Lip Injections Explained: What is VOLBELLA® XC?

Lip augmentation is a cosmetic treatment designed to enhance the shape or size of the lips by adding volume. The demand for the most common lip augmentation option—hyaluronic acid-based dermal fillers like JUVEDERM®—has continued to rise steadily worldwide as consumers have become aware of their choices for achieving fuller, plumper lips with lip injections. The Tucson-area’s Ironwood Dermatology team explains that Juvederm VOLBELLA® XC is one popular option from the Juvederm line due to its subtle, natural-looking results.

Statistics from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons have shown that soft tissue fillers—which are popular volume-adding strategies for filling out skin that has lost collagen and fat over time—were the second most popular form of cosmetic minimally invasive procedure performed in the United States in 2018.

In recent years, a number of innovative products have been introduced to the lip injections market, making the treatment more convenient and accessible than ever for women and men seeking a specific look. While there are various forms of dermal fillers that can be injected into the lips and around the mouth, JUVEDERM® is one of the most recognized and commonly requested.

All of the options in the JUVEDERM® collection of fillers have the same hyaluronic acid base, but are formulated differently depending on the area they are designed to treat. VOLBELLA® XC is a soft and supple HA variation. This cosmetic “tweakment” offers a soft, light touch for smoothing delicate areas and fine lines on the face and lips. The malleable gel is ideal for temporarily adding subtle definition to the upper and lower lips with natural-looking outcomes.

The “XC” added to the end of the name means that it contains lidocaine for a more comfortable injection experience.

To get a better understanding of how VOLBELLA® XC works to plump up naturally thin or age-depleted lips, it’s helpful to start by examining its main ingredient. In simple terms, hyaluronic acid is a transparent, gel-like, lubricating molecule found naturally in almost every cell of the body. It is most densely concentrated in the skin, cartilage, and joints. VOLBELLA® XC (and other injectables in the JUVEDERM® family) contain a synthetic form of hyaluronic acid, which draws in moisture, hydrating the areas where is injected to further restore lost volume over time.

To find out more about lip injections like VOLBELLA® XC, contact Tucson’s Ironwood Dermatology online or call 520.618.1630.

JUVEDERM® Tips: How to Make Lip Injections Look Natural

While much has been said about how time transforms the skin, one of the more overlooked aspects of this process is how it affects the lips. Getting older generally means experiencing some not-so-pleasant developments, such the depletion of moisture, fat, collagen, elastin, and other elements that make the skin supple and springy well into our 20s. Because of this, the lips can become thin and dry as time goes on. To make matters worse, fine lines around the lips can become increasingly pronounced, drawing even more attention to the area. Lip fillers such as JUVEDERM Volbella® can restore that youthful, hydrated appearance and soften lines around the lips, while maintaining a natural, subtle appearance.

Lip fillers at Ironwood Dermatology are customized to fit your individual needs and desired result. Is a luscious, plump pout something you’re after? Along with high, defined cheekbones and contoured jawlines, the trend of fuller lips has dominated Instagram for a long time. Topical skin products and makeup can help make the mouth appear somewhat fuller, but if you want to significantly restore volume or improve the physical structure of your lips, you want lip injections, such as Tucson and Oro Valley-based Ironwood Dermatology’s dermal filler treatments.

Dreaded “duck lips,” “sausage lips,” or other undesirable outcomes of lip-injection sessions (we’ve all seen photos) have a lot to do with the provider. In the hands of a skilled, experienced injector, injections are handled with great care and with an eye for results. This means you can add volume or definition without going overboard. Lip augmentation is a very common procedure, but for the best outcomes and to reduce risk, women and men looking to add volume should avoid untrained or uncertified injectors who may overdo the injections.

Also, be sure to choose fillers from trusted manufacturers that have put countless research hours into developing their products. For example, Volbella®, a member of the JUVEDERM® family, is useful for sharpening and contouring the lips. As opposed to some other lip fillers, Volbella® isn’t designed to add dramatic fullness, but rather imparts slight volume for subtle embellishments, correction of asymmetry, and smoothing out fine lipstick lines. This filler is often used on the outline of the lips (vermillion border) to produce a more natural look. It has a very light, silky, and natural feel, and, like other JUVEDERM® products, is made of hyaluronic acid.

Learn more about JUVEDERM® lip injections at Ironwood Dermatology in the Tucson and Oro Valley area. Call 520.618.1630 or submit a contact form to request an appointment.

Lip Injections: Something to Smile About in Tucson and Oro Valley, AZ

There’s no reason to not be excited about your lips—even if they aren’t as luscious as you’d like. That’s because with lip injections at Tucson and Oro Valley’s Ironwood Dermatology, a thin smile can become a full one in a matter of minutes.

Our experienced injectors use VOLBELLA® XC and JUVEDERM® XC to add volume for lip plumping and shaping. Made by Allergan and part of the trusted JUVEDERM® family, these dermal fillers are designed to diminish signs of aging on and around the mouth. They can also be used to enhance lips that have never been especially full thanks to the hand genetics dealt you.

These hyaluronic acid-based gels are specifically formulated to give a more youthful hydrated look by adding volume, definition, and improved symmetry.

Allergan uses a carefully developed manufacturing process to make their filler by cross-linking hyaluronic acid molecules. This results in a gel that is stable and reliable, but that also is smooth for ease of injection and positioning in the skin. Once in the lips, the hyaluronic acid molecules get to work binding to water, which improves the hydrated appearance of the lip. The gel can gives thin lips a much-desired subtle boost in size—but not to the point that they look out of proportion or fake. In fact, VOLBELLA® XC is a particularly subtle filler, making it ideal for fine work, details, and natural-looking enhancements.

Results from a lip injection session can last for about six to 12 months, for up to a year of confident smiles. Though the filler has only temporary effects, it can be injected repeatedly as needed to make thin lips nothing more than a memory.

VOLBELLA® XC can also be used to address lip lines, which appear around the mouth and give the area a more aged appearance. Instead of creating a look of fullness here, the filler serves to smooth out the wrinkles that form as collagen and hyaluronic acid break down over time.

Talk to the Ironwood Dermatology team in Tucson and Oro Valley to learn more about lip injections, VOLBELLA® XC, and other available dermal fillers by sending a message online or calling 520.618.1630.