What Is The FDA-Approved Jawline Filler Volux?
The internet has been aflame with the concept of buccal fat removal surgery and "chin implants" or noticeably sharp jaws. Between viral pictures of former "Glee" star Lea Michele after her alleged buccal fat removal surgery, per Insider, and a growing trend of strong chins and killer jawlines, it seems like a lot more people are interested in dermal fillers at the moment. When looking into these things, though, it's important to note all of the types of dermal filler you could get and what the best kinds are for the look you want to achieve.
A new dermal filler called Juvéderm VOLUX XC was recently approved by the FDA and is ready to appear on the market this year. Volux, for short, is the "first hyaluronic acid-based dermal filler specifically formulated and approved for use in the jawline and chin," according to the American Board of Cosmetic Surgery. This makes the product unique, and should pique the interest of anyone looking for chin filler or jawline filler.
According to a statement by AbbVie, via Cision PR NewsWire, Volux is manufactured by Allergan Aesthetics, a company that already makes Juvéderm products and fillers. Here's what you need to know about the filler.
Volux is the only jaw filler approved by the FDA
According to Healthline, there are two fillers that cosmetic surgeons use to alter the look of someone's jaw: a hyaluronic acid-based dermal filler and a calcium hydroxylapatite one. Volux is the former and, again, is the only FDA-approved filler that's specifically made for the chin and jaw. As the FDA's official website writes, Volux "is a gel implant or dermal filler that is injected in specific areas of facial tissue to add definition or reduce the appearance of lines and wrinkles."
As reported by Tatler, it is particularly great for jaws and chins because of its consistency, which is pretty dense and "mimics bone" according to dermatologist Dr. Patricia Ogilvie. She told Tatler that the trend of having sharp, defined jaws is in demand now more than ever and Volux is the best filler to achieve the viral look because of how easy it is to mold into your desired look.
Reasons people choose jaw filler
Cosmetic surgery or non-surgical procedures like this one are all personal choices and are about the person who is receiving them. So the only thing that matters is whether the person thinks they need it or wants it for a desired look. With that said, dermatologist Dr. Barry D. Goldman told Healthline, "Jaw filler gives the face a sharper angle, which makes you look skinnier ... It provides a subtle change, which never looks overdone or over the top." So, if someone wants that sharp jaw or if they've always been self-conscious of having little-to-no chin, jaw or cheek fillers might be a worthwhile option for them.
Dr. Ogilvie told Tatler that while Volux is approved for any gender, it can be a popular option for male patients because they most likely want the specific, sharp profile or look that Volux is meant to achieve. Volux reportedly costs anywhere between $600 and $800 per syringe (via Healthline).
Volux filler is best used for this
Someone who wants to get dermal fillers in their jaw is looking to give it more definition, either to sharpen their profile or give them a noticeable jawline if they don't have one already. Because Volux was specifically made for jaws and chins, it might be the type of filler you'd want to look into the most to enhance that part of your face.
According to the American Board of Cosmetic Surgery, Volux can also be used to "adjust facial proportions for improved harmony." This is referring to uneven facial features you'd like to change, which could be a jaw that is not prominent enough compared to the rest of your profile, or a chin that sits too far inward on the face. They write that Volux is great for that chiseled jawline look, to "[create] a more masculine-looking facial structure," or to give a "liquid facelift" to someone older or who has a sagging jawline.
Should patients be worried about an unnatural jawline?
The last thing you want when getting dermal facial filler is to walk away being the talk of the town because it looks unnatural. But if you want to change your profile or have a more defined jawline, Volux might actually be the best way to achieve a natural look. About the process, the FDA writes, "A doctor injects [Volux] under the skin and/or under the soft tissue but above the bone (subperiosteal) of the lower jaw to improve jawline definition." According to Dr. Ogilvie, due to its ability to mold easily, an injector can sculpt the perfect chin or jaw for their patient so that it's not noticeably filled with dermal filler (via Tatler).
According to the American Board of Cosmetic Surgery, it's also not even necessarily about the medium you use to give yourself a chiseled look in your jaw. If you want it to remain natural-looking and not like you're Crimson Chin from "The Fairly Odd Parents," they write that the person injecting you has to know what they're doing too. They need to be experts in how to achieve such natural jaws, whether that be with Volux or another filler. To do this they have to know the right places to inject and how to mold the injection into the desired result. That's why it's important to choose an injector who has great reviews and whom you trust after your consultations.
