Restylane

Aging is a process everyone goes through, but each person’s face changes in a unique way as they get older. Think of the face as a triangle. When you are young, the base of the triangle (fullness) sits in the cheek (midface) and temple area. The pointy end, or apex, of the triangle is toward the chin.  As you age, this triangle becomes inverted; its base, which was once at midface, falls to the lower face and jowl area. This explains why people lose volume in their cheeks, under-eyes, temples, and lips, and then develop jowls, heavy folds by their nose (nasolabial fold), and sagging necks.

There’s nothing wrong with aging, but there’s nothing wrong with wanting to look younger either! If you’d love to regain a more youthful appearance, Restylane® dermal fillers may be the solution.

What Is Restylane?

Restylane is a family of hyaluronic dermal fillers by Galderma Laboratories. The active ingredient, hyaluronic acid, is found naturally in skin. In young skin, hyaluronic acid helps retain moisture and structure. As you age, it’s depleted, which contributes to visible signs of aging in facial tissue. That’s what causes lines to form—lip lines, smile lines, and other facial wrinkles and folds. Restylane products restore hyaluronic acid to the skin where it’s needed most, in wrinkles, lines, and folds. It gives natural-looking results—smoother skin and a more youthful appearance. In the cheeks, lips, and even hands, Restylane adds volume to give the plump, full look of younger skin.

What Can Restylane Do for You?

Restylane dermal fillers are designed for the correction of moderate to severe facial wrinkles, lines, and folds. If you’d like to reduce nasolabial folds or smile lines, wrinkles or lines around the mouth, or you would like to correct volume loss in cheeks, lips, or hands, Restylane treatments may be the answer.

• Restylane® Silk: Contains lidocaine, a local anesthetic, to reduce discomfort during treatment. Silk is the first FDA-approved hyaluronic-acid (HA) filler designed for lip augmentation and smoothing wrinkles around the mouth. It’s also the first HA dermal filler approved by the FDA for injection by cannula technique.
• Restylane-L®: Used to help smooth moderate to severe facial wrinkles and folds. It is also approved for use in the lips. This product contains lidocaine.
• Restylane® Lyft™: Indicated for cheek augmentation, mid-face correction, and smoothing out wrinkles in your nasolabial folds. The Restylane Lyft formula contains lidocaine, a local anesthetic that reduces pain during the treatment.  It’s the only FDA-approved HA for treatment of volume loss in the hands.
• Restylane Refyne™: A newer generation of HA filler that helps smooth out laugh lines, such as nasolabial folds and marionette lines. This new technology maintains a more natural look when it comes to facial animation. It contains lidocaine and is for the treatment of mild to moderate wrinkles.
• Restylane® Defyne: Another of the new generation of HA filler that helps smooth out moderate to severe nasolabial folds and marionette lines and maintains a more natural look with regards to facial animation. It treats moderate to severe wrinkles and contains lidocaine.

Restylane dermal fillers work almost instantly, filling in lines, wrinkles, and facial folds. It may take several days to see the full effects clearly, as some side effects may temporarily obscure the results.

How Long Does Restylane Last?

Restylane treatments last 6 to 18 months, depending on which product is used and where on your face. Lip treatments like Restylane Silk last around six months. Treatments for hands; cheeks; and facial wrinkles, lines, and folds last between 12 and 18 months.

How Much Restylane Do You Need?

In your Restylane session, you’ll have a certain number of injections for each treatment area. The number of injections you need will depend on your own individual circumstances. These include:

• The number and depth of wrinkles, lines, and folds that are being treated
• The results you want to achieve

When it comes to injectables, it’s better to have too little than too much, as over-filling can make your face look puffy and unnatural. If you feel that your first treatment doesn’t give the results you hoped for, it’s always possible to have a touch-up treatment later on.

What’s a Restylane Treatment Like?

A Restylane treatment session takes anywhere between 15 and 60 minutes, depending on how many areas are treated. Restylane injections can cause some discomfort, and some people may find the treatment a little painful. If you’re concerned about this during your session of Restylane, talk to your doctor about possible solutions.

