What Is Restylane?
Restylane is an injectable gel that contains hyaluronic acid (HA), a natural substance that is found in the body. Hyaluronic acid gives volume and elasticity to the skin, but as the body ages, HA levels decrease, resulting in loose skin and wrinkling.
When injected, Restylane dermal filler is designed to plump the skin beneath lines and wrinkles, smoothing them out and making them less noticeable.
What Areas Of The Body Can Restylane Treat?
- Glabellar lines which run between the eyebrows
- Nasolabial folds which run from the sides of the nose to the corners of the mouth
- Lip Enhancement
Before & After Photos
How Does Restylane Work?
Restylane is made primarily of hyaluronic acid. In the human body, hyaluronic acid keeps the skin hydrated, firm, and plump — the tenets of young-looking skin. Hyaluronic acid does this by binding with nearby water molecules. When Restylane is injected beneath a wrinkle or crease, the hyaluronic acid binds with water molecules and instantly returns volume, pushing the skin upward and erasing or dramatically lessening the appearance of the wrinkle or crease.
What Are the Different Types of Restylane?
Within the Restylane family of dermal fillers are several unique products. Each is made with a base of hyaluronic acid and works in the same basic way in the skin. The difference between each product is its consistency. The variable consistencies across Restylane products enables your provider to achieve the most natural-looking results when treating various areas of your face or hands. Current FDA-approved Restylane fillers include:
- Restylane-L® for nasolabial folds, marionette lines, and other creases
- Restylane® Refyne for the flexible correction of nasolabial folds and other lines and creases
- Restylane® Defyne for the deeper lines and creases around the nose and mouth
- Restylane® Lyft for cheek augmentation and mid-face contour deficiencies
- Restylane® Silk for natural-looking lip augmentation
How Long Does it Take for Restylane to Settle?
It takes up to two weeks for Restylane to fully settle into place. However, the swelling and inflammation that naturally occur after injections is so mild that you may not notice a thing.
Who is Qualified to Administer Restylane Treatments?
You may find Restylane treatments offered at a number of different facilities, including med spas, doctors' offices, even dental practices! Ideally, you should obtain injectable treatments from a properly board-certified physician, physician assistant, or nurse. In addition to asking about licensure and certifications, also ask your potential provider about their training and success rate. A qualified provider will be happy to answer your questions and show you their before and after gallery to give you peace of mind about their experience.
Can I Get Restylane if I am Pregnant?
No. Many of the common cosmetic treatments that are popular today have not been tested on women who are pregnant or nursing. Testing is, at this time, too risky for Mother and Baby so we do not know the effects that could occur.
What is a Maintenance or “Touch-Up” Treatment?
Dermal fillers achieve temporary improvements in the appearance of your skin. Some may last a year or less, some may last up to two years. Your body will metabolize the hyaluronic acid at its own pace. While there are manufacturer guidelines regarding how often dermal filler injections should occur, your touch-up treatments may occur as needed over time to maintain your desired effects.
Is Restylane Better than Juvéderm?
Restylane products are similar to Juvéderm products in that both lines are made using hyaluronic acid. The mechanics of the manufacturing process differ slightly, making them both outstanding options for facial contouring and rejuvenation. The question that we answer when you visit us is which dermal filler is better for You!
Best Candidates
Restylane (and all dermal fillers) works on what are known as “static” wrinkles. These are the wrinkles formed by sun damage, declining collagen production with age, personal habits such as smoking, and such. Static wrinkles show themselves at all times. These are nasolabial folds (lines from the nose down to the mouth), marionette lines (running from the corner of the mouth downward), parentheses lines (framing the sides of the mouth), barcode lines (vertical lines on and just above the lips), and others.
It does not work on wrinkles formed by muscle contractions. These are crow’s feet, the 11s between your eyebrows, and various forehead wrinkles. These wrinkles and lines on the upper third of the face are known as “dynamic” wrinkles and they are the domain of Botox and other neuromodulators.
So, if you’re seeking to erase some of the lines and wrinkles on the lower face, Restylane is a great option for you.
What Are The Benefits?
What is the benefit of looking younger? What’s the benefit of getting rid of those irritating smile lines that run from your nose to your mouth? What is the benefit of losing the barcode lines on your lips?
Our patients from all around the Boston area love Restylane because it allows them to erase some of the lines and creases that form on the lower part of the face due to declining collagen production and other factors of basic aging. And it allows them to do so without any downtime or recovery.
Plus, our patients like that Restylane (like Juvéderm) is a “natural” filler because it is made from hyaluronic acid. Hyaluronic acid is a naturally occurring substance in the human body that is responsible for plumping and firming the skin. It does this by binding with nearby water molecules. An injection simply boosts the hyaluronic acid in the area of the line or crease, increasing volume when the hyaluronic acid gets to work.
What To Expect During Restylane Session
Restylane injection sessions usually take just 20 minutes or so. No preparation or recovery is necessary. The cost of your session depends upon the amount used, as it is priced by the syringe.
How Long Do The Results Of Restylane Last?
Results can last for up to 6 months, at which point the hyaluronic acid is reabsorbed by the body.
Do I Need Recovery Time After A Restylane Session?
There isn’t any recovery after an injection session. You can return to work or your other typical activities immediately. You may have some slight redness and swelling at the injection sites, but this passes within a few hours in most cases. It’s also possible to get some bruising, especially if you use any medications that are associated with bleeding, such as Aspirin or Ibuprofen.
For this reason, it’s often ideal to plan your treatment around work or social events. Cover-up make-up is usually adequate to hide any bruising if needed.
Is Restylane Safe?
Restylane was the first dermal filler. It was approved by the FDA at the end of 2003. To receive this approval, Medicis (the company that created it) had to conduct extensive safety and effectiveness testing. Since that first approval, it has been one of the world’s most popular cosmetic treatments. It has proven to be very safe and very effective for treating static lines and creases.
Another nice aspect is that it is completely reversible. Occasionally, lumps will form at the injection sites. This is rare, but if it happens, they can be quickly resolved by an injection of hyaluronidase. This is an enzyme that instantly degrades the hyaluronic acid, eliminating the lump.
Do Injections Hurt?
We use a very tiny needle for our Restylane injections at Dr. Silverman’s, and we pre-treat the areas with a very effective topical anesthetic, which takes the edge off of the pain. Additionally, the Restylane contains Lidocaine, which numbs the treatment area further during the course of injection. Afterwards, there may be a feeling of tightness or fullness, but it’s not generally painful after the treatment is completed.
Are There Side Effects To Restylane Treatment?
The most common side effects of Restylane are swelling, redness, pain, bruising and tenderness in and around the injection sites. Typically these side effects go away within a week.
Schedule A Consultation
If you would like to learn more about Restylane, call {tel} to schedule a consultation at our office serving Newton, Boston and surrounding areas.
