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There are currently several fillers that are FDA approved for cosmetic injections. Among the most common are hyaluronic acid and collagen compounds. Restylane® is one of the hyaluronic acid compounds used frequently in our office.
What is Restylane®?
Restylane® is a safe and natural cosmetic dermal filler that restores volume and fullness to the skin to correct moderate to severe facial wrinkles and folds, such as nasolabial folds, lines around the mouth, and lipstick bleeding lines.
What is Restylane® made of?
Restylane® is made of non-animal-based hyaluronic acid. Hyaluronic acid is a natural substance that already exists in the human body providing volume and fullness to the skin. The hyaluronic acid in Restylane® is biodegradable and fully biocompatible with the human hyaluronic acid.
Is Restylane® safe?
Yes. Restylane® has been used by dermatologists and plastic surgeons since 1996 worldwide. It is fully biocompatible. Since there is a minimal risk of allergic reaction, allergy testing is not required. After treatment, you might have some redness or swelling, sometimes lasting several days. Sunbathing and cold outdoor activities should be avoided until any redness or swelling disappears. You should not use Restylane® if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
Do the injections hurt?
Restylane® is injected directly into the skin in tiny amounts by an ultra fine needle, resulting in minimal discomfort. The procedure is simple and convenient. To optimize your comfort during the procedure, Dr. Desyatnikova will anesthetize the treatment area using a local anesthetic injection or topical solution.
How often should I have Restylane® treatment done?
Treatments are typically scheduled twice a year. Having a touch-up treatment before the product has fully dissipated may enhance the lasting effect.
How much do Restylane® treatments cost?
Restylane® is a customized procedure based on your specific needs, so the cost will vary from patient to patient. In general, the cost of Restylane® is comparable to the cost of similar procedures. Dr. Desyatnikova will advise you as to your best options.
What about other fillers?
Hylaform® and Hylaform Plus® are avian-based hyaluronic acid. Captique® is non-animal based hyaluronic acid. No allergy testing is required for either of these. They are used in essentially the same fashion as Restylane®. Some find that there is less swelling with these products, and they are also slightly cheaper, but usually do not last quite as long as Restylane®.
Human collagen, such as Cosmoplast® or Cosmoderm®, is another alternative. We do not perform bovine collagen injections due to slightly higher incidence of allergic reactions and the need for pre-testing a month prior to the actual procedure.
Injections for all of these fillers are usually done in the office, under local anesthesia. The doctor will perform a local nerve block, and the procedure is essentially pain free. You might experience slight redness or puffiness at the site of the injection for the next day or two. The results are usually evident right away, and the improvement can be quite dramatic.
Can filler injections be combined with other procedures?
In some cases your doctor might recommend a resurfacing procedure, such as a chemical peel or a laser resurfacing, to further address the wrinkles. Other procedures, such as Botox® injections, may also be performed at the same time.
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