Restylane Recovery

After you have a treatment, you’ll be able to return to your normal routine right away. No recovery downtime is needed, so you won’t even need to miss work. It is important to avoid certain kinds of activities for the first 48 hours afterwards. This includes:

• Aspirin and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs)
• Drinking alcohol
• Strenuous activity and exercise
• Extensive heat or sun exposure

Aspirin, alcohol, and strenuous activity can worsen swelling and may lead to bruising. To reduce bruising, avoid using aspirin and NSAIDs for two weeks before your treatment. We also recommend taking oral arnica five days before treatment and for five days after it. It’s important to follow post-treatment instructions to ensure you get the best possible results from your Restylane treatment.

Restylane Side Effects

Most people have only minor, temporary side effects after a session of Restylane. Possible side effects include:

• Light bruising
• Swelling
• Redness
• Itching
• Inflammation at injection sites

For most people, side effects clear up within 7 days for nasolabial fold treatments and within 14 days for lip treatments. Note: Restylane can cause visible side effects that can last up to two weeks, so it’s important to time treatments carefully if you’re getting them before a special occasion! Give yourself plenty of time to recover by allowing at least 7 to 14 days in between the treatment and the event.

Restylane Risks and Complications

The active ingredient in Restylane, hyaluronic acid, is naturally present in the skin. This means it’s a safe treatment for most people. Although most side effects are mild and temporary, there is a small risk of more serious problems. Some risks include infection and necrosis (tissue death) at injection sites. Another possible risk is that Restylane may be inadvertently injected into a blood vessel. The risk of this is very low, but it can cause serious complications, including blindness, stroke, and permanent scarring. That’s why it’s so important only to get injections from a provider who is trained and experienced. The effects of Restylanes treatment during pregnancy or while nursing is not known. If you’re pregnant, hoping to become pregnant, or nursing, it’s best to avoid Restylane.

Allergic Reactions

Restylane isn’t toxic, but it is possible to have an allergic reaction to the formulation. This is extremely rare, but some people should avoid these treatments due to allergy risk. If any of the following applies to you, Restylane is best avoided.

• You have multiple allergies or severe allergies, either currently or in the past.
• You’ve ever had an anaphylactic reaction to any substance.
• You have an allergy to gram-positive bacterial proteins, even if it’s only a minor one.
• Restylane Lyft should be avoided if you have a lidocaine allergy, but other formulations may be suitable.

Your Restylane Consultation at DFW Center for Aesthetics and Cosmetic Surgery

When you have a Restylane consultation with DFW Center for Aesthetics and Cosmetic Surgery, you’ll come to our office in Colleyville or in Plano and meet with one of our board-certified and fellowship-trained cosmetic surgeons or Elaine Ver Halen, MPAS, PA-C. They will explain what you can expect during your session, what type of Restylane is right for what you want, and what kind of results you can achieve. If you have any questions about Restylane, this is a good time to ask. Make sure to let your doctor or Elaine know if you have a skin infection or any other skin problems such as:

• Cold sores
• Pimples
• Hives
• A rash

Some skin conditions may affect your Restylane results, so it’s best to make sure your skin is clear before treatments. When you have a Restylane consultation, it’s also important to tell your provider about any medications you’re on. This includes both prescription and over-the-counter medications. It’s important because some drugs, such as aspirin and NSAIDs, may worsen Restylane side effects.

How to Pay for Your Restylane Treatment

We offer several options for paying for Restylane. We accept payment via the healthcare credit cards CareCredit® and Alphaeon Credit®.  Another option is a secured loan from United Medical Credit or Enhance Patient Finance. United Medical Credit offers prime and subprime loans, with multiple plans and payment terms. Other options include:

• Credit card
• Cash or cashier’s check
• In-house financing
• Other loans

Imagine Life After Restylane

There’s no way to stop the clock on aging, but with Restylane, you can turn back time on some of the physical changes that happen as you get older. In under an hour, it can improve the appearance of lines around the nose and reduce even severe facial wrinkles and lines. Restylane could be the perfect way to freshen up your look and restore some youthfulness to your appearance. For a consultation with one of our board-certified and fellowship-trained cosmetic surgeons, call for an appointment today!