Restylane 101: Everything you Want to Know

Restylane is a popular collection of HA dermal fillers used to restore lost collagen and enhance our natural features. The family of products includes Restylane Silk, Restylane Lyft, Restylane, Restylane Refyne and Restylane Defyne. Each filler is formulated specifically to act like your body's own naturally produced hyaluronic acid. They may share the same name, but each product in the family all hold a different purpose. Here’s everything you need to know about Restylane (and which Restylane product is best for you)!

1.What is Restylane?

As stated, Restylane is an FDA approved HA (hyaluronic acid) dermal filler. In fact, it was the first filler to ever be approved by the Food and Drug Administration! Restylane is commonly known for filling the lips, however the company has rolled out a series of products that can be used in the nasolabial folds, cheeks and other places.

2. FDA approved uses

Restylane and Restylane-L are for moderate to severe facial wrinkles, such as nasolabial folds. Restylane and Restylane-L are also indicated for injection into the lips. Restylane Lyft with Lidocaine is for the correction of moderate to severe lines and wrinkles, such as nasolabial folds and cheek augmentation. Restylane Lyft with Lidocaine is also approved for injection into the hands to correct volume deficit in mature patients.Restylane Silk is for lip augmentation and for correction of wrinkles around the mouth. Restylane Refyne helps soften laugh lines (nasolabial folds and marionette lines) all while maintaining your natural facial expressions.Restylane Defyne is for the correction of moderate to severe deep facial wrinkles and folds, such as nasolabial folds.

3. Are Restylane products right for me?

Products in the Restylane family are used to:

• provide natural-looking results by smoothing away facial wrinkles and folds and adding volume to lips (Restylane)
• provide subtle lip enhancement and smoothing the lines around them (Restylane Silk)
• add fullness to the cheeks, midface area, and the back of the hands which can result in a more natural-looking, youthful appearance (Restylane Lyft)
• provide natural-looking results to laugh lines with flexibility that allows you to maintain your natural expressions (Restylane Refyne & Restylane Defyne).

4. How much does Restylane cost?

At ZONA Med Spa, Restylane Silk and Restylane is $499 per syringe, and lasts anywhere from 6-12 months. Restylane Lyft is $700 and may last up to a year or more (especially in the cheeks). Restylane Refyne and Restylane Defyne are $800 per syringe; this higher cost is due to the product longevity and for its ability to support natural movement and facial expressions.

5. What should you consider when choosing a provider?

As with any filler, it’s very important to receive treatment from an experienced and well certified injector. Before your injection appointment, it is absolutely necessary that you make sure: they are a Registered Nurse, board-certified dermatologist or plastic surgeon (their licenses are public record so you can verify), that they have documented certifications of their knowledge, and have all around good reviews. Book a consultation before your treatment to insure the injector is right for you.

6. What to expect from a Restylane treatment

This filler treatment is similar to any other. After discussing your concerns with the injector, they will begin the numbing process. We use a topical numbing agent that takes about 15-20 minutes to take full effect. If the Restylane doesn't already have lidocaine mixed in, it’s FDA approved to mix in for extra numbing. That means you can experience a more pleasant treatment with very little to no discomfort.

7. Will I experience any pain, bruising, or swelling?

As with all injections, swelling and bruising is perfectly normal and should be expected. No matter how skilled your injector is, it’s very difficult to avoid it. Of course, we will use techniques to minimize side effects as much as we can. As for pain, it should be minimal due to the lidocaine and numbing cream. We also just brought in a PRO-NOX machine as another, even more effective, option. The PRO-NOX is a pneumatically driven gas system designed to deliver a 50% oxygen and 50% nitrous oxide mixture to adult and pediatric patients for the relief of pain and anxiety in a medical setting. Basically, it's just like laughing gas at the dentist.

8. Will there be Downtime?

This all depends on how willing you are to resume normal activities while still showing some potential swelling or bruising. Swelling should only last a few days and bruising should reside within a week. We also do not recommend working out or drinking on the same day of your treatment or facials/massages for two weeks following your treatment.

9. Tips to Help you Recover Faster

Beyond picking a skilled injector, there are a few tips that will help aid in a speedy recovery.

• Ice the treated area 15 minutes on 15 minutes off the day of treatment
• Pineapple and Arnica cream has been known to speed up the recovery of any bruising
• To help limit bruising it is best not to take any pain relievers that are blood thinners such as Aspirin, Advil, Motrin, or Vitamin E. Avoid alcohol and caffeine for a few days before and after treatment since they are also a blood thinner.
• Do not use Restylane if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, are allergic to any of its ingredients, or suffer from any neurological disorders.
• Avoid waxing, bleaching, tweezing or the use of hair removal cream on the area to be treated.
• Avoid the use of Vitamin C cream, Glycolic Acid, Alpha Hydroxy Acids higher than 10% and avoid Retinoids.

10. Who should not use Restylane

The Restylane family of products should not be used by people who:

• Are pregnant or breastfeeding
• Have recently used drugs that thin the blood or prevent clotting
• Have had previous bad allergies, particularly to microorganisms known as gram-positive bacteria
• Have serious allergies to drugs that have previously required in-hospital treatment
• Have bleeding disorders
• Have a known allergy to lidocaine, if using Restylane Silk, Restylane Lyft, Restylane, Restylane Refyne or Restylane Defyne

It’s apart of life - our skin changes as we age. We lose collagen starting at the age of 20, and it results in thinner skin and less elastin. But that doesn’t mean we have be unhappy with the way we look! Dermal fillers such as Restylane are an excellent anti-aging tool that can give you that little boost of confidence you may need.

For More Information:

For more information on Restylane products please contact us at ZONA Med Spa. Or book a complimentary consultation online by clicking here.