Restylane: Treatment, Results, and Side-Effects

Information about the dermal filler Restylane in New York City with Dr. Andrew Jacono.

What Is Restylane?

Restylane is a dermal filler made from hyaluronic acid. Hyaluronic acid is a naturally occurring compound that can be found in the body’s joints and connective tissues. When injected, Restylane hyaluronic acid corrects facial wrinkles and folds, including those on the forehead, between the brows, and around the mouth. Restylane has also been FDA-approved for lip enhancement.

Unlike other cosmetic injectables such as BOTOX, Restylane works by restoring volume in areas that have either lost or never had proper definition. Treatment is simple and can be completed in an hour. There is no downtime after treatment, meaning patients can immediately return to normal daily activities.

What Areas of the Face Does Restylane Treat?

The Restylane brand includes several different products for various purposes. These include:

• Corners of the mouth
• Wrinkles around the mouth
• Cheek volume and augmentation
• Nasolabial folds
• Severe laugh lines

Restylane

The most basic treatment targets wrinkles that occur from the nose to the corners of the mouth.

Restylane Silk

Silk is the first FDA-approved filler designed for lip augmentation. It can also fill wrinkles around the mouth.

Restylane Lyft

This injection is designed for cheek augmentation. It can also resolve midface contour deficiencies and problems like laugh lines. It provides more definition and fullness than other Restylane products.

Restylane Refyne

This treatment is used for wrinkles that occur from the nose to the corners of the mouth. It can also smooth moderate to severe laugh lines.

Restylane Defyne

Defyne also treats wrinkles around the nose and mouth. It can reduce moderate to severe laugh lines.

How Long Will Results Last?

Generally, Restylane injections last about a year. Depending on which product you choose, results may last for a shorter or longer time.

Silk lasts between 6 and 12 months.

Lyft lasts between 6 and 18 months.

Refyne lasts for about 12 months.

Defyne lasts up to 12 months.

What Are the Side-Effects of Restylane?

Restylane is a safe, reliable treatment. However, as with any aesthetic treatment, there may be side effects. The most common of these include swelling, redness, tenderness, bruising, itching, and pain at the injection site.

Patients should be aware that most side effects should resolve within a few days.

How to Reduce Facial Filler Swelling

If a patient experiences swelling after dermal filler treatment, there are several ways to reduce discomfort

Here are the 5 best ways to reduce swelling:

1. Stay hydrated. Drinking water and other beverages will encourage extra fluid to exit the body.
2. Keep your head elevated. Lifting the head for a few hours after treatment can significantly reduce swelling.
3. Do not apply pressure to injection sites. Touching or manipulating the skin after it has been injected may cause the filler to settle in unwanted places.
4. Gently apply ice to the injection sites. Do not apply too much pressure.
5. For the first 12-24 hours after injection, patients should refrain from engaging in physical activity. An increased heart rate can worsen swelling.

Restylane Frequently Asked Questions

How safe is it to use dermal fillers?

Dermal fillers are very safe to use and rarely cause serious complications. If a patient is unsatisfied with their results, dual board-certified facial plastic surgeon, Dr. Jacono can inject an enzyme, called hyaluronidase, to dissolve the filler. The most common side effects include mild bruising, swelling, and redness. More serious side effects include bleeding and facial asymmetry, though these complications occur very infrequently.

Can fillers cause acne?

Facial fillers do not usually cause acne breakouts. However, if too much filler has been injected, patients may experience acne-like skin eruptions. Similarly, if the filler has been injected too close to the surface of the skin, bumps may result.

Do dermal fillers remove wrinkles?

Dermal fillers do not remove wrinkles, but smooth them and thereby make them less noticeable. Facial filler treatments such as the liquid facelift, are a temporary solution and require repeat treatments to maintain results. If patients wish to reduce their wrinkles more permanently, they can opt for surgery, like a facelift or an endoscopic brow lift.

What is the best under-eye filler?

All facial fillers can treat the areas under the eyes, but Restylane tends to offer the best results. This is because it is firmer and longer lasting than other brands and does not cause as much swelling. Restylane is also a much more versatile dermal filler that can treat other areas of the face for maximal effect.

Restylane Before and After Patient Photos

Patient Before and After:

Non-surgical eyelid lift using Restylane to fill deep under-eye circles. Dr. Jacono performed a non-surgical eyelid lift on this patient using Restylane. Her results look natural.