The mouth area is what I refer to as the maintenance area of the face. We have heavy muscles that flex the lips as we talk, eat, and especially as we use straws. The end result, over time, is that our lips become thinner and wrinkled, similar to a grape becoming a raisin. Around the edge of the lip, lines begin to develop allowing lipstick to feather. Every day I meet patients concerned about the vertical lines above and below the lip. They always say “I am not a smoker” because they feel the lines imply that they smoke cigarettes.
An easy fix to these aging issues is to add a filler. Adding filler to the lips does not have to result in a Goldie or Angelina outcome. My philosophy is that no one should know that we have done anything to the lips. Lips should look natural. The latest filler from Allergan is Volbella XC. It is one of the newer generation of longer lasting hyaluronic acid fillers. Voluma XC and Vollure XC are the same formula, but are just more concentrated, often used to fill deeper lines and for lifting and contouring. Volbella XC has been a great addition to the filler line for the patient who would like to soften some of the signs of aging around the mouth but also want a soft, natural look.
For some patients concerned about adding too much filler in the lips, a portion of the Volbella can be placed in the lips, and the rest can be placed in other parts of the face according to the patient’s wishes. As no two faces are alike, the amount of Volbella XC needed varies from person to person. In the event that the desired results are not achieved, all hyaluronic acid fillers can be dissolved.
As a hyaluronic filler is a temporary treatment, the length of time it lasts is variable. It is always an experiment the first time a patient tries a filler to see how long it will last for them. For the majority of patients Volbella XC will last a year. It is a beneficial product for the patient who would like to add subtle volume to the lips and smooth the appearance of the vertical lines both on the lips and around the mouth.
For the patient who desires a fuller lip appearance, Vollure XC can be an exciting new option. To see if you would be a good candidate of this latest filler we encourage you to book a consultation with Double Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon, Dr. Brian Maloney.
