Every day men and women see wrinkles, folds, and thin areas of their skin in the mirror that they would like to change. Yet, they aren’t ready or willing to commit to a surgical option. Thankfully for many, Dr. Roland’s office in New York City, NY, provides an alternative solution in the form of Restylane injections. This product is FDA-approved for use as a temporary, but long-lasting dermal filler. Just a few minutes spent in the office can give you smoother, plumper skin like you may not have seen in years.
About Restylane
As a non-invasive dermal filler, Restylane is used to plump up skin volume and smooth out wrinkles. This clear gel injectable is used by Dr. Roland in shaping the facial contours and sculpting the lips. It is a unique product primarily composed of hyaluronic acid, which is found throughout the human body. The average person should have no risk of an allergic reaction to this filler either. Restylane binds with water in the skin to remain place for over half a year or more.
There are multiple Restylane products that Dr. Roland may be able to help you select from to achieve the desired results. These include:
Restylane
Original Restylane is FDA-approved for correcting moderate to severe facial wrinkles and folds, such as the nasal labial folds. It does so by adding volume.
Restylane-L
This is the original Restylane with lidocaine added to help reduce injection pain. It is FDA-approved for smoothing out moderate to severe facial wrinkles and folds.
Restylane Lyft With Lidocaine
Lyft is FDA-approved to use in increasing fullness of the cheeks and correcting signs of aging in the midface contours. It also treats moderate to severe facial wrinkles and folds.
Restylane Silk
Silk is an injectable filler FDA-approved specifically for the lips. It is ideal for lip augmentation and smoothing wrinkles around the mouth in patients 21 and over.
Restore Your Youthful Appearance
Many people lament the loss of their plump skin and lips as they head into the prime of their life. The occasional session with Dr. Roland can restore your face to how it looked when you were young, and may help prevent the worsening of existing lines with regular use. We can treat many areas of the face with this semi-permanent dermal filler. However, the areas that patients most frequently want improved are:
Nasolabial Folds
These are the folds of skin running from the corners of the nose to the corners of the mouth, also called your ‘laugh lines’.
Glabellar Lines
These are the lines that develop between the eyebrows when you frown or squint your eyes to see at a distance.
Tear Troughs
These semi-circle hollows that develop underneath the eyes result from the aging process.
Easy Outpatient Sessions
Most Restylane treatments can be applied in the doctor’s office. Each treatment session can last between fifteen to thirty minutes. If you are getting Restylane without lidocaine, you may have a numbing agent, that is either topical or local injection applied first. This helps take some of the sting out of Restylane injections. However, Dr. Roland is a skilled plastic surgeon and prefers a very fine needle to inject small amounts of the dermal filler. You’ll only feel minor discomfort in exchange for near instantaneous results.
Pre-Treatment Guidelines
Before you come to the doctor’s office for a Restylane treatment, it is important to discontinue use of aspirin or other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications. Also, stop using St. John’s Wort, or taking high doses of Vitamin E supplements. These supplements and medications may interfere with your circulation and increase the risk of bleeding and bruising at the injection sites.
Short Recovery Period
You can enjoy great results with very little downtime with Restylane. Most patients can come in for a treatment and head back out to work or finish their normal routine. Any minor swelling or redness that occurs around the injection sites will quickly fade away. This dermal filler usually lasts about six months, although your results may vary.
Restylane Frequently Asked Questions
To help you be better prepared for a treatment session, we’ve put together this list of frequently asked questions. Learn more about what ingredients are in this filler and what results you’ll get from using it.
What Are the Ingredients In Restylane?
This is a dermal filler used in cosmetic procedures. It is a clear injectable that is composed of a naturally occurring substance in the human body called hyaluronic acid. This product plumps the skin and restores lost volume.
What Is Hyaluronic Acid?
Hyaluronic acid is made up of long chains of carbohydrate molecules found throughout the connective tissues, neural tissues, and skin. It is used primarily in the body as a lubricant, in tissue repair, and hydration, among other functions. Hyaluronic acid is an ingredient commonly found in skin care products.
What Kind of Results Can I Expect?
When you choose Restylane, you can expect modest restoration of volume to your facial skin. This includes smoothing facial wrinkles, shaping contours, and plumping the lips. Some areas that are usually treated with Restylane products include the nasolabial folds, glabellar lines, and tear troughs.
Who Makes a Good Candidate?
Dr. Roland feels that good candidates for Restylane are those looking for a non-invasive, non-surgical option to reduce signs of aging and enhance the face. These patients have modest expectations for the results and realize that these treatments are temporary. They should also be willing to undergo repeat, regular treatment to maintain their results.
How is Restylane Applied?
Restylane is shipped from the manufacturer in pre-filled and sealed syringes that Dr. Roland affixes a thin gauge needle too. Before the procedure starts, you may receive a topical numbing gel or a local anesthetic to prevent pain. After the area has numbed, Dr. Roland places several small injections under the skin. Treatment with Restylane takes between fifteen to thirty minutes to complete.
What Kind Of Recovery Can I Expect?
You shouldn’t have much swelling or redness to worry about. Many people head back to work after leaving the office after a treatment. Plus, their results are immediately visible and last for at least six months.
How Long Will Restylane Last?
The amount of time your injections last will be unique to you as a person. However, most patients’ fillers last about six months. Some studies have noted that some visible improvement can still be seen up to 18 months after treatment.
Are There Any Risks?
Restylane has few risks associated with it. Some side effects may include headache, flu-like symptoms, nausea, redness, and pain at the injection site. Very rarely people with severe allergies will have a stronger reaction to this product.
What Are the Contraindications?
Restylane is contraindicated for use in a few situations. Patients who have severe allergies or a history of anaphylaxis should not use this product. It’s also contra indicated in patients with bleeding disorders. It is not meant to use in any other area of the body besides the skin and submucosal implantation in the lips.
Don’t Wait and Wonder Anymore!
Dr. Roland is an experienced plastic surgeon based in New York, NY, who gives his patients Restylane injections as an outpatient procedure. Reach out to our office to schedule an appointment to talk about whether Restylane is a good choice for you.
Related procedures: Radiesse, Sculptra, Chemical Peels.