The FDA Just Approved a Groundbreaking New Filler for Laugh Lines

Original Article By Sarah Kinonen.
While cosmetic enhancements, such as fillers and Botox, are still (unfortunately) considered taboo in today’s society, surprisingly, the number of people getting work done is going up and up. In fact, in 2015, Americans were injected more than 6.6 million times, according to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, which is a whopping 40 percent increase from five years ago. And now, those 6 million and counting have one more option to consider when booking their next appointment, as the FDA just approved a brand-new filler: Juvéderm Vollure XC.

Allergan, the pharmaceutical company that owns Juvéderm, just announced its newest hyaluronic acid dermal filler, Juvéderm Vollure XC, which has been approved for the correction of “moderate to severe facial wrinkles and folds, such as nasolabial folds,” according to a statement made by the company. What’s more is that this filler, made for those over 21, is said to last as long as 18 months — a full year longer than other injectables on the market.

In a clinical trial for the injectable, 59 percent of participants saw improvement in smile lines around the mouth for up to 18 months, and at the same time, 82 percent of patients said they were satisfied with results at six months, while 68 percent were still pleased at eight months. Sounds great, but how does it work? We tapped New York City dermatologist Joshua Zeichner for more on the technology behind the filler.

Juvéderm Vollure XC uses special technology, known as Vycross — which is also used in Juvéderm Voluma XC and Juvéderm Volbella XC — to hold the hyaluronic acid together into a cohesive gel, which keeps it intact after it’s injected into the skin, explains Zeichner. “Vollure XC’s Vycross technology links both high and low molecular-weight hyaluronic acid, while Juvederm’s Hylacross technology uses various degrees of cross-linking of mainly high molecular weight hyaluronic acid.”

In non-plastic surgeon speak, that means that the mixture of high and low hyaluronic acid in the Vycross technology creates a more connected gel, which can be molded, effectively lifting sunken skin sitting above it. “Vollure sits in that sweet spot where it is firm enough to fill the line, but soft enough to move naturally with facial expression,” says Zeichner. Another major difference between Juvéderm and the new Juvéderm Vollure XC is that the new formula produces minimal swelling, which means shorter recovery time. “The gel also may last longer than other products, making it a better value for the price and the need for fewer injection sessions,” says Zeichner.

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