In the competitive world of injectable dermal fillers, Restylane®, FDA approved for the treatment of facial folds and wrinkles in December 2003, has been used in more than 1.5 million treatments throughout the world to help both men and women return a more youthful appearance to their face.  Restylane® is made of Non-Animal Stabilized Hyaluronic Acid (NASHA).  Hyaluronic acid is a substance that occurs naturally in the body, and the stabilized version that exists in Restylane® is biocompatible with the human substance.

How It's Done

Determining what areas need to be treated is perhaps the most important step of the Restylane® injections.  Restylane® is used mainly for wrinkles and folds, in particular the nasolabial folds that begin at both sides of the base of your nose and continue down horizontally to your upper lip.  The Restylane® gel is simply injected into the areas in order to increase fullness or create a smoother contour.  Anesthesia is usually not necessary as pain is minimal.  In most cases a cream containing a numbing agent is applied to the treatment area shortly before injection.

Restylane® injections are very quick, but actual duration will differentiate dependant upon the amount of gel that is injected.  However, it is performed in your doctor's office and will last, in total, less than an hour.

Recovery / Post Op Expectations

The results of Restylane® can be seen almost immediately and there is usually no downtime.  Most patients return to work or their normal activity directly following injections.  At most, you may experience some bruising, redness or skin irritation, but you should begin to see it dissipate within a day or two.  Results will last from between 6 and 12 months.

Complications

Because the hyaluronic acid used in Restylane® is not animal based, the possibility of allergic reaction and adverse occurrences is virtually negated.  When defined in terms of patient dissatisfaction, possible complications can include:

• Over or under correction
• Clumping of filler creating an end result that is not smooth
• Bruising or swelling that persists after a few days

Am I Candidate?

Restylane® is most effective in correcting wrinkles and folds, especially around the cheeks, nose, and lips.  The ideal patient is one who wishes to achieve minor correction and is aware that re-treatments are necessary to optimize results.

Cost

Cost varies dependant upon the area treated and amount of product used.  On average, each injection will cost somewhere around $500, but can range higher and lower.