Restylane is one of the most common injectables used to smooth wrinkles and fine lines in the face. Its main ingredient is hyaluronic acid, which occurs naturally in the body and produces collagen, which gives young skin its plumpness and glow.
As we age, our bodies don’t produce as much collagen, which leads to lines and wrinkles. Restylane is injected into certain parts of the face to reduce lines and wrinkles in:
- Lips
- Cheeks
- Nasolabial folds
- Lines and folds around the mouth
- Backs of the hands
There are several Restylane products your doctor may use:
Restylane
Restylane increases fullness and volume to your skin to fill in facial folds and wrinkles, such as those from the nose to the corners of your mouth. It also is helpful for lip augmentation.
Restylane Refyne
This product integrates with the skin to smooth lines that are on the corners of the mouth, including marionette lines and nasolabial folds. Refyne offers more flexibility in these areas so you can make the most natural facial expressions and movements.
Restylane Defyne
This product is made to act like hyaluronic acid to smooth deep lines around the nose and mouth, but it still allows you to make natural facial expressions.
Restylane Lyft
This product is approved to augment the cheeks and to correct age-related deficiencies in the midface. It’s the only filler approved by FDA to increase cheek fullness and restore volume to the midface.
Restylane Procedure
Restylane injections are done in the healthcare provider’s office and usually take less than an hour.
Your treatment starts with a consultation where you talk about what you want to accomplish with the injections. Even if you are sure you want Restylane for a specific condition, listen to what the doctor says about other treatments to consider.
The doctor will numb the areas that will be injected with a topical anesthetic. Next, they’ll inject the filler into the desired areas. The needle is very small and a small amount of filler is injected. There may be several injections in the same area to distribute it more evenly.
Dr. Smita R. Ramanadham is a double board-certified plastic surgeon specializing in various facial procedures, including Restylane. She will perform your Restylane injections with the skill and artistic sense necessary for the best, natural-looking result. Dr. Smita also performs other facial and body cosmetic procedures in the New Jersey, New York City, and Tri-state areas.
Restylane Benefits
Some of the many benefits of Restylane include:
Versatility
Restylane is effective to add volume to many parts of the face, and it also works on sagging earlobes and the backs of the hands and feet.
Many doctors prefer Restylane to increase volume under the eyes and in the nasolabial folds and smile lines. It also works well to increase fullness in the lips.
It Lasts
You will see Restylane results fast and they can last up to a year. How long it lasts depends on where it is injected and how fast your body metabolizes it. This makes it one of the most affordable dermal fillers because it lasts longer.
It’s Safe
Restylane is approved by FDA and there’s a low risk of complications. It is made of hyaluronic acid, which is natural in the human body. The filler has been around since 1996 and millions of people have used Restylane with safe and effective results
Natural Looking
Restylane won’t make the face look frozen or unnatural. Some say it’s the most natural-looking of all dermal fillers.
No Allergies
No animal tissue is used to make Restylane, so you won’t have any allergies.
Ideal Candidates For Restylane
Restylane is a good choice for anyone who wants to make their face look younger without surgery. Restylane can add volume to the face, smooth wrinkles, and make it smoother.
People who are good candidates are in good health and don’t smoke or drink alcohol to excess. Patients with the following issues also may be ideal candidates:
- Eye bags: Original Restylane is a good choice to target circles and bags under the eyes, which are one of the first places we see aging.
- Hollow cheeks: The face also loses volume as the years pass, especially in the cheeks. Many people complain that their cheeks look to thin as they age. But Restylane Lyft can increase cheek volume to make the face look fuller.
- Smile lines: The area around the mouth and nose moves a lot throughout your day. As the skin loses volume, the creases that occur here become permanent. But Restylane has different products that can reduce your laugh lines.
- Lips: If you have thin lips because of genetics or aging, Restylane can add volume, which plumps the lips and gets rid of lines around the mouth.
Preparation For Restylane
Restylane injections are non-invasive, so little preparation is needed before your appointment. You shouldn’t smoke or take medications that thin the blood for a few weeks before and after your injections.
Restylane Risks And Complications
Dermal fillers are safe and effective and most people don’t have significant side effects or complications. However, there is always a risk of side effects from any dermal filler injection, including:
- Redness
- Bruising
- Pain and soreness
- Tenderness
- Infection
- Scabbing
- Hyperpigmentation
- Itching
Also, where the filler is injected can influence the side effects you have. For example, bruising and tenderness usually last only seven days in the nasolabial folds but up to 14 days in the lips.
You also may have more dramatic side effects the older you are. But swelling is more common in those under 36, while bruising is more common in people over 35.
Many patients have more Restylane side effects with their first treatment. Fewer patients have side effects on their subsequent Restylane injections.
Restylane Recovery
Restylane recovery is usually quick because it’s a non-invasive procedure. Most patients have mild discomfort, bruising, and swelling. Reduce these issues by not smoking, drinking alcohol, and avoiding strenuous exercise for two or three days.
Also, apply ice to the treated areas to reduce swelling and bruising. Some doctors recommend taking oral arnica three days before and after the injections to reduce bruising.
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Complementary Procedures
If you decide to have Restylane injections, you may consider other facial procedures simultaneously to accentuate the transformation to the new you. Doing so allows you to have all of your recoveries at once, so you save time and money.
Some patients have dermal fillers and Botox injections as well as a major face procedure for maximum results.
Popular procedures that patients sometimes choose with Restylane injections are:
Restylane FAQ
If you are interested in Restylane, below are the most common questions:
Are Restylane Injections Painful?
Some patients say there is mild discomfort when the product is injected. But many Restylane products contain lidocaine to reduce pain. The doctor also will use small needles to inject Restylane to minimize pain.
How Long Will Restylane Last?
Restylane injections are not permanent, and most patients need to have touch-ups within a year.
However, how long they last depends on many factors, including your age, anatomy, and metabolism. Also, Restylane will dissipate faster in the lips than other parts of the face.
Should I Get A Facelift Or Restylane?
Restylane will temporarily add volume to the face and fill in some lines and wrinkles. But you need a surgical procedure such as a facelift to make a dramatic difference in terms of sagging skin, lines, and wrinkles. And a facelift lasts years.
Some patients try dermal fillers and Botox first to see how they like the results. Many stick with these non-invasive procedure forever. But if you decide you want more dramatic results, your provider can talk to you about cosmetic surgery.
What Are The Most Common Restylane Side Effects?
Serious side effects are rare, but you may have minor swelling, bruising, and discomfort for a day or two. You can reduce the chances of these side effects by drinking plenty of water and icing the treated areas.
How Long Until I See Restylane Results?
One of the benefits of dermal fillers is you see results immediately. However, give it a couple of weeks for the product to settle into place and the swelling to fade. At that time, you will see the final results.
What Are Options To Restylane?
Other dermal fillers also can help restore lost volume and fill in lines and wrinkles. Radiesse and Bellafil can be injected like Restylane. However, these fillers can’t be dissolved as Restylane can if you don’t like the results.
Any filler that is made from hyaluronic acid can be dissolved with a special enzyme if you don’t like the results.
How Safe Is This Product?
Restylane is approved by FDA for smoothing the skin. Also, this product is biodegradable and doesn’t contain animal-derirved products. So, you won’t have any allergic reactions.
Few people have serious side effects or complications from any dermal filler, including Restylane. This is one of the reasons it’s one of the most popular cosmetic treatments.
What Are Restylane Restrictions?
This product shouldn’t be used by anyone who is breastfeeding or pregnant. Also, you should be at least 22 to have Restylane injections, and no one should use this product who takes medications to thin the blood.
What Should I Do After Restylane Injections?
Use ice or cold compresses to reduce swelling and don’t expose the treated area to the sun or heat for several days.
Don’t take aspirin or ibuprofen, which thin the blood and increase bleeding.
You also shouldn’t engage in vigorous exercise for at least a few days after Restylane injections. Exercise increases blood circulation, which can dissipate the Restylane before it binds with the facial tissues.
How Long Until Restylane Settles?
It will take one to three days for it to settle into the tissues. Make sure you don’t expose the treated area to the sun, heat, or hot water during this time.
Can I Massage My Face After The Injections?
You should not press the face or have a massage for a bout two days. Massage and excessive touching can increase bruising.
Can Restylane Cause Damage?
Dermal fillers are effective to temporarily treat lost volume or lines and wrinkles in the face. However, some studies suggest that too many injections of dermal fillers can damage the face or even damage the lymphatic system.
Your doctor will know how many times you have had Restylane injections so you will know if you should consider another treatment soon.
Can My Body Find Restylane Toxic?
No. Restylane is made from hyaluronic acid, which is a natural substance that binds with water. Your body won’t reject Restylane or find it toxic.
What Is The Difference Between Botox And Restylane?
Botox isn’t a dermal filler. It freezes facial muscles to reduce lines and wrinkles. Botox is most often used to reduce fine lines and wrinkles temporarily around the eyes, between the eyes, and around the mouth.
Botox lasts between three and four months, while Restylane can last up to a year. Botox isn’t made to increase facial volume. It simply freezes some of the small facial muscles that cause wrinkles in some parts of the face as we age.
Will Restylane Make Me Age Faster?
There isn’t any evidence that dermal fillers speed up the aging process. One study found that Restylane can stimulate your body to produce collagen, which makes the skin look plumper and younger.
But dermal fillers can be overdone and make you look unnatural, so choose a skilled medical profesisonal to do your Restylane injections.
Is Restylane Worth It?
Restylane is an effective and popular hyaloronic acid filler that can increase the volume of your face and fill in lines and wrinkles. Talk to your doctor today to determine if Restylane can help achieve your aesthetic goals.
References
Restyland Overview. (n.d.). Accessed at
https://www.facialesthetics.org/patient-info/facial-esthetics/wrinkle-treatment/restylane
About Restylane. (n.d.). Accessed at
https://www.restylaneusa.com/restylane
Restylane Overview. (n.d.). Accessed at
https://www.realself.com/nonsurgical/restylane
Restylane And Botox Fillers: What’s The Difference? (2018). Accessed at
