThePlasticSurgeryChannel.com

The Stiffer Filler

Voluma is a hyaluronic acid type of filler.  Hamori says it has a sugar based molecule that is very hydrophilic, so it attracts water and holds it for a long time.  This is how Voluma is able to give more volume in your lips and cheeks.  “The products we have in the U.S. are smaller molecules that are interconnected or cross-linked in a certain way, so they are more liquid based,” says Hamori.  Surgeons are now realizing in order to have better facial aesthetics they need something a little bit stiffer so they can get more lift in certain facial features.  Dr. Hamori explains, “We all know as we age our face begins to sag, we get jowls and we get hallow, causing our cheeks to go down.  That is why we look younger when we smile, because our cheeks get lifted.”  Because the molecules in Voluma are cross-linked in a special way it has a more rigid structure than some of the other fillers on the market.  “When it’s injected, it gives a lift, which is really important for the areas we’re filling.  We are not chasing labial folds and we are not putting Voluma in little creases.  We are trying to re-inflate the balloon of the face.”

Voluma Lasts Longer

Voluma gel contains lidocaine to numb pain as it’s injected and it’s meant to be injected at a deeper level, on top of the cheek bones.  The most significant feature about Voluma is it can last for two years, which is remarkably long for a hyaluronic acid. This is especially appealing to patients who would rather not return for frequent filler appointments.

Injecting in the Right Spot for the Best Results

If put in the correct places, which is usually near the bone and the small areas of the face, Voluma is able to keep the lift lasting for a longer time. Often times the fullness of the cheek area sags as women age. A good spot for the injection to add volume is in all 3 areas of the cheek; the apex, the apple and the hollow.  Dr. Hamori says, “Another great spot would be your temples.  We start to loose volume in our temples when we get in our 40s. They get indented kind of like a peanut, because the face shape goes from wide, to narrow, to wide again.” It will help give patients a little bit more of an oval shaped face, instead of having a square face with jowls. “Voluma is a filler that gives you a lot more bang for your buck. When you inject, you want to have a molecule that is very hydrophilic to absorb the water for a long time and stay there for a long time.”