Cosmetic Surgery - Restylane

Restylane is a long lasting, crystal-clear gel made of stabilized hyaluronic acid used for augmenting lips and filling in facial wrinkles and creases. Hyaluronic acid is a natural substance in our skin, subcutaneous tissue, and connective tissue. When injected under the skin Restylane attracts and holds water adding volume to the area injected until it is normally degraded by the body in approximately four to six months. The increase in volume that results from implanting Restylane under the skin improves overlying facial creases and wrinkles, and makes lips larger.

What is Restylane used for?

Restylane is implanted to improve facial wrinkles and creases such as the nasolabial fold (check fold), frown lines, and wrinkles on the cheeks and face. It is particularly useful to enhance and augment the lips and fill in vertical wrinkles above the upper lip and in the lower lip. Acne scars can be improved by Restylane.

How is Restylane implanted?

Restylane comes ready to use in syringes with very fine needles. It is injected within the skin, and underneath the skin in the area to be improved. As Restylane is a natural substance in the body, no prior testing is required, as Restylane causes no allergic reaction. Topical anesthetic cream can be used to numb the area to be injected.

Topical anesthesia reduces the pain from the injections to a minimum. Local anesthesia can be used for the lips and other sensitive areas prior to injection. We make every effort to ensure that Restylane injections are as comfortable and pleasant as possible for our patients. The implantation of Restylane takes between 15 to30 minutes

When will I see improvement from Restylane and how long will it last?

You will see improvement from Restylane immediately after it is injected. On average, this improvement will last for four to six months. After the first two or three injections of Restylane, most patients find they can go increasingly longer intervals.

Is there any downtime following Restylane implantation?

There is no down time after injections of Restylane. Mild redness and swelling will subside within an hour or so.

You can return to your normal activities without restriction following the Restylane implantation procedure as soon as you wish. The area injected, particularly the lips, may be swollen and numb similar to dental procedure. The numbness will resolve in one or two hours. Mild swelling may last up to several days.

Is Restylane safe? Are there any side effects?

Restylane is FDA approved for the indications mentioned above. While new to the United States, it has been used for many years in Europe and Canada. It is an exceedingly safe product with few side effects. Occasional bruising, swelling, lumpiness, and/or tenderness at the implantation site can happen but all disappear within a few days.