Restylane®

What Is Restylane® Filler and How Does It Work?

Aging is a natural phenomenon. Over time, facial contours change gradually and volume is lost in the temple, forehead, and cheeks. Skin laxity — or sagging jowls — in the jawline and lower face may increase, creating an overly “jowly” look. Often the nasolabial folds (the lines that move downwards from the outer nostrils towards the corners of the mouth); and oral commissure creases (the actual corners of the mouth), appear deeper due to the laxity of the cheeks. Collagen, elastin, and hyaluronic acid levels in the skin gradually decrease, contributing to the appearance of fine or deep lines, creases, and areas of flattening or volume loss.

Dermal fillers such as Restylane® are an ideal way to correct volume loss and rejuvenate facial contours. Restylane® uses a stabilized form of hyaluronic acid (HA) that mimics your body’s own hyaluronic acid by providing volume and fullness. Restylane® is most commonly used for:

  • Adding volume to the cheeks and chin contours, forehead and nose
  • Filling facial hollows and sunken areas under the eyes
  • Reducing “sad mouth” syndrome (oral commissure creases)
  • Alleviating crow’s feet and forehead wrinkles
  • Lip rejuvenation: augmentation and contouring

Restylane® is one of the many types of hyaluronic acid-type of injectable fillers. One of the biggest advantages is not only its long safety record of use and long-lasting effects, but you can also dissolve the filler if the placement is not ideal or to your liking.

Will Restylane® Fix Fine Lines and Wrinkles?

Whatever aesthetic enhancement you are seeking, the best-looking outcome is always a natural one. You want to look like an improved version of yourself – and not make it obvious that you’ve “had work done”. The primary purpose of injectable fillers such as Restylane® is not to “fix” wrinkles, but to actually improve the facial shape and replace lost fullness due to aging. For example, in order to remove the wrinkles from a balloon, you’d have to make it very tight by inflating it. However, the same is not necessarily true for the face! Overfilling your face to remove wrinkles is not recommended. An injectable such as Botox® is better for removing wrinkles.

The Benefits of Using Restylane® Over Other Dermal Fillers:

Overall the skill of the application and technique of injection is significantly more important than the type of filler used. However, Restylane® has some significant benefits over other fillers:

  • It’s a natural component of your body and is found in your own body in lower concentrations
  • Over time it has some effect in building collagen on its own
  • Restylane® is soft to the touch so it feels very “real”
  • New techniques involve the use of microcannulas instead of sharp needles. (A microcannula is a small tube that is designed for intradermal injections instead of needles to allow for less pain, less risk of bruising and increased safety, along with smoother and more harmonious placement)
  • Restylane® is an in-office day procedure but please allow for adequate time for your appointment because it is a procedure that should not be rushed

Your aesthetic provider will perform a critical analysis of the natural balance and proportion of your face to develop a plan that addresses specific concerns while preserving your own unique facial characteristics.

Who Performs the Restylane® Injections?

The Restylane® procedure is performed by Jennifer Fick, FNP-C, CANS, a Board Certified Aesthetic Nurse Specialist. You can read more about Jennifer here, or on her own website. Dr. Deschamps-Braly is on hand to consult in more complex cases if necessary.

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