Volbella® Lip Filler Injections
The Non-Surgical Way to Increase Lip Fullness in the San Diego Area
Dr. Melanie Palm is a noted expert in the use of non-surgical injectables – including Juvederm’s new Volbella lip filler – with offices in Solana Beach, CA just north of San Diego. She is a sitting member of the Advisory Board for Allergan (the company that makes Volbella) and is often selected to educate other physicians on the safety and use of Volbella. Dr. Palm was also one of the first physicians in the United States to be able to offer Volbella to her patients.
What is Volbella?
Volbella is a hyaluronic acid filler from the Juvederm family of products. Released in late 2016, it is approved for subtle, elegant volume enhancement of the lips and perioral region (area around the mouth). It helps to fill fine lip lines, enhance lip borders, and smooth the texture of the lips.
How is Volbella different from other hyaluronic acid fillers?
Volbella containes a low concentration of hyaluronic acid combined with Vycross technology, a means of strongly linking the gel together. This combination results in a smooth filler that lasts longer. In addition, there is typically less swelling with Volbella compared to other lip fillers, allowing for a quicker return to daily activities.
What is Dr. Palm’s experience with Volbella?
Dr. Palm serves as an Advisory Board member, clinical investigator, and physician trainer for Allergan, the company that makes Volbella. This means that she has been selected to educate other physicians on products use and safety, and that she has assisted in studies related to Allergan products. Additionally, Dr. Palm was among the first physicians in the country to receive the product for use on patients after FDA approval.
How much do Volbella lip injections cost in the San Diego area?
The cost of Volbella treatment depends on the number of syringes used and the areas being treated. The typical price range for Volbella placement by a well-trained dermatologist or plastic surgeon is approximately $400 – $700 per syringe, although prices may vary.
Volbella FAQ
One of the biggest fears patients have about filler treatments is that they will end up with an unnatural appearance. Dr. Palm is careful in her artistry and assessment of a patient’s face, including the lip area. Volbella provides a subtle, elegant, and natural-looking enhancement of the lip area. It simply enhances and rejuvenates the lips that you were born with. Dr. Palm and her staff do not believe “fish lips”, “sausage lips”, or “duck lips” are befitting a patient or flattering. For that reason, we strive to provide enhanced, natural lips that beautifully fit one’s face by using products such as Volbella.
Yes, Volbella can be combined with other fillers to enhance the mouth and lip area. Volbella is like the “icing” on the cake, providing subtle smoothing of the lips, fine lip lines, and the lip border (called the vermillion border). If patients desire greater lip enhancement, Volbella may be combined with other fillers such as Juvederm or Restylane. Additionally, stubborn lip lines may be treated first with other methods before using Volbella. Small amounts of Botoxor Dysport may quiet lip lines, or a laser resurfacing procedure with either the ResurFX fractional laser or the ECO2 carbon dioxide laser may be completed first to smooth the skin texture around the mouth prior to Volbella placement.
Yes, Volbella is an injectable filler that may be used elsewhere in the face to smooth subtle textural abnormalities. FDA-approved for use in the lips and for fine lines around the mouth, Volbella may also help smooth the horizontal necklace lines of the neck, or can be used for fine acne scarring.
In Dr. Palm’s experience, there is a decreased amount of swelling following placement of Volbella in the lips compared to other FDA-approved products in the lips. While individual results may vary, most patients experience minimal to mild swelling for a day or two. Most patients can resume daily social activities within 24-48 hours, if not the same day.
Volbella is supplied as a 0.5 cc syringe (about one-tenth of a teaspoon of product). It is intended for correcting fine lines and smoothing lips for enhancement, not for sheer volume enhancement. Volbella has a distinctive pink plunger on the syringe that easily distinguishes it from other products.
Discomfort is mild during Volbella filler placement. Volbella is supplied with lidocaine already mixed into the hyaluronic acid filler itself, making the area numb as the mouth area is treated. Dr. Palm cares about patient comfort and goes to great lengths to ensure patient comfort and ease during the procedure. Comfort measures include topical numbing, localized numbing blocks if desired (dental block), and an ice pack, which is also provided to the patient for home use. With these pain mitigating measures, Volbella treatment is well-tolerated.
As discussed, swelling is the most likely side effect following Volbella treatment, although it is usually quite mild in nature. Like any injectable filler, there is a chance of other possible side effects including bruising, pain or soreness at the injection site, or allergic reaction. Serious complications, such as vessel compromise, stroke, or blindness are exceedingly rare but theoretically possible.
If you are looking for a non-surgical alternative for enhancing lip fullness and appearance in the San Diego area, call Dr. Melanie Palm at 858.792.SKIN (7546) to schedule your appointment.
