Restylane – Making an Informed Decision
Is Restylane Injection something you are considering but want to know if it’s for you? In the article below we’ve tried to collect all information you need before taking an informed decision about Restylane Injections.
What is Restylane?
Hyaluronan, or hyaluronic acid, is found in human body tissues, including the skin. It is essentially a sugar compound that gives our skin volume and fullness. The amount of hyaluronan naturally decreases as we age, and as a result, wrinkles occur as the skin loses volume.
Restylane is a clear gel that is based on the hyaluronan found in our skin, and it is used to restore the skin to its original fullness. It is a dermal filler that is used to reduce or eliminate wrinkles, to augment the lines of the face and rejuvenate the skin, and to augment the lips.
Restylane is manufactured by Q-Med, a biotechnology company based near Stockholm, Sweden. It was approved for use as a cosmetic injection by the Food and Drug Administration in December of 2003.
Where Is Restylane Used?
A Restylane treatment for wrinkles can take place on the upper face, around the eyes and nose, and around the mouth. Facial contouring using Restylane injections generally takes place around the nose, the cheeks, and the chin in order to add definition. Skin rejuvenation occurs not only on the face, but also the neck and décolletage, and the hands. A Restylane procedure will also be used to create a more defined line in the lips, to enhance the shape of the lips, or to eliminate lines created from years of smoking.
Am I a Candidate For Restylane?
If you have forehead wrinkles, nasolabial folds, the lines that run from the edges of your mouth to your nose, or if you want to augment the shape of your lips, then you are a candidate for Restylane.
What Are the Expected Results of a Restylane Procedure?
The results of a Restylane procedure are not permanent. The body naturally breaks down the filler. Most lip injections require another treatment within six months in order to maintain the original results. A treatment to other areas of the face and body should be expected to last anywhere from six to twelve months.
What to Consider When Finding and Consulting a Doctor
When choosing a Restylane doctor or clinic, carefully consider the level of experience, the doctor’s education and credentials, and the amount of training they have received. The doctor, or Restylane clinic, should be able to provide all the Restylane information you request. The doctor you choose should also be able to predict the expected number of Restylane shots, as well as the expected number of treatments that will be required annually. These will help to estimate the total cost of the procedure.
Be prepared to supply a complete medical history, including any current medications. Ask for before and after photos and discuss them with your doctor so you are clear about what to expect from any treatments. Plan to discuss pain relief options before receiving any treatment, and expect to be given information regarding your care following your Restylane procedure.
What to Expect During a Treatment
The Restylane procedure itself only takes fifteen to thirty minutes. The doctor will identify each injection point for the areas that are to be treated, and an antiseptic will be used at each location. If a treatment is being done on certain areas of the skin or on the lips, a local anesthesia will be used, or ice will be applied. The appropriate dosage of Restylane will be injected into the skin, or just under the surface of the skin. A Restylane shot is administered using a very fine needle, and most patients experience a stinging or burning sensation during the injection.
What to Expect After a Treatment – Recovery
Following the procedure, patients may experience side effects including itching, headaches, skin redness or tenderness, bruising or pain at the injection points, nausea, and possibly flu-like symptoms. In rare cases, patients notice muscle weakness. These symptoms normally take two to three days, or in rare cases up to two weeks to subside. In some cases, a follow up treatment is required in order to achieve the best results.
Following a Restylane treatment, a patient should avoid exposure to the sun and to heat, as well as strenuous exercise. Some doctors also advise their patients to limit or eliminate the use of alcohol immediately after a treatment.
How Much Does Restylane Cost?
Restylane costs vary. Per syringe, the filler can run anywhere from $350 to $750, and the treatment cost will depend on the number of injection points. Expect your doctor to estimate your cost during your consultation.
How Do Dermal Fillers Differ?
The wide variety of choices today can make choosing the right dermal filler an overwhelming decision. But one of the first determinations to be made by you and your doctor is whether you want to treat dynamic wrinkles, static wrinkles, or both.
Dynamic wrinkles are wrinkles that have occurred because of frowning, smiling, or other facial expressions. These wrinkles are best treated by a product such as Botox. Static wrinkles will occur naturally as the skin ages, and begins to sag, or lose elasticity. This is the appropriate situation in which to use Restylane, or a similar product.
How Else Does Botox Compare to Restylane?
Botox works because it is injected directly into the muscle, and then it blocks the release of the chemical that causes the muscle to contract. This muscle paralysis will take a few days to take effect, it will reach a peak effect a few weeks later, and then the paralysis will gradually wear off. A Botox treatment can be expected to last as little as three months, or as long as six months.
What Other Fillers are Similar to Restylane?
1. Juvederm is also a filler made of hyaluronic acid. Most Juvederm today is processed so that it contains lidocaine, a mild anesthetic, and so that the gel has a smoother consistency than Restylane. This may account for creating results that can last for a year or longer. Juvederm is the only filler made of hyaluronic acid that has been shown to be effective for use by persons of color.
2. Perlane is also made using hyaluronic acid. Perlane, however, is meant to be injected much deeper into the skin, and it is used to reduce the appearance of scar tissue on the face. Perlane gel contains larger molecules of hyaluronic acid, and would not generally be used to treat finer facial lines.
3. Radiesse, previously known as Radiance, is another dermal filler but it is made of calcium hydroxylapetite. Radiesse is a synthetic substance that is similar to bone. Like Restylane, it is used to decrease or eliminate facial lines, for facial contouring, and to augment the lips. But unlike Restylane, it is believed to promote the growth of new collagen under the skin. Radiesse is more expensive to use per treatment, however some patients find it to be more cost-effective in the long run since the effects of a treatment can last up to two years.
Alternative Treatments
Microdermabrasion and chemical peels are not considered to have the same ability to either eliminate or reduce deeper facial wrinkles. Surgical options would include a forehead lift, a facelift, or an eyelid procedure.
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