What it is: Restylane is an injectable hyaluronic acid cosmetic filler that enhances soft tissue volume to smooth wrinkles or add fullness.
Search terms: Resty, Restylane, Dermal filler, Cosmetic Injectable, Restylane Injection
Types of Cosmetic Fillers
Cosmetic or dermal fillers are generally classified in two main categories:
Temporary dermal fillers include two categories: collagen and hyaluronic acid fillers. Collagen is a naturally occurring connective tissue component that provides strength and structure to the skin. Hyaluronic acid is a naturally occurring substance between the skin cells that binds moisture and provides fullness. Both collagen and hyaluronic acid injectable dermal fillers are created in a lab to mimic these natural substances.
Semi-permanent and permanent dermal fillers are those used to correct deeper facial creases and in larger volume restoration. These fillers generally include microsphere particles suspended into a liquid or gel formulation or compounds that do not readily absorb, injected deep within the soft tissue for more long-lasting and large volume correction.
Restylane is a temporary hyaluronic acid-based cosmetic filler lasting 6 months or more.
Are Restylane Injections Safe?
Restylane was approved in December, 2003 by the US FDA for the treatme
nt of mild to moderate facial creases.
When prescribed by a properly qualified and trained doctor and injected in
an appropriate medical setting, U.S. FDA-approved dermal fillers are extremely safe.
Who Should Consider Restylane Injection?
The following conditions can be treated with cosmetic fillers such as Restylane:
- fine lines, wrinkles
- mild to moderate facial folds
Off-label conditions Restylane can treat:
- smoothing facial creases of the forehead and brow
- plumping the eyebrows or temporal region
- smoothing under eye hollows
- enhancing the lips and defining a cupid’s bow
- enchancing volume and defining contours of the cheeks, chin and jawline
- softening the appearance of scars and other depressed defects
- softening the appearance of bony hands
Doctor Consultation: what to ask about Restylane injections
The first step in considering Restylane is to meet with your doctor or properly qualified and trained clinician.
- See the Restylane consultation checklist
- See Who Can Perform Cosmetic Injectable Treatments
- Read Restylane patient experiences. See Restylane reviews.
What happens during a Restylane injection?
- The area to be injected will be cleansed, commonly with alcohol swabs. A topical anesthetic cream, icing to the injection sites or a local anesthetic via injection (such as a dental block) may be used for your comfort.
- Once your treatment region in numbed, your doctor will make injections in several locations, placing the dermal filler where correction or volume enhancement is desired.
- You doctor may massage or manipulate the area where the filler has been placed. The treated area may be cleansed again.
- You may be given ice or cold packs to place on the treated area to minimize swelling and bruising.
- The entire treatment process may take 20 to 30 minutes or more.
Restylane Injection Results: what to expect
Your enhancement will be visible immediately after your injections. However, due to swelling, you may look a little fuller than you might expect. This will improve rapidly over the next few days.
- You may experience mild swelling or bruising from any type of injection. Ice or cold packs can help to minimize swelling or discomfort.
- You can generally apply makeup over the treated area immediately.
- Hyaluronic acid fillers may result in 3 to 7 days of swelling, redness and post-injection bruising.
The improvement from Restylane begins to diminish within 6 to 12 months after treatment.
If you do not repeat treatment once your results have begun to diminish, or as directed by your doctor, your appearance will return to its pre-treatment state.
Restylane Side Effects
Cosmetic injection risks include:
- hematoma or blood pooling beneath the skin
- infection and necrosis or skin loss is possible (although rare)
- an unsatisfactory outcome
Restylane may be visible or felt if injected superficially. In very rare cases may develop nodules (small bumps beneath the skin).
The greatest risk occurs when dermal fillers are injected by someone who is not properly qualified to perform injections. Semi-permanent and permanent fillers may carry a risk of clumping (the particles form a granuloma or lump that can be felt or seen beneath the skin). Particles may also migrate or displace from the injection site. Injection of an anti-inflammatory may help to improve minor clumps or swelling. More significant conditions of clumping or granuloma may require surgery.
Restylane Cost
Restylane injections can vary widely in cost as reflected in the Restylane cost data posted on RealSelf.com. The cost of Restylane may vary based on your provider's experience, the number of injection sites, as well as geographic office location.
Restylane Terminology to know
- Hyaluronic Acid: Also called Hyaluronan or Hyalronate, a chief component of cellular matter, particularly connective tissue in the human body. Synthetic hyaluronic acid is the chief component of the U.S. FDA approved dermal fillers Elevess, Hylaform, Juvederm Ultra and Juvederm Ultra Plus, Restylane and Perlane, and of Restylane Touch and Restylane SubQ (not U.S. FDA approved).
- Hyaluronidase: A family of enzymes that degrades hyaluronic acid. Used to diminish the results of hyaluronic acid injections in a shorter period of time than the natural absorption process of hyaluronic acid dermal fillers. FDA approved injectable hyaluronidase includes the brand names Vitrase, Amphadase and Hylenex.
- Injector: Commonly used term to identify and individual who provides cosmetic
- Granuloma: A small bump that can be seen or felt beneath the skin that can result from particle-based dermal fillers.
- Numbing cream: A form of anesthetic by topical cream to numb tissue prior to injections or laser procedures.
- Nurse Injector: A common term for a registered nurse who provides cosmetic injectables treatments. Some states restrict or do not allow the practice of nurse injectors.
- Off-label: The practice of prescribing drugs or medical treatment for a purpose similar too, but specifically not defined by a drug's U.S. FDA approved label.
- Topical anesthetic: A local anesthetic agent applied to numb the surface of an tissue, such as skin or gums.
Source: American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery and RealSelf.com