These professionals can perform jaw filler procedures
Notice how we wrote "injector" and not doctor previously? While doctors are trusted medical professionals, of course, they're also not the only ones legally allowed to administer dermal filler. Healthline reported that since Volux and other jaw fillers are minimally invasive non-surgical procedures, they can be performed by any experienced, licensed professional. This can be a doctor or a cosmetic surgeon, but you can also go to a dermatologist, a nurse practitioner, or a physician's assistant.
But again, while it doesn't matter what the title of the person doing your Volux jaw filler is per se, they do need to be licensed and certified to give you such a procedure. Local anesthetics can be involved sometimes and even though the filler isn't permanent and can be redone every so often, you don't want your injector to mess up your face. Make sure to scour reviews about the injector you want to choose, have an in-depth consolation, and do your research (like you're doing now). Because as already mentioned, the type of dermal filler you choose is only half of the battle; your injector also needs to know how to work with it to achieve the look you want.
These people shouldn't use Volux
Cosmetic surgery or procedures are 100 percent the choice of the person who's getting it done. However, there are some risk factors that could prevent a person from using Volux. According to the FDA, people with a history of anaphylaxis — meaning their throats swell up during allergic reactions — shouldn't use Volux. And this includes anyone who has severe allergies in general, not necessarily to anything specific.
Due to lidocaine being in the filler, if you have allergies to or sensitivities to that anesthetic or others, you should also stay away from Volux. And lastly, people with "hypersensitivity to gram-positive bacterial proteins" or "bleeding disorders" shouldn't use Volux. And even though it's tempting to take pain medicine beforehand, make sure you're not taking blood-thinning pain meds like ibuprofen or aspirin because of the needles used to put fillers in, according to Kaiser Permanente.
Is Volux actually better than other dermal fillers?
The American Board of Cosmetic Surgery wrote that other fillers like Juvéderm Voluma and Restylane Lyft are good jaw fillers. However, because Volux is formulated and FDA-approved specifically for your jaw, it's going to be a bit better choice if that's where you want to get dermal fillers. According to them, the "thicker, more cohesive hyaluronic acid (HA) formula" of Volux versus other fillers can achieve a more natural-looking result.
The duration that Volux lasts is also a good reason to choose it. According to Healthline, the results can last up to two years, whereas other fillers may diminish by 15 months post-procedure. But again, just like this procedure is your choice, the type of dermal filler you use to enhance your chin or jawline is also your choice. There's nothing wrong with other dermal fillers with different chemical makeups. Just make sure you do your research and choose the one best for your purposes, budget, and overall life.
This is when Volux becomes available
According to a statement by AbbVie, patients can ask about Volux in early 2023 (via Cision PR Newswire). The filler was FDA approved in July 2022 and should be on the market and ready for cosmetic surgeons and injectors to use sometime early this year (read: soon).
And in terms of when you'd have to get a refill or touchup, Healthline reported you'll start to see the look and effect of the filler start to go away in nine months to a year out from when you got the fillers put in. Interestingly, one thing that can make your jaw filler deplete faster is UV light, so sunscreen is a must (although it always is if you want healthy, happy skin).
Moisturizing skin often is a good way to make the dermal filler last longer (via Healthline). This goes for internally taking care of your body too, by drinking lots of water, eating well, and keeping stress levels relatively low.
Will a jaw filler procedure hurt?
As with anything medical that has to do with your body, it's hard to say whether something will hurt you or be more painful for you than how it was for someone else. Per the FDA, Volux dermal filler has "0.3% of the drug lidocaine hydrochloride" already infused in the solution, which may make it more comfortable. But, according to Healthline, you can talk to your doctor during your consultation — and definitely before your procedure — if you're particularly nervous. They can put a local anesthetic on your jaw in addition to the lidocaine already infused in the filler to numb the initial pain of the needle.
Typical side effects of the procedures can include slight pain, swelling, redness, acne, or itching and irritation (via Healthline). If you get an infection or suspect one is forming, you should contact a doctor right away. Other side effects worth calling your doctor for include skin nodules (lumps under your skin) or inflammatory skin (red growths or bumps). While there is always the risk of severe complications from any medical procedure, they're not common if you go to a reputable, well-reviewed doctor or injector.