Dermal fillers are a well-known cosmetic treatment in the United States. More and more people are receiving this treatment every year due to its minimally invasive, safe, and effective nature. One of the best dermal filler brands is Restylane, and this post will focus on everything you need to know about this dermal filler brand.
We will go through its uses, benefits, side effects, procedure performance, and more. Let’s begin.
What is Restylane?
Restylane is a dermal filler brand that uses hyaluronic acid (HA) to make the skin appear plumper and more youthful-looking. Hyaluronic acid is the most used dermal filler active ingredient because of its proven safety and efficacy. It is a naturally-occurring substance in the human body that attracts and retains moisture within the cells. Hyaluronic acid attracts and maintains tissue moisture when injected beneath the skin. The spaces between the skin cells around the acid fill with water, thus making the skin plumper. As long as the concentrated amount of hyaluronic acid exists within a particular skin area, that skin will remain ample.
Our hyaluronic acid levels slowly diminish as we age, resulting in saggy, loose skin and wrinkling. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the use of Restylane as an injectable gel or cosmetic filler to smooth out wrinkles and give the skin more volume and elasticity.
Restylane: Uses and Benefits
Restylane is a popular option for loose, sagging, and wrinkled skin around the cheeks and nasolabial folds (the area from the sides of the nose to the corners of the mouth). It is also excellent for enhancing or plumping up the lips for those twenty-one years old and above.
The benefits of Restylane are:
● Plumps up lines, wrinkles, and folds to make them less noticeable
● Lip enhancement to make them look fuller and more defined
● Younger, smoother, and more ample-looking skin
Even though Restylane uses hyaluronic acid, which is naturally occurring in the human body, injecting it into the skin can have side effects.
Restylane: Side Effects
The hyaluronic acid in Restylane is synthetic, which means that it is created in a lab. But even so, its side effects are only generally minimal and should be expected as almost all cosmetic treatments have side effects.
Here is the list of potential side effects associated with Restylane:
● Swelling
● Slight pain
● Redness
● Bruising
● Tenderness
● Itchiness
You may experience those side effects around the treated area for a few days. They will naturally dissipate on their own within a week. If the side effects persist for more than a week, contact your provider as soon as possible.
The more severe risks associated with Restylane are infection, allergic reaction, or bleeding. But these side effects are the results of an inexperienced injector doing the treatment. A highly professional and trained medical provider will ensure the treatment is performed safely for you. They will help prevent infections by thoroughly sanitizing the devices and the treatment area and ensuring you don’t have medical conditions that might cause bleeding or an allergic reaction.
How the Procedure is Performed
Now let’s discuss how the Restylane procedure goes.
A Restylane Lyft procedure involves injecting filler that has three components: hyaluronic acid, lidocaine, and water. The water expedites the plumping effect of the hyaluronic acid – as was discussed above- and the hyaluronic acid attracts and retains moisture. Lidocaine is the numbing agent that will minimize any pain from the procedure; it’s also efficient as it eliminates the necessity to wait for a separate pain reliever to take effect.
Before any injecting occurs, the medical provider should sanitize your skin and use a sterile fine-needle syringe to minimize the risk of infection. Then, the medical provider injects all the filler to make a successful Restylane treatment. Depending on the treatment site and the severity of the skin laxity, you may need several Restylane injections.
Most Restylane procedures take about 20 to 30 minutes to perform. But if your case requires several injections, the treatment may take longer.
Before getting the procedure, you should consult with a medical provider. You should discuss potential allergic reactions and how to make the treatment as safe and effective as possible.
What to Expect After a Restylane Procedure
You will notice the results of Restylane immediately after the procedure because water is one of the substances the provider injects along with the hyaluronic acid. However, the full effects of the treatment may not be fully visible until a few days post-treatment.
The results of Restylane generally last from eight to ten months. But the longevity of the effects depends on individual patients. Your skin, genes, general health, and the treatment itself play parts in how long the results last. Your injector may ask if you want to schedule follow-up treatments within the time frame to maintain the optimum results of the initial procedure.
Restylane is a minimally invasive treatment. You can return to your daily routine immediately after the treatment. However, strenuous activities like exercise and excessive exposure to the sun for 48 hours after the treatment is strongly discouraged.
Preparation and Aftercare
We’ve already discussed the effects and benefits of Restylane, but the best results only happen if you make the proper preparations for the treatment. Also, the appropriate aftercare helps.
Preparation
Little preparation is necessary after the medical provider has deemed you a worthy candidate for the treatment. Avoid smoking, consuming alcohol, medications like non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) or blood thinners, and certain herbs and supplements as these things can increase the risk of bleeding. Consult your provider about the medication and supplements you take to make an informed decision.
Aftercare
In the week after the procedure, avoid taking anything that might cause bleeding (listed above), as well as excessive sun exposure, saunas, tanning beds, and extreme cold. You may wear makeup or a concealer to hide bruising.
Talk to Dr. Dalila Birem
Dr. Dalila Birem is the owner of Birem, MD Beauty & Wellness in Virginia. Restylane is just one of the many cosmetic treatments that Dr. Birem provides. Get in touch with Dr. Dalila Birem through the Contact Us page, phone at 703-712-7870, or visit us at 1355 Beverly Road, Suite 325, McLean, VA 22101.