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| | About RestylaneIt is the first hyaluronic acid-based dermal filler to be approved for the treatment of facial wrinkles by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Since then (2003), it’s been widely used to correct moderate to severe facial wrinkles, including deep ones like those between the nose and the mouth (the nasolabial folds), and to minimize the appearance of scars. Restylane is also used to enhance lip size. It is the first and only FDA-approved (2011) filler for the purpose of lip enhancement in patients over 21 years of age. Many get the procedure to turn up the corners of the mouth, reversing the downward shaping of the lips that comes with age and that gives the older mouth a sterner appearance. | | How does it work? Hyaluronic acid is a substance that occurs naturally in your body. It gives your skin fullness and elasticity. As you age, your skin loses hyaluronic acid and, as a result, loses volume, causing your skin to sag and form lines and wrinkles. The hyaluronic acid in Restylane is hydrophilic, which is the medical way of saying it attracts water. Once in the skin, it binds to water molecules, thus restoring the skin’s volume and fullness. In doing so, it also lifts and tightens the skin, smoothing it out and making wrinkles and scars less obvious. One study found that Restylane (and probably other hyaluronic acid-based dermal fillers) works on fibroblasts (connective tissue cells) in a way that causes new collagen to form in the skin. It also appears it may halt the age- and sun-related breakdown of existing collagen. Collagen is a protein that plays an essential role in giving skin its shape and structure. What is the treatment like? Depending on how large an area of your skin you’re having treated, Restylane injections can take from a few minutes to an hour. You can have the procedure during your lunch break and return to work or other routine activities immediately afterward. Pain and discomfort is generally minimal and well tolerated. A very fine needle is used for the injections. If you’re concerned, however, you can request a topical anesthetic to numb the skin before the injection. Most physicians also give patients a local anesthesia when using Restylane to enhance and sculpt the lips. The most common post-treatment side effects are redness and swelling, but these are usually mild and go away within a few days. How long do the treatments last?In general, Resylane’s effects are immediately visible and last for about 6 months. Just how long depends on many factors, including your age and skin type. Some people’s bodies absorb the hyaluronic acid faster—and that can be a factor in causing the need for more frequent treatments. The durability of the treatment can also depend on how much muscle movement there is in the facial area being treated. When used to plump up a scar, Restylane and other dermal fillers tend to last longer than when used around, say, the mouth, where there is much more movement. |
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Leading skin researcher Dr. Melanie Grossman explains how Restylane may be used to improve skin contour.
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