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Restylane

As we grow older, more signs of aging become more evident on our faces. This is recognizable as wrinkles and folds, or nasolabial folds. There are various injectable cosmetic fillers available to help improve upon one’s facial appearance and achieve a more youthful look. These fillers add volume and smooth out wrinkles. Collagen and fat are some of the more common fillers. Restylane is a new form of injectable filler that provides advantages over fat and collagen injections. Restylane is a non-animal, biodegradable gel based on hyaluronic acid. Hyaluronic acid is a substance found in most of our bodies as it provides volume and fullness to the skin. Restylane has been proven to last longer than fat and collagen injections. It maintains its shape using the body’s own moisture. What results is a longer-lasting, youthful facial appearance.

Restylane can be used to either shape facial contours, smooth wrinkles, or sculpt lips. What results is a healthy, more youthful, and fuller appearance. This has grown in popularity. Since 1996, over a million individuals have received Restylane injections worldwide.

If you are considering Restylane injections, the following information will provide you with a basic introduction to the procedure. For more detailed information about how this procedure may help you, we recommend that you consult a cosmetic surgeon or dermatologist who is board certified or has extensive experience in administering Restylane injections.

What are some of the most common benefits of restylane?
How are restylane treatments performed?
How long do treatments take?
Where are the treatments performed?
How much pain is there?
What can I expect after restylane treatment?
Ideal Candidate:
Other important information:
Risk and limitations:
Restylane Costs:
Choosing a doctor:
Questions to ask your doctor:
Be sure to:
Related procedures:
How do I finance this procedure?
Find a doctor that specializes in Restylane

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What are some of the most common benefits of restylane?

Unlike other cosmetic fillers, restylane is non-animal based. This virtually eliminates any form of animal-based disease transmission or allergic reaction. This also eliminates pre-testing to determine any allergic reaction.

Also Restylane has been proven to last longer than other cosmetic fillers such as fat and collagen.

How are restylane treatments performed?

Even though no pre-testing is needed, before receiving Restylane injections patients should avoid using aspirin, Vitamin E supplements and other medications. This can increase bruising or bleeding. Be sure to ask your doctor about what you should do to prepare for Restylane injections.

The actual treatment itself is very brief. Receiving Restylane injections can take anywhere from a few minutes to half an hour. This all depends on the amount of the area that needs to be treated. During the treatment, the practitioner injects tiny amounts of Restylane into the skin using a very fine needle.

For wrinkles, when the Restylane is injected, it procedures natural volume under the wrinkle, which lifts it up and smooths it out. For facial contours, the Restylane corrects deep folds and lifts up the skin from cheeks and chin. This provides a fuller shape for the chin or a rounder, more sensual line along the cheeks.

When using Restylane for lip augmentation, the gel is injected into the inside of the upper or lower lip. It is also injected along the lip line. Not only will this help bring about a more youthful look, it can also help prevent lipstick from bleeding into the small lines around the lips.

How long do treatments take?

The Restylane injections can take anywhere from a few minutes to an hour, depending on how large of an area needs to be treated.

Another advantage to Restylane is that the procedure is quick so the patient can have it done during a lunch hour. So patients can take a lunch, have their Restylane procedure, and come back to work looking younger.

Where are the treatments performed?

Restylane injections are usually administered at the doctor’s office.

How much pain is there?

An advantage to the Restylane procedure is that it enhances one’s appearance with a minimal amount of pain. The fine needles used for the treatment, minimize pain.

Although pain is minimal, for treating wrinkles and shaping facial contours, patients can request a topical anesthetic. For sculpting lips, local anesthesia is usually given.

What can I expect after restylane treatment?

The results of these injections can be seen almost immediately following treatment. Areas may be swollen or red, but should only last for only one or two days. The results of the Restylane can last six months or even longer. Results may vary. Factors such as age, skin type, daily activities can influence how long the results of Restylane will last.

