Juvéderm Voluma XC, a popular pick among plastic surgeons looking to add volume and contour to their patients’ cheek area, is now FDA-approved for the chin, too. The hyaluronic acid-based filler, one of several under Allergan’s umbrella of Juvéderm injectables, is the first and only filler of its kind to receive FDA approval for chin augmentation.
“When assessing facial anatomy, the chin is a critical component to facial balance, yet it is often overlooked. Due to its distinct gel properties and product profile, Juvéderm Voluma XC is uniquely suitable to address this need,” Carrie Strom, president of Global Allergan Aesthetics, said in a statement.
While the FDA’s approval is newsworthy, many plastic surgeons have already been using Juvéderm Voluma XC off-label in the chin area for patients who want to try out a chin implant without committing to one. In many cases, the patients are so satisfied with the results that they opt to continue getting injections of the filler and forego the implant.
Patients are attracted to the ease of the filler. In less than a half-hour, they can see themselves with a new chin, with minimal pain and bruising and virtually no downtime. An implant, by contrast, typically entails a week of downtime. And it can take several weeks for the swelling to fully subside.
That said, Juvéderm Voluma XC should only be considered for relatively subtle chin enhancements. Someone who’s seeking a little more definition or structure is a great candidate.
In conjunction with a rhinoplasty (nose job), both surgical and nonsurgical, chin augmentation with Juvéderm Voluma XC is an effective means of balancing a facial profile. For those who have large noses on profile, adding a little volume to the chin can make the nose appear smaller by comparison. Similarly, the procedure can also help diminish the appearance of jowls.
When used in the cheek area, Juvéderm Voluma XC has been shown to last up to two years. In Allergan’s own study of the filler as a chin augmenter, the majority of participants reported “high satisfaction” with their results up to a year later.