Restylane® injections can virtually erase folds and smooth wrinkles in various areas of the face.  Lip augmentation can restore your lips to their youthful appearance or give you the full lips you've always wanted.

If you have been wondering how to get rid of your wrinkles but aren't ready for surgery, Restylane® may be the answer.  Now a natural product can help you meet your goals without fear of an allergic reaction.  The synthetic, biodegradable hyaluronic acid that forms Restylane® has been used in Europe for years.  Today it is the number one used filler in the world!  Restylane® is FDA approved in the U.S.

Facial wrinkles and creases begin to appear as the underlying collagen and elastin fibers begin to break down and wear out.  While this breakdown is part of the natural aging process, it can also result from excessive squinting, frowning and smiling.  Until recently, the most frequently used material for filling lower facial wrinkles and frown lines was injectable collagen.  However, collagen injections aren't for everyone.  A very small percentage of patients are allergic to bovine collagen and most people are disappointed in how quickly the collagen disappears.

What is Restylane®?
If one were to analyze the ingredients of the skin, you would see that hyaluronic acid composes 90% of the skin's volume.  This is the material that holds the skin's collagen and elastin molecules in place, creating a framework or scaffold.  Hyaluronic acid is much more hydrophilic than collagen.  This allows it to attract water molecules to the injected sites resulting in a more natural longer lasting augmentation that resists lumpiness.

Where does it come from?
Restylane® is not extracted from animals or made from materials that do not belong in the dermis.  It is made using recombinant DNA, the same way that scientists make human insulin for diabetics.  This process is so exact that your body cannot tell the difference between this injectable hyaluronic acid and the hyaluronic acid that your own body produces.  In contrast to other biodegradable implants,  this means very little to no risk of allergic reaction.  Therefore, Restylane® is perfectly safe to use without the need for pretreatment skin testing.

How does Restylane® work?
Restylane® contains cross-linked hyaluronic acid in the form of a crystal-clear gel.  Hyaluronic acid is a material that naturally belongs in the skin, but decreases with age and wrinkling.  It is injected into the skin to lift the lip, wrinkle or fold.  Once in your skin, it attracts the body's water and creates volume, resulting in a healthy and vital appearance.  When injected into the lip they can restore a more natural, youthful look or depending on your needs, give you a more sensuous, "pouty" look.

What areas respond the best to treatment?
Fine lines on the upper and lower lip smooth and fill nicely with Restylane®.  Deeper wrinkles and folds in the cheek areas (nasolabial folds) and drool lines (at the corners of the mouth) respond well. Depending on your age and the size of the augmentation, these enhancements can last up to six months or more.  Lip enhancements usually last between 3 to 4 months.  Results will vary from person to person.

How will I look after my treatment?
Following your injections, normal activities can be resumed immediately.  Discomfort is minimal.  The treatment site may have some swelling, which may last a few hours to a couple of days depending on the area(s) treated.  There may be some slight bruising which can be covered with make-up.  Because of the possibililty of swelling and/or bruising, we recommend that your social calendar is clear for 2 to 4 days.

How long will it last?
Depending on the area(s) treated, initial correction usually lasts from six to eight months.  People usually get used to their appearance during this time and often want more enhancement even though the initial augmentation has not yet worn off.  The nice thing about Restylane® is that it can be added at any time.  By experience, these products last almost 3 times as long as collagen.

Is it safe?
Yes!  Hyaluronic acid occurs naturally in the body and therefore it also dissolves naturally with time. The synthetic, biodegradable hyaluronic acid known as Restylane® has been used in Europe and Canada for many years, and there has never been a confirmed reported allergic reaction.  Restylane® has been the number one filler in the world for the last 5 years.  It has a proven track record of longevity and safety that is unmatched by any of the new fillers that are on the market today.

What are the treatments like?
The treatment is performed by injecting Restylane® under your skin.  No pretreatment skin testing is needed. Pain relief is usually not needed afterwards.  Lip enhancement is preceded by an anesthetic block for upper and lower lips (similar to what you have prior to dental work).  The treatment will take about an hour.  All of this time is not for the injection itself, but allows time for the physician to consult with you, ensure proper anesthesia, perform the treatment, and apply ice to any swelling.  Be sure to eat prior to your appointment.

How much will I need?
Your age (and which areas you are concerned with) will influence the quantity that will be needed.  We naturally lose skin thickness as we age; typically 1% of the skin's volume is lost per year.  As a rule of thumb, if you are in your 30's, you have lost about 1/3 of your skin thickness and will usually need one syringe to achieve a proper correction.  If you are closer to 50, then 2 syringes are often needed.  On average, lip augmentation usually requires one syringe, while nasolabial folds can often take 1-2 syringes for full correction.  There is no reason why you must do both syringes at the same time.  In fact, we have noticed better results in some patients if they have the second treatment the following month.  This way you can achieve a slower, more natural augmentation that will not interfere with your social schedule.  For an interactive analysis on how much Restylane® that you may need, click here.

The great thing about Restylane® is that you can replenish your natural beauty whenever you feel the need.  Unlike permanent implants, Restylane® always leaves you a choice when the effect of the treatment has worn off.  You can also avoid any of the permanent side effects that can occur when using other less natural implants.

For more information regarding Restylane®, click here.