Restylane® has a highly favorable safety profile. It is fully biocompatible and there is minimal risk of allergic reactions. No allergy testing is required before use. We may use this filler in many applications including smoothing wrinkles and folds throughout the face, lip augmentation, non surgical blepharoplasty, non-surgical nose reshaping, non-surgical jowl lift, and even a non-surgical face lift. On your initial private consultation with Dr. Casey, you will be well informed about all the available options and together will decide on the most ideal treatment and dermal filler option.
What is Restylane®?
Restylane® is a clear, transparent and viscous gel that is eased into the skin in order to add volume to lips and lift up wrinkles and folds. Restylane® consists of hyaluronic acid, which is a natural substance already present in the body. Once in the skin, Restylane® works by creating volume. The hyaluronic acid in Restylane® is not produced from animals. This means that there is no risk of disease being transmitted or allergic reactions being elicited if you are sensitive to common foods, such as beef, chicken and eggs.
What is Hyaluronic Acid ?
Hyaluronic acid is a natural substance that is found throughout your body. It gives volume to the skin, lubricates the joints and gives the eyes their shape. The hyaluronic acid in Restylane® is stabilized for long duration and is not of animal or human origin.
Do I Need a Skin Test?
No, Restylane® is non animal based, so the chances of having an allergic reaction are extremely small. Of course if you would like a skin test, we are happy to perform one.
How Long Will a Treatment Session Take?
Treatment with Restylane® is a very quick and easy process. As no pre-test is needed, the treatment can be carried out immediately. A treatment generally takes 20-30 minutes. The time differs somewhat, depending on the area and 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 structures. The most common areas are the nasolabial folds (from the root of the nose to the angle of the mouth) and the lips, although other sites can also be treated.
Does Restylane® Injections Hurt?
Most people find the injections relatively painless. We are committed to providing the most comfortable and pain free experience for our patients. To that end, we always apply a topical anesthetic cream to the area being treated prior to your procedure. We also use ice before and after the injection procedure. When enhancing the lips, a local anesthetic injection is always given to numb the lips completely.
How Soon Will I See Results?
The results can be seen immediately. There is a brief period of redness or swelling (usually a few hours to a couple of days), after which the final result is evident.
What Should I Expect After the Treatment?
Immediately after the treatment, you can expect slight redness, swelling, tenderness or an itching sensation in the treated area. This is a normal result of the injection. The discomfort is temporary and generally disappears in a few days. After a lip treatment, the lips may become swollen, slightly bumpy or look a bit uneven. This can persist for a few days (up to a week). If the discomfort continues, please contact us. In almost all cases, these issues resolve very quickly and the result is a beautiful and natural looking enhancement.
What Precautions Should I Take After My Treatment With Restylane®?
Immediately after treatment we suggest using Tylenol if there is any soreness once the numbing has worn off. The next day, we recommend using Ibuprofen such as Motrin or Advil if there is any residual swelling or soreness.
During the first 48 hours after your treatment, do not massage or rub the treated area. If you have had a lip enhancement, avoid puckering your lips for the first two days after the treatment and avoid hot liquids for the rest of the day. Until the initial swelling and redness have resolved, do not expose the treated area to intense heat or extreme cold.
Can Restylane® be Removed?
Yes, if the results of the treatment are unsatisfactory, Restylane® can always be dissolved with the injection of a safe, naturally occurring enzyme. It is extremely rare that we have to reverse our Restylane® injections, but it does give our patients peace of mind to know that reversal is possible and easy.
After treatment with Restylane® some 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.
Can Restylane® be Used in Conjunction With Laser Treatments?
We frequently perform Restylane® injections and laser treatments on the same day. If possible, we prefer to do any injection after, not before, these procedures. Having had Restylane® (or Juvederm® or Radiesse® for that matter) should not stop you from having laser treatments. There are studies that show fillers are not affected by these devices. In few instances based on specific sites and number of injections of dermal filler, it may be recommended to wait about a week to allow time for the dermal filler to integrate into the skin then perform laser and photofacial treatments. They will not degrade or dissolve the filler.
Can Patients with Allergies be More Sensitive to Restylane®?
So far, no connection between patients with allergies and patients that report a reaction to Restylane® has been established.
Restylane® lasts for about 6 months in most areas. We have seen that under the eyes it tends to last about 8 months to one year. The length of time the effect of a Restylane® treatment lasts is very individual and depends on many factors, such as mobility of the area injected (the more hypermobile the faster resorption), the structure of your skin, lifestyle, age, the degree of perfection demanded and the injection technique of the practitioner. Experience indicates that touch-up and follow-up treatments will add to the duration.
