Juvederm Volbella XC vs Juvederm Ultra XC, Restylane, and Restylane Silk

Juvederm Volbella is the newest addition to the Juvederm family of fillers, the world’s most popular brand of fillers.  Volbella has been a hot topic in the aesthetics industry since it’s recent FDA approval this summer.  I want to compare Juvederm Ultra XC, Restylane, and Restylane Silk to the newest lip filler
Juvederm Volbella XC.  I’ll be reviewing some facts and discussing the pros and cons of each dermal filler.

How long do Volbella and other fillers last before they are metabolized by the body?  It is important to remember that filler never lasts quite as long in the lips as it would in the cheeks or nasolabial folds.  The lips are extremely vascular and have much more movement compared to the rest of the face, so filler is metabolized quickly in the lips.  The manufacturers of all four fillers claim their products may last up to a year, or that patients in clinical trials noticed filler remaining in their lips one year after treatment.  For example, the FDA’s approval overview of Volbella showed Volbella only lasted for a year in 60% of patients.  From my experience, this is the average duration for these fillers when injected into the lips.

• Juvederm Ultra XC – 6 months
• Juvederm Volbella XC – about 9 months
• Restylane – 6 months
• Restylane Silk – 6 months

Allergan, the creators of the Juvederm family of fillers boast their Vycross technology – a unique manufacturing technique that creates a high concentration of crosslinked Hyaluronic Acid.  This Vycross technology creates a natural and smooth consistency.  While Galderma, the creators of the Restylane fillers, have their own technology called NASHA.  NASHA technology creates different particle sizes for each of the Restylane products.  This allows Galderma to better tailor each filler for it’s intended usage, for natural and beautiful results.  What exactly is each filler FDA approved to treat?

• Juvederm Ultra XC – FDA-approved for lip augmentation.
• Juvederm Volbella XC – FDA-approved for lip augmentation and the smoothing of perioral rhytids (wrinkles around the lips). Volbella also causes less swelling.
• Restylane – FDA-approved to correct facial wrinkles and folds and lip augmentation.
• Restylane Silk – FDA-approved for lip augmentation and the smoothing of perioral rhytids (wrinkles around the lips).

Before choosing a filler, patients should figure out what exactly they are treating.  Do they just want to add volume to their lips, or are they also treating kissing lines and smokers lines around the lips?  I have found that most lip fillers are pretty similar when it comes duration, mostly the patient’s metabolism determines how long the filler lasts.  Each of the fillers contains lidocaine, which helps with discomfort during treatment.  No matter which filler is injected proper pre-treatment instructions and post care instructions should be followed.

Volbella, Restylane, Restylane Silk, and Juvederm Ultra all have their place in my heart.  However I absolutely love the volume and shape that I get from Juvederm Ultra and Restylane, so I am a bit biased.  I don’t need a filler that treats kissy lines or smokers lines (yet) so I don’t feel that Volbella and Restylane Silk are quite right for my needs.  To find out which lip filler is best for you, I recommend assessing your needs, and scheduling an in depth consultation with an experienced injector!  Watch Volbella being injected into the lips here.