What Is Restylane®?
Dermal fillers are true to their name — they fill in wrinkles and areas of decreased volume. This is completely different than neuromodulators such as Botox®, which relax the muscles that cause wrinkles to form on the skin above them.
Restylane® is known as the original dermal filler, approved by the FDA for use in the U.S. in 2006. Since that initial approval, Restylane® has been one of the world’s most popular dermal fillers.
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 binding with nearby water molecules. Because hyaluronic acid occurs naturally in the human body, reactions to Restylane® are very rare.
request an appointmentWho Is A Good Candidate For Restylane® Injections?
The question of whether you’re a candidate for a dermal filler, such as Restylane® or a neuromodulator, such as Botox®, is the kind of wrinkles you want to target. If your wrinkles and lines occur on the upper third of your face, they are likely due to muscle contractions under the skin when you make expressions such as frowning, showing surprise, or squinting. These are known as dynamic wrinkles. Over time, repeated muscle contractions begin to form wrinkles on the skin above them. These are crow’s feet, the 11s between your eyebrows, and forehead lines. Dermal fillers have no effect on dynamic wrinkles.
However, if your wrinkles and creases are on display at all times — things like laugh lines, barcode lines around your lips, parentheses lines, and areas of volume loss such as the cheeks — then Restylane® is the perfect answer.
This type of wrinkle is known as a static wrinkle. Static wrinkles are the result of sun damage, declining collagen production, environmental factors, and personal habits such as smoking. Botox® has no effect on static wrinkles; they are the domain of dermal fillers.
So, whether Restylane® is right for you depends on where you want to erase your wrinkles and lines.
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Kandice is amazing! She did such an amazing job with my injections. She explained everything she was doing and made me feel totally comfortable during the whole process. The results were exactly as she said they would be. I definitely recommend going here!
Restylane® FAQs
How Does Restylane® Work?
Restylane is made from hyaluronic acid, a naturally occurring substance in the human body responsible for hydrating and plumping our skin, as well as providing lubrication for our joints. Hyaluronic acid has the amazing ability of binding with 1000 times its weight in water molecules. So, when we inject Restylane® under a crease or area of volume loss, the hyaluronic acid instantly binds with nearby water molecules and this provides instant volume to the area, pushing up the skin and erasing the wrinkle or crease.
How Long Does Restylane® Last?
Once we inject Restylane®, you can expect the targeted wrinkles, lines, and areas of volume loss to be erased or dramatically decreased in appearance for 9-12 months.
How Much Time Do I Have To Wait Between Restylane® Sessions?
That depends on you and your goals. There are a couple attributes that affect the longevity of Restylane’s results, and these vary between patients and the area of the injections. First, individual metabolism varies, and this affects the duration of results. Second, the area injected impacts the duration of your results. Areas that have a lot of movement tend to break down the hyaluronic acid in Restylane® faster than areas with little movement. That’s why lip injections don’t last as long as injections for cheek volume loss. The lip area features almost constant movement, while the cheeks don’t move all that much.
When you begin to see the wrinkle or crease begin to return to their former appearance (before your Restylane® injections) that’s when you’ll want to schedule your next session at Imago to maintain your results.
Are There Any Side Effects With Restylane®?
As mentioned above, Restylane® is made primarily with hyaluronic acid. Because hyaluronic acid occurs naturally in the body to hydrate and firm the skin, 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.
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.
There isn’t any downtime Restylane®.
Schedule Your Consultation Today!
For more information or to schedule your consultation with Imago Medical Spa, call us today at (385) 388-8600 or click here to contact us online. Our practice serves Salt Lake City, UT and the surrounding areas.