If you’ve been looking for ways to reduce facial lines, restore lost volume, add fullness, plump your lips, or contour a youthful facial shape, you’ve probably come across the Juvéderm family of dermal fillers.
There are five fillers in the Juvéderm filler family – Volbella, Vollure, Voluma, Ultra, and Ultra Plus – and as in each family, the Juvéderm family has a cast of unique characters with distinct roles to play in facial rejuvenation.
What is Juvéderm?
Juvéderm is a dermal filler that is made of hyaluronic acid. Hyaluronic acid is a commonly used ingredient in skincare, known for its plumping and hydrating qualities. However, the body’s natural production of hyaluronic acid decreases as we age, so it is important to introduce it in new ways to your skin regimen! While products like hyaluronic acid-based moisturizers can help plump skin, Juvéderm is injected into the face, immediately resulting in a more full and plump appearance. Production of hyaluronic acid decreases as we age, therefore it is important to introduce it in new ways to regimens. While products, like hyaluronic acid-based moisturizers, can help with plumping skin, Juvéderm is injected into the face, immediately resulting in a more full and plump appearance to the skin.
Dermal Fillers Explained
What are dermal fillers? Five differentiating qualities can be found in dermal fillers that can impact the efficacy of the specific Juvéderm product in certain areas. One quality may make it a perfect match for use in the lips, but it is less ideal for an area like the cheeks:
- Water Affinity – Water affinity describes how good the filler is at retaining moisture. A filler with a high water affinity is often best used to create plump lips.
- G Prime (Elasticity/Firmness) – G Prime describes how the filler can retain its shape when force (or movement) is applied.
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- High G Prime filler can react similarly to Jell-O, with a bouncy, yet firm consistency.
- Low G Prime filler can be likened to the consistency of pudding, thick but more malleable.
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- Hyaluronic Acid (HA) Concentration – HA Concentration is the spectrum of HA amount that filler can operate on. A higher concentration of HA will result in a thick and gel-like product.
- Cohesivity – Cohesivity describes how much spreading, or migration, the filler could do.
Which Filler Is Right for You?
Juvéderm’s line of dermal fillers each have different qualities that make Juvéderm the one-stop shop for all things fillers. If you’re looking for lip filler or something to improve the appearance of fine lines on your face, there is a Juvéderm product for you! Let’s take a look at some of Juvéderm’s fillers.
Juvéderm Volbella
Juvéderm Volbella is the softest and thinnest filler in the Juvederm family, making it the go-to filler for smoothing fine, shallow lines. Because it is thin, Volbella spreads more than other fillers, making it perfect for filling fine lip lines or giving a smoother appearance to the delicate area under the eyes. With a low water affinity, it won’t provide much plumping but it also causes the least amount of swelling.
- Low G Prime
- Low Water Affinity
Juvéderm Vollure
Juvéderm Vollure offers a happy medium of durability and spreadability, making it like the middle sister between Volbella and Voluma. It is soft and supple, like Volbella, but it has a higher G Prime, like Voluma. It can be injected more deeply to correct deeper folds around the mouth. Vollure is the filler of choice for providing some structure but also allowing for more natural facial expressions and movements.
- Medium G Prime
- Low Water Affinity
Juvéderm Voluma
Juvéderm Voluma XC has a thicker, stronger consistency, making it ideal for providing structure to the face. With a higher G Prime and a low water affinity, Voluma is most often used to lift the cheeks, strengthen the chin, and correct irregularities on the nose. It can provide structural support for up to 2 years.
- High G Prime
- Low Water Affinity
Juvéderm Ultra
Juvéderm Ultra is our preference for lip augmentation because it has both a low G prime and high water affinity. Juvéderm Ultra is soft, supple, and good at retaining moisture for a nice plumping effect—which is exactly what makes for a good lip filler!
- Low G Prime
- High Water Affinity
Juvéderm Ultra Plus XC
Juvéderm Ultra Plus XC is thicker and more viscous than Ultra. Ultra Plus provides more dramatic results in areas with deeper lines and hollows in the skin, but these same qualities make it less appropriate for softer areas such as the lips.
- Low G Prime
- High Water Affinity
What to Expect During Your Treatment
Getting Juvéderm fillers is a minimally invasive and relatively quick procedure that typically takes less than an hour. Before the injections, a consultation with one of our expert injectors will help determine which filler is best suited for your aesthetic goals. The treatment areas will be cleaned, and a numbing agent may be applied for comfort. Juvéderm products contain lidocaine, which helps to minimize discomfort during the procedure. The dermal filler is then carefully injected into the targeted areas using fine needles or cannulas. Results are visible almost immediately, with some initial swelling and redness that subsides within a few days.
Are Juvéderm Fillers Safe?
Juvéderm fillers are FDA-approved and widely considered safe when administered by trained professionals. Hyaluronic acid, the main ingredient, is naturally found in the body, which minimizes the risk of allergic reactions. However, as with any cosmetic procedure, there are potential side effects, including temporary bruising, swelling, and redness. More serious but rare complications include lumps, asymmetry, or vascular occlusion, which underscores the importance of choosing an experienced and skilled injector.
Book Your Dermal Filler Consultation at L&P Aesthetics
As you can see, there are many differences between the Juvéderm dermal fillers. Finding a provider who understands all of these subtle differences and capabilities and who has a deep understanding of facial anatomy will make all the difference in your filler injections. To see some of our gorgeous results, visit the L&P Aesthetics gallery of dermal filler before and afters.
If you’d like to schedule a consultation with one of our double-board certified facial plastic surgeons or expert aesthetic injectors, give us a call at (650) 327-3232 or click the link below:
