Medesthetics

JAN-FEB 2014

MedEsthetics magazines offers business education and in-depth coverage of the latest noninvasive cosmetic procedures for physicians and practice managers working in the medical aesthetics industry.

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NEWSMAKERS | By Linda W. Lewis Juvéderm Voluma XC Juvéderm Voluma XC gains FDA approval as a treatment for volume loss in the midface. In October 2013, Allergan (allergan.com) announced FDA approval of its latest entry into the medical aesthetics market: Juvéderm Voluma XC, a hyaluronic acid-based volume filler with lidocaine. It is the first and only FDA-approved filler to temporarily correct age-related volume loss in the cheek area in adults over the age of 21. Lorrie Klein, MD, founder of OC Dermatology in Orange County, California, specializes in minimally invasive cosmetic procedures, and is one of the doctors who will be offering Allergan training programs on injecting the new filler. "Voluma is different from other fillers in the marketplace, and is better for the midface than any other currently available filler," says Dr. Klein. "It is extremely smooth and flows easily." As we age, tissues in the midface lose volume. This causes the cheeks to flatten out and the skin to sag, creating deep nasolabial folds and that jowly look so many of us see in the mirror as we hit our 50s. Voluma was designed with Allergan's proprietary Vycross technology, which offers more effective cross-linking of the HA chains, to provide the extra lift capacity needed to correct volume loss in the cheek area. "Instead of filling the cavity created by the nasolabial folds, as you do with other fillers, you use Voluma like tent poles to push up and fill out the cheeks, pulling the skin up and correcting the nasolabial folds more naturally," says Dr. Klein. "Most patients come in for treatment of the nasolabial folds when what they really need is volume in the cheekbone area that will lift the lower face. I'm excited that Allergan will now be helping me make this case with their advertising." Juvéderm Voluma XC has an extensive track record outside the U.S. It was introduced in Europe in 2005, but without the lidocaine. Voluma with lidocaine debuted in 60 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2014 | MedEsthetics 2009 and as of August 31, 2013, is distributed in 72 countries throughout Europe, Latin America, Middle East, Asia Pacific and Canada. Common side effects seen in the clinical trial included temporary swelling, bruising and discomfort at the injection site, which resolved in two to four weeks. Although Dr. Klein notes that nothing in the literature suggests cause for concern about serious side effects, she worries about the potential for incorrect use of the product. "The injection technique is very different than the one you use to treat nasolabial folds," she explains. "It is extremely important that doctors planning to use this product get good training." Another of Voluma's selling points is that it can last up to two years. "Men may find this product more attractive, because most don't like treatments that require frequent visits and, of course, women who hate needles will be more likely to consider a treatment that doesn't require frequent injections," says Dr. Klein. One potential drawback for Voluma may be the price. Some doctors are speculating that one syringe of Voluma could cost $1,000 and a single treatment could cost the average patient several thousand dollars. "We expect the cost to be about 25% to 30% more per syringe than other hyaluronic acid fillers," says Dr. Klein. "But since the product lasts longer and, because of the way it's used, a patient may need less per treatment, and it could end up costing the consumer less in the long run. We'll have to wait and see." At press time, Allergan expected to begin shipping Juvéderm Voluma XC in November 2013. Linda W. Lewis is a contributing editor to MedEsthetics.

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