The extensive range of non-surgical anti-aging treatments offered by our aesthetic plastic surgeon, Geoffrey Leber, MD, FACS, includes Restylane®—an advanced dermal filler that can be highly effective in reducing wrinkles and treating age-related facial volume deficits. Restylane® is a widely-used cosmetic treatment that is utilized to smooth the appearance of creases and facial folds as well as add natural-looking volume to sunken or hollow planes of the face. Depending on your aesthetic goals and the quality of your concerns, this non-surgical procedure can be completed in as little as thirty minutes and serves as a convenient way for many patients to accentuate the youthful contours of their face without the need for excessive downtime.
What is Restylane®?
Restylane® is a family of injectable dermal fillers made from hyaluronic acid, a naturally-occurring substance in the body that helps facial skin retain fullness, volume, and moisture. Because Restylane® is not derived from animal products like other anti-aging treatments, there is generally no need for allergy testing. Each variation in the Restylane® product line comes in the form of a smooth-consistency gel and is designed to target a specific location, such as the lips, around the mouth, cheeks, or temples. The molecules in Restylane® tend to bond with water as they break down, the unique chemical structure providing a “plumping” effect that has been shown to last up to one year in some cases.
What Can Restylane® Do For Me?
Restylane® is versatile in usage and can improve the appearance of many aging indicators, such as:
- Nasolabial folds (lines extending from the nose to the corners of the mouth)
- Marionette lines
- Corners of the mouth
- Perioral lines (“smoker’s lines”)
In addition to smoothing the facial creases mentioned above, Restylane® can also be used to enhance sunken areas of the face through subtle additions of volume. As the appearance of youth is often associated with facial fullness, such application can diminish an aged or tired aesthetic. Common treatment sites include:
- Upper or lower lips
- Hollows below the eyes
- Temples
- Cheeks
If you are unsure which Restylane® product can fulfill your cosmetic goals most effectively, Dr. Leber can examine your concerns during a consultation and recommend the most ideal treatment to achieve your desired look.
How is Restylane® Treatment Performed?
All Restylane® injections are generally administered in the same fashion. After your personalized treatment plan is developed, your injector will use an ultra-fine needle to deliver the Restylane® formula into the chosen treatment sites with meticulous precision. This process usually involves very minimal discomfort. While certain versions of Restylane® are mixed with a numbing agent in the gel, a topical anesthetic can also be applied before injection if preferred. When the desired aesthetic is achieved, there is usually no recovery period necessary and patients can return to their normal routines immediately. Injections are performed on site at Dr. Leber’s Boston practice.
What are the Results of Restylane®?
While the results of Restylane® can be apparent right after treatment, the final outcome is usually fully realized within two weeks. Following injection, patients may experience minor bruising or swelling, but these effects typically fade quickly. The aesthetic provided by Restylane® is often long-lasting and the longevity of results can range anywhere from six to twelve months, depending on which specific Restylane® formulation is used. Many individuals opt to preserve the outcome of their treatment with periodic touch-up treatments.
If you would like to learn more about Restylane® or our other injectables and dermal fillers, or would like to schedule a consultation, please contact our practice today.