Voluma®

Hyaluronic acid is something like the body’s own natural moisturizer. As people age and their skin is damaged due to exposure to environmental pollutants and UV light from the sun and other sources, the skin cells’ ability to produce vital hyaluronic acid diminishes. Due to this, the skin begins to lose moisture, causing the loss of volume, which can contribute to an aged, gaunt appearance, as well as the formation of facial wrinkles and folds.

Voluma^® is a hyaluronic acid dermal filler from Allergan that can be used to add volume and improve definition of the mid-face or cheek area. It is specifically formulated as a relatively firmer filler for deeper injection to combat volume loss from the aging process. Cheek volume is an important, yet often overlooked, aspect that keeps the face youthful and fresh, and a boost from Voluma^® at our Irving or Dallas, TX, practice can leave you looking and feeling exactly that.

When people think about the aging process, they are often quick to point to wrinkles and grey hair. But a less discussed — yet very visible — sign of aging is volume loss in the cheek or midfacial area. Over time, the natural production of collagen and hyaluronic acid in our bodies diminishes, leading to deflated cheeks and skin that sags to form nasolabial folds and jowls.

While correcting such folds can make a significant difference, it will not bring back plump cheeks and youthful contours — and this is where Voluma^® shines. Voluma^® is an FDA-approved filler from the Juvéderm^® family that can correct age-related volume loss in this area. With its thicker, longer-lasting formulation, Dr. Turner may also use it on other areas of the face after considering what might work best for each patient.

*Individual results may vary

Hyaluronic acid is something like the body’s own natural moisturizer. As people age and their skin is damaged due to exposure to environmental pollutants and UV light from the sun and other sources, the cells’ ability to produce vital hyaluronic acid diminishes. Due to this, the skin begins to lose moisture, causing the loss of volume, which can contribute to an aged, gaunt appearance, as well as the formation of facial wrinkles and folds.

Some people have small cheekbones to start with and want to add proportion. Others have watched the youthful volume in their face diminish as they’ve aged, seeing sunken hollows form where there once were rosy, full cheeks with prominent contours underneath. Cheek augmentation is performed to increase the projection of the cheekbones and/or give that area a fuller, more sculpted look.

There are two ways patients may augment cheeks: surgically with cheek implants (typically made of silicone), and non-surgically with dermal filler cheek injections. At Dr. Turner’s practice, she typically uses Voluma^® to do so.

Cheek implants are intended to remain in place permanently, while hyaluronic acid in a filler that is chemically similar to its naturally occurring counterpart will gradually lessen as it is safely absorbed into the body. Voluma^® is currently the longest-lasting FDA-approved filler for cheek augmentation, lasting up to two years under ideal patient circumstances.

While implants are permanent, they must be inserted into the face via incisions made in the upper line of the gums inside the mouth, the lower eyelid, or the hairline at the scalp. Patients can expect initial swelling to last for about a week after the surgery but take months to completely resolve. They may also have to wear a brace while sleeping to ensure that the implants stay in place while the area heals.

Patients who elect to receive Voluma^® instead of implants often do so because they either cannot or do not want to tolerate the risks (such as infection and rejection of the foreign implant material), surgery duration, and recovery period.

Voluma^® treatments are much lower risk and more comfortable. The process takes about 20 minutes, with no downtime and little aftercare required of the patient. Side effects from Voluma^® are only mild to moderate, and typically fade within days of the treatment session. Most patients hesitant about Voluma^® also find it comforting to know it can easily be dissolved with the use of an enzyme known as hyaluronidase.

Additionally, skilled injectors such as Dr. Turner can adjust the distribution of the filler during a treatment session to further customize the final shape.

Voluma^® is an excellent option for:

Candidates for Voluma^® may also be interested in other anti-aging, skin-tightening treatments such as Ultherapy^®, as well as BOTOX^® Cosmetic, which reduces wrinkles by relaxing muscles. Dr. Turner prides herself on outstanding patient care. She is very diligent about choosing appropriate candidates for each procedure and you can expect your consultation with her to be comfortable, informative, and respectful. She will listen to your concerns and carefully evaluate you for this procedure and/or other appropriate interventions based on your clinical needs and personal preferences.

Following your Voluma^® treatment, you should see immediate results that look natural and may last up to two years. There is no downtime due to the unique hyaluronic acid cross-linking formulation.

Voluma^® is formulated with lidocaine (a local anesthetic—similar to what you might receive for some dental procedures) to minimize any injection discomfort. In addition to post-treatment icing, Dr. Turner also ices the treatment areas throughout the session in tandem with her injections to make them even more painfree.

Before treatment, you may want to avoid taking alcohol and blood-thinning medication such as aspirin or ibuprofen. Please inform Dr. Turner in advance if you have been taking any medication.

Voluma^® treatment sessions are quick and effective. Patients often choose to have their appointments during their lunch break and return to their usual activities once they are done.

As with most injection-related cosmetic treatments, there are some mild to moderate side effects that you could experience after receiving Voluma^® treatment. These can include swelling, bruising, redness, tenderness, numbness, and/or firmness. Such effects are temporary and tend to resolve within a week after treatment. Dr. Turner may also use ice packs during or after treatment to minimize swelling and discomfort.

Unless you are given specific instructions to do so, please do not scratch, massage, or otherwise apply pressure to the treated areas. Avoid alcohol, strenuous exercise, or intense heat from sunbathing, tanning, saunas, hot tubs, or hot wax for at least 24 hours after treatment to minimize side effects.

Dr. Turner and our staff will provide you with a more detailed list of post-treatment instructions, including when you can start applying makeup or other products on the areas again.

As with any other dermal filler treatment, the cost of Voluma^® tends to vary from patient to patient depending on their unique physical characteristics, areas they would like to target, and the amount of volume they would like to achieve. Being a long-lasting but temporary filler, many of our patients find that they enjoy the results so much that they come back to receive maintenance treatments as they need them.

Because cost of treatment depends on these factors, it is best to discuss them at a consultation with one of our providers. Consultations for dermal fillers at our practice are complimentary and commitment-free, and our staff will be able to provide you with the most accurate estimate depending on what you wish to achieve.

As a courtesy, we offer direct, outside financing for elective procedures to our patients through a program known as CareCredit. Patients can apply for approval online quickly and easily. Using CareCredit allows patients to begin their treatments of choice right away, paying for them via a series of low monthly payments that can be customized based on need. Applying online only takes a few minutes, and you can ask our staff for more information and guidance.