About:
- Restylane is a line of hyaluronic acid–based facial fillers that help smooth wrinkles and plump your cheeks and lips.
- Hyaluronic acid occurs naturally in our skin, especially in connective tissue.
- It’s typically used in cheeks, lips, nasolabial folds, and around your mouth.
Safety:
- Restylane was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2003.
- It’s not approved for use in those under the age of 21.
- Common side effects include swelling, bruising, pain, itching at the injection site, and headache.
Convenience:
- The procedure is performed in a doctor’s office with local anesthesia.
- It typically takes less than an hour, allowing you to go home right afterward.
- Recovery time is less than a day so you can return to work immediately.
Cost:
- The cost depends on the number of vials used. One vial starts at $275. Total cost for most Restylane procedures runs between $275 and $700.
- Restylane isn’t covered by health insurance, since it’s an elective cosmetic procedure.
Efficacy:
- Most people see results immediately after the procedure, since the volume underneath your skin starts smoothing out wrinkles right after the injection.
- Complete effects can be seen within a week to two weeks.
Restylane is a brand of hyaluronic acid–based facial fillers used to smooth wrinkles. Different types of Restylane can be used for various needs, including:
- lip enhancement
- targeting lines around your mouth
- adding volume to your cheeks
- minimizing dark circles under your eyes
Hyaluronic acid naturally occurs in the connective tissue of skin, so it’s most commonly used in aesthetic procedures.
Almost anyone can get Restylane since the procedure is easily done and recovery is quick.
You should avoid Restylane if you’re:
- allergic to bacterial protein
- immunocompromised
- taking blood thinners
- pregnant or breastfeeding
- under age 21
The cost of Restylane treatments can vary based on what you’re having done and how many syringes are needed. Restylane is generally sold by the syringe and starts around $275.
Most procedures fall between $275 and $700. This isn’t covered by traditional health insurance since it’s considered a cosmetic enhancement.
Some doctors have financing plans or allow you to pay in installments.
Restylane works by placing volume underneath your skin where you’ve lost collagen and other tissue. This helps smooth out and lift skin, making it look plumper.
The hyaluronic acid in Restylane clings to your skin and the water in the acid provides volume. The acid also attracts more water, helping to preserve the recently added volume.
Restylane is a fairly easy cosmetic procedure. It can be done right in your doctor’s office and involves no incisions. It’s usually done with local anesthesia to minimize any discomfort you might experience.
Depending on how much work you’re having done and the procedure itself, Restylane injections can take anywhere from a few minutes to half an hour.
The procedure can be broken down into several steps:
- Your doctor will choose one or more injection sites in the treatment areas and clean these areas with antiseptic.
- Your doctor will decide how much Restylane is needed.
- Your doctor will inject the Restylane under your skin into the treatment areas using an ultrafine needle.
There are several kinds of Restylane that can be used for different areas of your face. This includes lips, cheeks, facial folds, and wrinkles. They’re all hyaluronic acid–based fillers, but each one was designed with a different specific purpose.
- Restylane Silk is the first FDA-approved filler designed for lip augmentation and for wrinkles around your mouth.
- Restylane Lyft is for cheek augmentation and midface contour deficiencies as well as things like laugh lines. It provides more volume and fullness.
- Restylane is used for facial wrinkles and folds, lip augmentation, and tear troughs (dark circles under your eyes).
- Restylane Refyne is used for wrinkles that can occur from your nose to the corners of your mouth.
- Restylane Defyne is also used for wrinkles around your nose and mouth.
Because of the different kinds of Restylane and the various parts of the face for which it can be used, talk with your doctor about your desired results. They’ll work with you to choose the right filler for you.
Any procedure carries potential risks or side effects and Restylane is no different. Risks of Restylane treatments include:
- bruising or bleeding at injection site
- infection
- allergic reaction
- irregularities in the filling (e.g., in the firmness of your skin)
Side effects from these injections can include:
- pain or itching at the injection site
- swelling
- bruising
- headache
- tenderness
These typically resolve in 7 to 18 days, depending on the treatment area.
Individuals on blood-thinning medications are generally not advised to use products like Restylane. If you’ve experienced serious side effects from any drugs or medications, talk with your doctor about whether you’d be a good candidate for this treatment.
Healing time can vary with each person and depends on how many injections you received and where. You can expect some redness, swelling, or bruising that might take a week or so to fully resolve. You should also limit your sun exposure afterward to prevent added swelling or bruising.
You can return to work soon after, although if you’ve had several injections, you might want to give yourself a day to rest and recover.
Full results are usually seen within a week after the procedure but you will also see immediate effects since the products add volume when injected.
Restylane injections aren’t permanent fillers, so if you want to maintain results, you’ll need more rounds of injections. Depending on the kind of Restylane you received, the fillers last anywhere between 6 and 18 months. You don’t have to alter your activities in any way after you’re fully healed.
To minimize bruising from Restylane treatments, about two weeks prior to your appointment stop taking:
- aspirin
- vitamin E
- fish oil
- ibuprofen (Motrin)
- St. John’s wort
Taking arnica, which is found over the counter at drugstores or health food stores, before and after the procedure can also help with bruising and swelling.
It’s important to find a doctor who specializes in using Restylane and who has experience in facial fillers. You can find a specialist on the Restylane website here.