Restylane
What is Restylane?
Restylane is FDA-approved dermal filler made of a biodegradable non-animal stabilized hyaluronic acid (NASHA). Hyaluronic acid is a natural substance found in all living organisms and provides volume and fullness to the skin.
Restylane is formulated as a clear gel and uses a dual mechanism of action to correct wrinklesand folds. Upon being injected beneath the skin's surface, the Restylane gel adds natural volume and lift to smooth wrinkles and folds. Restylane gel integrates into dermal tissue then attracts and binds to water molecules to help maintain volume. Restylane is gradually degraded by the body's own mechanism and disappears without any residue. Results can be seen immediately following the injection. It is generally recommended for treating nasolabial folds and other wrinkles around the mouth, and frown lines in the forehead, but can sometimes be used to fill deep wrinkles or voids around the eyes, or for lip augmentation. Because it is minimally modified, Restylane has a low incidence of hypersensitivity reactions and requires no skin testing prior to treatment. The chemically stabilized hyaluronic acid found in Restylane can remain in the dermis up to one year. This is significantly longer than the collagen based dermal fillers.
How is a Restylane treatment performed?
During Restylane treatment, the crystal-clear Restylane gel is injected into the skin in tiny amounts with a very fine needle. The gel produces volume under the wrinkle, which is lifted up and smoothed out. When enhancing lips or facial contours, Restylane adds volume and shape to the treated area. Mild to moderate stinging and burning is common during the injection, while redness and swelling can last for hours or days after the injection. The amount of Restylane used during your treatment depends on the desired correction
How long will the Restylane treatment session take?
Treatment with Restylane is a very quick and easy processand generally takes 30 minutes. The time differs somewhat, depending on the correction you wish to have performed.
What areas can be treated with Restylane?
Restylane can be used for smoothing out folds and wrinkles, lip enhancements and shaping facial contours. The most common areas are the glabellar lines (between the eyebrows), the nasolabial folds (from the root of the nose to the angle of the mouth) and for lip enhancement, although other sites can also be treated. Very superficial or very deep wrinkles may be difficult to correct.
Before Restylane Treatment
- No anti-inflammatory drugs (Ibuprofen, Motrin, Advil, Aleve, Vioxx, etc.), aspirin, high doses of Vitamin E, or GinkoBiloba one week prior to treatment. This will reduce the possible side effects of bruising and/or swelling in the treated area(s).
- Consumption of alcoholic beverages prior to treatment can increase the chances of bruising and/or swelling.
- You cannot be pregnant or breastfeeding to receive treatment.
- If you have a history of oral herpes, you must pre-treat with an anti-viral three days before your scheduled visit.
After Restylane Treatment
- Swelling, redness, and tenderness will occur after your treatment and usually resolves within 72 hours. After a lip treatment, the lips may become swollen and look somewhat uneven. This can persist for a few days (up to a week)
- Cold compresses (a cloth dipped in cold water, wrung out, and applied to the injected area) may be used immediately after treatment to reduce swelling.
- Avoid touching the treated area within 6 hours of treatment so you do not accidentally injure your skin. After that, the area can be gently washed with soap and water.
- Until there is no redness or swelling, avoid exposure of the treated area to intense heat (sun lamp or sun bathing) or extreme cold weather.
- If you have suffered previously from facial cold sores, there is a risk that the needle punctures could contribute to another occurrence.
- Avoid taking aspirin and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications, St. John's wort, and high doses of Vitamin E supplements for one week after treatment. These agents may increase the risk of bruising and bleeding at the injection site.
- Avoid aesthetic lasers, microdermabrasion, or IPL over areas with Restylane for a minimum of one week after treatment.
Possible side effects of Restylane
The rate of reactions to Restylane is very low. However, after the treatment some common injection-related reactions may occur, such as swelling, redness, pain, itching, discoloration and tenderness at the injection site. These typically resolve spontaneously within a few days after injection into the skin and within a week after the injection into the lips. Also, small bumps of Restylane may be palpated at the site of injection. These bumps are not usually visible, but can remain for several weeks or months after injection before gradually blending into the dermis.
What are the Differences between Restylane and Perlane?
Just like Restylane, Perlane adds volume and fullness to the skin to correct moderate to severe facial wrinkles and folds, such as the lines from your nose to the corners of your mouth (nasolabial folds).Restylane is thinner and better for lips and fine lines. Perlane is thicker and good for sculpting e.g. cheek bones or deep lines such as laugh lines
Like Restylane, Perlane is a clear gel formulation of hyaluronic acid that is specifically formulated to add fullness like your body's own hyaluronic acid.
What makePerlane different is the average size of the particles and the depth of injection. On average, the gel particles in Perlane are larger than those in Restylane, which makes Perlane a good choice for wrinkles that benefit from a deeper injection into the skin.
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