Patients can choose to undergo another treatment twice a year. Going in for a following treatment before the results of the previous Restylane injections disappear will help maintain the lasting effect. Those that do not undergo a follow-up treatment will find their results returning to a pre-treatment state. Discuss with your practitioner to plan future visits.

Ideal Candidate:

In general, the best candidates for Restylane are:

Physically healthy
Psychologically stable
Wanting to look younger and more refreshed
Wanting to enhance their facial appearance
Well informed in regard to the procedure’s outcome
Realistic in their expectations

The above is only a partial list of the criteria that your physician will consider in determining whether or not this procedure is appropriate for you. Be sure to ask your physician if he/she considers you an ideal candidate for Restylane.

Other important information:

Currently Restylane is only used in the U.S. for the treatment of moderate to severe facial wrinkles and folds, such as nasolabial folds.

Risk and limitations:

Significant risks with Restylane injections are infrequent, but the potential side effects to the treatment are:

Swelling
Redness

However these side effects listed above usually disappear within two to three days. Consult your doctor for more detailed information on the safety of Restylane.

Restylane has been proven to be a safe procedure. Since it is non-animal based, it virtually eliminates the possibility of disease transmission or an allergic reaction. Plus Restylane is biocompatible with human hyaluronic acid.

Restylane Costs:

The average Restylane cost in 2007 was $598 according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. To obtain the most accurate pricing, consult with a physician in your area to get the up to date costs for the procedure in which you are interested.

Choosing a doctor:

We strongly recommend that you consider choosing a doctor who is board certified by the American Board of Medical Specialties. See our Physician Locator feature to find a doctor in your area, including detailed profile information for many of the listed doctors. Also read How to Select a Dermatologist for a more detailed discussion.

Questions to ask your doctor:

The following questions should help you to select your doctor, and better understand the procedure.

Are the desired results I described realistic?
How should I prepare my skin for the treatment?
Where is the procedure performed? How long will it take?
Are there other procedures that I should consider to enhance the affects of Restylane?
How much does the procedure cost?
What is your experience in performing this procedure? (How long has he/she performed this procedure, and how many he/she has performed in the past year?)
How long has your practice offered Restylane injections?
What percentages of patients have had significant complications? (The physician should disclose this information to you)
When should I start noticing the results of the Restylane procedure?
Will you repeat or correct procedures if it does not meet agreed upon goals? And if the procedure must be repeated / corrected, will I be charged again? (The physician should provide you with his/her policy on this issue.)
May I see "before and after" photos of recent patients? The physician should provide many photos of recent patients.
May I have the names and contact information for several recent Restylane patients? (Follow up to get first-hand information on the procedure and the physician.)
Could I observe the exact procedure I am considering before I decide to have the procedure? (Either on videotape or live.)
What should I expect post-operatively in terms of soreness, what to watch for, medication, bathing, and level of activity? Ask if your doctor has a list of activities that you should avoid.
Who will be assisting during the procedure? What are their qualifications? (Does the dermatologist perform the entire procedure?)
Have you ever had your malpractice insurance coverage denied, revoked, suspended?
Do you have privileges to administer Restylane injections at an accredited hospital?
Do you offer patient financing?

Be sure to:

Tell your doctor about any allergies you have (to foods, drugs, environmental elements).
Tell your doctor if you have any serious medical conditions.
Tell your doctor about all medications you are taking (both prescription and non-prescription).
Carefully follow any instructions your doctor gives you regarding eating and drinking, smoking, and vitamins.

The information on this web site is only intended as an introduction to this procedure and should not be used to determine whether you will have the procedure performed nor as a guarantee of the result. The best method of determining your options is to consult qualified surgeons who are able to answer specific questions related to your situation.

Related procedures:

Collagen Injections
Fat Injections

How do I finance this procedure?

Did you know that 29% of all Americans have considered having an elective procedure? Of those, 60% would schedule a procedure immediately if financing was available. With iEnhance.com's patient financing options, money no longer has to be the barrier between you and your new image. By filling out our on-line application you can qualify for a loan in as little as 30 seconds.

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