COMING

JUVÉDERM VOLBELLA XC, ET AL

There's been much ado about the uptick in patients seeking lip enhancement procedures of late, and the recent FDA approval of Allergan's Juvéderm Volbella XC will likely further fuel the popularity of these procedures. As it stands, the demand for lip procedures is growing faster than that for breast augmentation, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. Juvéderm Volbella XC is indicated for lip augmentation and correction of perioral rhytids. Is it the only lip filler on the market? No,Volbella joins Juvéderm Ultra XC, Restylane, and Restylane Silk, all of which are hyaluronic acid-based fillers with FDA indications for use in the lips. The main difference is that Volbella's results may last through one year, making it extremely attractive to many patients. It will be available in the US in October 2016—with a launch party slated to take place during the Fall 2016 meeting of the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. Like its sister product Juvéderm Voluma, Volbella is developed using Vycross technology and a lower concentration of hyaluronic acid; ostensibly providing a smoother flow, more lift, and less swelling.

Juvéderm Volbella XC joins other members of the Juvederm filler family here in the US, and we can expect to see other families of fillers expand with site-specific injectables as well. Additional forms of Juvéderm, Restylane (Galderma) and Belotero (Merz Aesthetics) are available in other countries.

GOING

LARGER-THAN-LIFE BREAST IMPLANTS

Bigger is not always better when it comes to breast augmentation, and this is really starting to resonate among patients. While doctors in certain geographic areas and those who treat specific populations will always report women seeking larger-than-life breasts, the overall trend is toward smaller, more-natural looking ones. A survey by Real Self backs this up. It found that twice as many doctors said breast patients were now more likely to seek a smaller enhancement than in years past. Instead of oversized implants, women want more of an athletic look, sometimes combined with a breast lift. This is likely here to stay. Former breast implant patients who return for trade-in surgery after 10 or more years will likely go smaller than they did during the initial surgery. This may involve breast implant replacement, often with smaller, yet higher profile and narrower implants. Other options are implant removal and mastopexy, or even grafting for volume replacement. In these cases, less is truly the new more. n