How long does Juvederm & Voluma really last?

Hi Valentino.  Great question.  The problem with judging the duration with Voluma is that it is still a new product with less than 6 months on the market in the US.  It is a pricey filler and is typically 50% - 100% more expensive than other Hyaluronic acid based products like Restylane, Juvederm Ultra and Perlane.At this point, we are not believers in the added cost and here's why.  In the study used to market a 2 year duration, there are a couple key issues that warrant a closer look:1.  The AVERAGE patient in the study (for the cheeks) had 6.5 CC's (or 6.5 mL's) of the product injected.  At today's market prices in Los Angeles this would be around $4500 - $6000.  Over half the patients had more than 6.5 CC's and some as many as 12 or 13 CC's.  2.  We disagree with Dr. Soltman below as the number of patients reporting continued improvement at 2 years was only 44%.  In the study sent to us directly from Allergan's medical liaison, patients were judged to be "responders" at 2 years if they graded their improvement of at least 1 on a scale of 6.  This means even for patients that could barely see the product, they were judged to fit in the category of a 2 year duration.  Only 44% responded yes that the product could still be seen even though more than 1/2 of patients had more than 6.5 CC's injected.We believe that your assessment is right on point that Voluma is not worth the extra expense.  When Restylane and Juvederm were introducted to the market 5-10 years ago, they both claimed an 18 month indication (duration).  Any injector in Los Angeles will tell you this is not what they last and it's typically between 6-12 months.  We believe the same will hold true for Voluma that the actual duration will be about 50% of what is advertised and will come in at around 12 months. This duration is very similar to Radiesse, which is what we use in bridge of the nose.  With Radiesse, you get 50% more product (1.5 CC) at about 2/3 the price of Voluma.  So the answer to your question in our eyes, is to stick with the traditional products because we don't think Voluma will double their duration and it may not be worth the additional cost. 

Great question.  Juvederm Voluma is one of the longer lasting fillers.  It can last 1-2 years and produces fantastic results. How quickly your body metabolizes the product determines how long it lasts and this cannot be predicted unfortunately.
As always, an in-person consultation with a board certified dermatologist with cosmetic training is the best way to assess your needs and provide medical advice. 

Thank you for your question.  Voluma is a very good filler for your cheeks and midface.  It is a bit of a larger molecule, so it is usually placed deeper in the skin, (subdermal).  The sales people will tell you it lasts about 2 years.  In our experience it last about a year and a half.  As far as Juvederm Ultra Plus, (which we like for the nasolabial folds), and Juvederm Ultra, (which we like for the lips), the sales people will tell you it lasts about a year, in reality about 9 months. Every person is different so it can last a longer or shorter time period, depending on the patient.  It has been our experience that some folks that are hypermetabolic, (in the gym twice a day, etc.), tend to break down Botox and Fillers faster.  Each individual is different though. Please see a well trained, experienced injector.  Discuss your goals, and you should be able to come up with a plan.
Jeffrey J. Roth, M.D., F.A.C.S.
Board Certified Plastic Surgeon
Las Vegas Plastic Surgery