What is the difference between Juvederm Ultra and Volbella?
Ultra is the thicker gel and gives lips clear, visible volume. Volbella is the softest gel in the family and gives a subtle change, plus it smooths the fine lines above the lip.
Juvéderm Ultra is the fuller lip option. It adds volume you can see, so it suits someone who wants their lips to look bigger. Juvéderm Volbella is the subtle one. It is a thinner, softer gel used for a small change, for the fine vertical lines above the lip, and sometimes for shallow hollows under the eye. They come from the same family and both are hyaluronic acid, so the real question is how much you want people to notice.
| The difference | Juvéderm Ultra | Juvéderm Volbella |
|---|---|---|
| What it is for | Lip volume | Subtle lips and fine lines |
| How full it looks | Noticeable | Barely noticeable |
| When you see the result | The same day | The same day |
| Cost | Priced per syringe | Priced per syringe, often shared |
Side by side
Juvéderm Ultra
Lip volume
Lips that you want to look clearly fuller, and a defined lip border.
Juvéderm Volbella
Subtle lips and fine lines
A quiet change in size, the fine vertical lines above the lip, and delicate areas like under the eye.
Juvéderm Ultra
Medium
Firm enough to hold a shape in the lip without feeling stiff.
Juvéderm Volbella
The softest in the range
Thin and smooth, so it will not show as a ridge under delicate skin.
Juvéderm Ultra
Noticeable
People who know you will usually see it. That is the point of choosing Ultra.
Juvéderm Volbella
Barely noticeable
It reads as good lips rather than done lips.
Juvéderm Ultra
Often one syringe
A full syringe in a lip is a real change. Half is a common first step.
Juvéderm Volbella
Often half a syringe or less
Volbella is a subtle product. A full syringe of it in a lip would be a lot.
Juvéderm Ultra
Lips and the area around them
The lines running out from the lip border, and the corners of the mouth.
Juvéderm Volbella
Lips, lip lines, under the eye
It is the family's usual pick for the under-eye, because the skin there is the thinnest on the body.
Juvéderm Ultra
The same day
Lips swell a great deal for two or three days. Judge them at two weeks.
Juvéderm Volbella
The same day
Same picture, though less gel usually means slightly less swelling.
Juvéderm Ultra
About a year
Juvéderm Volbella
About a year, often less
Juvéderm Ultra
Yes
Juvéderm Volbella
Yes
Juvéderm Ultra
Bruising, swelling, tenderness
Too much gel, or gel placed too far forward, gives a heavy, rolled look at the lip edge.
Juvéderm Volbella
Bruising, swelling, small lumps
Under the eye, too much product can hold water and look puffy for months.
Juvéderm Ultra
Priced per syringe
Ask whether the clinic sells half a syringe, since half is often the sensible first treatment.
Juvéderm Volbella
Priced per syringe, often shared
Half a syringe is common, and some clinics keep the rest for a top-up.
Juvéderm Ultra
Juvéderm Volbella
Common questions
Ultra is the thicker gel and gives lips clear, visible volume. Volbella is the softest gel in the family and gives a subtle change, plus it smooths the fine lines above the lip.
Volbella if you want the change to be quiet, Ultra if you want to see a difference. Either way, half a syringe is a sensible first step.
Both run around a year in the lips. Volbella often fades sooner, because it is a thinner gel and less of it is used.
It is the product in this family most often chosen there, because it is soft enough not to show as a ridge. The under-eye is still the least forgiving area on the face.
Yes. Both are hyaluronic acid, so an enzyme called hyaluronidase removes either one, usually within a day or two.
Ultra. It is the fuller, more obvious option, and it holds a lip shape better. Volbella is not meant to add much size.