Juvederm Volift vs. Sculptra — Why Duration Can Differ by Nearly Half, Depending on the Treatment Area
The Real Reason Filler Longevity Varies So Much From One Area to the Next
Juvederm Volift vs. Sculptra — Why Duration Can Differ by Nearly Half, Depending on the Treatment Area
Before you read, consider this
Q. Doesn't filler last at least a year after one session?
A. Even with the same product, results can last anywhere from 8 to 18 months depending on the area — nearly twice the difference.
Q. So can I just come back once a year and top everything up at the same time?
A. Because each area breaks down at a different rate,
topping everything up at once means some areas may be overdone while others are already running low.
Why Juvederm Volift and Sculptra Last Differently
Juvederm Volift is a hyaluronic acid (HA)-based filler.
Sculptra contains poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA),
a collagen-stimulating ingredient.
While Juvederm directly adds volume,
Sculptra works indirectly — it stimulates your own collagen production,
and that collagen is what ultimately creates the volumizing effect.
That's why the two products differ not only in how quickly results appear,
but also in how gradually they fade.
Key insight from Dr. Wi Young-jin
With Juvederm Volift, results typically last 12–18 months.
Sculptra can last up to 24 months — but deep placement above the cheekbone holds for about 18 months,
while shallower placement around the mouth lasts only 8–10 months. That's nearly half the difference, depending on the area.
This is exactly why you can't schedule every area for the same touch-up appointment.
Same Filler, But Why Such a Big Difference Between Areas?
The short answer
Juvederm Volift averages 12–18 months,
and Sculptra can reach up to 24 months.
However, deep placement above the cheekbone lasts around 18 months,
while shallower placement near the mouth lasts only 8–10 months.
That's nearly half the difference between areas —
which is why a single, synchronized touch-up session for all areas simply doesn't work.
Think of filler longevity like ice melting.
The same block of ice melts at completely different rates
depending on whether it's placed in direct sunlight or in the shade.
With filler, it's the depth and location of placement
that determines how long it lasts.
There are two key factors at play here.
First, an enzyme your body naturally produces
called hyaluronidase.
This enzyme is the primary mechanism that breaks down HA filler.
Areas with more movement and richer blood supply
tend to have higher hyaluronidase activity.
The corners of the mouth, lips, and Nasolabial Folds
are prime examples.
Second, depth of placement matters enormously.
Filler placed deep at the supraperiosteal level or within the SMAS Layer
experiences very little mechanical stress.
Blood flow and lymphatic circulation are also comparatively lower in these areas,
so enzymatic breakdown occurs more slowly.
In contrast, filler placed in the superficial Dermis
is constantly subjected to muscle movement
and faces much greater enzyme exposure.
Many patients find this surprising.
Last week, a 38-year-old patient came in with a friend —
just planning to sit in on the consultation —
but ended up being the one asking the most questions.
She mentioned that she'd had Juvederm placed over her cheekbones the previous year
and could still feel it.
That's actually expected — filler placed deep over the cheekbones can persist for 18 months,
and in some patients, residual volume is still visible at 24 months.
Interestingly, she had also had filler placed near her mouth at the same appointment,
and that area had nearly completely faded by around the 9-month mark.
Same day, same product —
but a completely different area led to nearly twice the difference in longevity.
There's one more important distinction worth covering:
deformation and migration are two different things.
Deformation means the filler gets compressed by movement and spreads out of shape.
Migration means it physically moves away from the original injection site.
Lip filler that appears to spread toward the philtrum is a classic example of migration.
Deformation tends to occur when too much product is used or when viscosity is too low.
Migration is more commonly associated with incorrect depth of placement or overfilling.
Dr. Wi Young-jin's key takeaway
"Filler lasts one year" is just an average.
Even within your own face, the difference between above the cheekbone and near the mouth can be nearly double.
That's why touch-ups should be scheduled area by area — not all at once.
Longevity by Area — When Should You Plan Your Next Touch-Up?
Here's a quick breakdown by area.
For patients starting filler for the first time, I generally recommend
planning deep areas like the cheekbones and chin around the one-year mark,
and shallower areas like the corners of the mouth and lips around the eight-month mark.
Let me share another example.
Recently, a 28-year-old came in with her mother,
and it turned out she'd had lip filler before
and was concerned that it had nearly disappeared after just six months.
This wasn't simply a case of rapid fading —
the lips are a high-movement area with proximity to mucosa,
so both enzymatic breakdown and deformation tend to occur simultaneously.
Had the same amount been placed in a less mobile area of the face,
it likely would have lasted a full year.
Once I explained that more frequent top-ups for the lips are completely normal,
she felt reassured.
One thing I always want to emphasize:
trying to extend longevity by overfilling in a single session is not advisable.
It increases the risk of both deformation and migration,
and raises the likelihood of side effects such as the Tyndall effect (a bluish discoloration visible through the skin)
or palpable lumps beneath the surface.
Placing the right amount at the correct depth,
and timing touch-ups according to each area's natural breakdown rate,
produces results that look more natural — and last longer overall.
Touch-Up Timing — 3 Questions I Hear Most Often in the Clinic
Q1. I've heard that once you get filler, it never fully goes away. Is that true?
A. In short — not quite.
HA filler is broken down by hyaluronidase.
That said, not every last bit disappears completely —
a small amount can persist within fibrotic tissue,
leaving behind a subtle residual volume.
When people say filler "lasts forever," they're often referring to this residual portion.
In practice, the noticeable volumizing effect diminishes significantly within one to two years.
Along similar lines, another question I hear frequently:
Q2. Does filler build up over time if you keep getting it? And how should I budget for it?
A. This is something that's hard to find a clear answer to online —
and I see a few patients each week who assumed one session would be enough.
In practice, deep areas like the cheekbones typically benefit from a touch-up every 18 months or so,
while shallower areas like the corners of the mouth and Nasolabial Folds tend to need attention about once a year.
Some cumulative buildup does occur,
but using smaller amounts more frequently is generally a better approach —
it maintains a natural look and reduces the risk of distortion over time.
Before wrapping up, there's one more point that's really important.
Q3. If my filler has changed shape, will it correct itself if I just wait?
A. This one requires a slightly longer answer.
With deformation, the filler can sometimes settle into a more natural position over time.
Migration, however, is a different story.
If lip filler has spread toward the philtrum,
or filler along the Nasolabial Folds has shifted toward the side of the cheek,
it won't reposition itself on its own.
In these cases, the right approach is to use hyaluronidase injections
to selectively dissolve the displaced filler,
and then replan the placement from there.
Waiting it out could mean living with an unnatural appearance for well over a year.
If you take one thing away from today — instead of going by the average of "once a year," plan your touch-ups by area. Deep areas like the cheekbones and chin: around 18 months. Shallower areas like the corners of the mouth and lips: around the 8-month mark.
In the next post, I'll be covering how precisely hyaluronidase can be controlled when dissolving filler — and how results can vary by area even when the same amount is used. I'll walk through real cases to illustrate the differences. This has been Dr. Wi Young-jin.
