Restylane® is a dermal filler. In fact, its approval by the FDA in 2006 for filling wrinkles and returning volume made it the first dermal filler approved in the U.S. Today, Restylane® and Juvederm® are the world’s most popular dermal fillers. Each brand has added additional products to their respective lines. Dr. Bedrossian offers Restylane®, Restylane® Lyft, and Restylane® Silk for his Philadelphia area patients and beyond.
What Is A Dermal Filler?
As their name implies, dermal fillers are injected and they fill in the wrinkles or return volume to an area such as sunken cheeks. This is completely different than Botox®, which relaxes the muscles that cause wrinkles to form on the overlying skin.
Dermal fillers are classified as “natural” or “synthetic.” Restylane is a ‘natural’ filler because it is made primarily from hyaluronic acid, a naturally occurring substance in the human body whose job is to hydrate, plump, and firm the skin. It does this by bonding with nearby water molecules.
Originally, Restylane® was a single filler. Over the years, an entire family of Restylane® fillers has been developed, each targeted to a specific area of the face. At Dr. Bedrossian’s, we offer, train others, and have received extensive training in various Restylane products.
What Is Restylane And How Does It Work?
Restylane is made primarily of hyaluronic acid. When injected beneath a wrinkle or crease the hyaluronic acid binds with nearby water molecules, plumping the skin and erasing the wrinkle or returning volume to a sunken area such as the cheeks.
Restylane Treatment Areas
The Restylane® products we offer work on what are known as “static” wrinkles. These are the wrinkles formed by sun damage, declining collagen production with age, loss of natural fat, personal habits such as smoking, and such. Static wrinkles show themselves at all times. These are nasolabial folds (lines from the nose down to the mouth), marionette lines (running from the corner of the mouth downward), parentheses lines (framing the sides of the mouth), lip lines, and others.
Restylane® fillers also can add volume to areas with volume loss, such as the cheeks, under eye hollows, and even the lips.
What Is The Difference Between Restylane, Restylane Silk, And Restylane Lyft?
Dr. Bedrossian offers three fillers in the Restylane® line. Each filler is intended for a different area of the face. Here are their descriptions, along with their duration.
- Restylane® — This was the flagship product, the first dermal filler. It remains very popular around the world. It targets marionette lines, nasolabial folds, and other wrinkles by adding volume beneath the wrinkle or crease and pushing the surface skin upward. Its results last from 6-9 months.
- Restylane® Silk — Restylane® Silk is FDA approved specifically for the lips. It is used for subtle lip enhancement and for the correction of vertical lip lines. It provides results for around six months.
- Restylane® Lyft — Restylane® Lyft adds volume to the cheeks and corrects smile lines. Results last from one year to 18 months.
Results Of Restylane
As mentioned above, the original Restylane® provides results lasting from 6-9 months. Silk adds volume to the lips for about six months. Lyft adds volume to the cheeks and erases smile lines for from 12-18 months.
Restylane Before And After
How Long Does A Restylane Filler Session Take?
These filler sessions usually only take 15-20 minutes, depending on the areas you are addressing. If topical numbing cream is applied before your injections, this adds about 40 minutes, as the anesthetic needs to take effect.
Are Restylane Injections Painful?
Everyone has a different pain threshold, and we discuss this with you before we inject any filler. We inject Restylane® with a very tiny needle that many patients equate to the feeling of a pinprick. In the lips, however, this can be more painful due to the sensitivity of the lips. We ice the area, apply topical numbing anesthetic, and often give local anesthesia for added comfort.
Restylane Vs. Botox
Restylane® and Botox® are entirely different injectables in every way. As mentioned above, Restylane® is made primarily from hyaluronic acid. When injected beneath a wrinkle, the hyaluronic acid binds with nearby water molecules and plumps the skin, pushing up the depressed area of a wrinkle or area with volume loss.
Restylane® only works on static wrinkles and facial lines that are caused by sun damage, declining collagen production, personal habits, and other factors. Static wrinkles are on display at all times.
Botox® has no effect on static wrinkles. Botox® instead works on the other type of wrinkle known as dynamic wrinkles. Dynamic wrinkles form due to repeated muscle contractions made when we form expressions such as frowning or showing surprise. Over time, these repeated muscle contractions begin to form a wrinkle on the surface skin. These are how crow’s feet, the 11s between the brows, and forehead lines are created. When Botox® is injected into the muscle that causes the wrinkle, the botulinum toxin in Botox® blocks the nerve messages sent from the nerve to the muscle. The muscle doesn’t receive the message to contract, so the muscle stays relaxed. This prevents the wrinkle on the surface skin from forming.
Can Restylane Injections Be Combined With Botox Injections?
Restylane® injections can be combined with Botox® injections if you want to target both the upper third of the face (Botox) and the lower areas (Restylane). The injectables don’t interact or interfere with each other. Plus, they are used for completely different types of facial lines.
Side Effects Of Restylane Fillers
Because Restylane® is made primarily with hyaluronic acid (which occurs naturally in the human body), allergic reactions are almost unheard of. The common side effects with all dermal fillers are swelling, redness, pain, bruising, tenderness, and itching at the injection sites after your session. Some patients have been known to develop headaches for the first day or two, but this is rare. These side effects are typically mild, but may last for up to a week when treating smile and marionette lines. On the lips, they may last 10-14 days.
Occasionally, lumps will form at the injection sites. This is rare, but if it happens they can be quickly resolved by an injection of hyaluronidase. This is an enzyme
that instantly degrades the hyaluronic acid, eliminating the lump.
What’s most important with the use of dermal fillers or Botox® is the experience of the injector. The team at Dr. Bedrossian’s has extensive experience ,training and trains others with Restylane® products, so you can be sure you’ll get the results you’re seeking.
There isn’t any downtime with any Restylane® filler.
Schedule A Consultation
To learn more about Dermal fillers contact us at (610) 789-6565 to schedule an appointment.
