Do fine lines and wrinkles have you down? If you feel like the natural aging process is negatively impacting your self-esteem, then you aren’t alone. Fortunately, the good news is that several cosmetic treatments can help you elevate your confidence and help you look as young as you feel. At Southeastern Institute of Restorative Medicine in Dothan, AL, we know that one of the best anti-aging treatments for most people are dermal fillers like Restylane, which help you refresh and lift your appearance.
What Are the Uses of Restylane?
Restylane is a highly versatile dermal filler that can be used on virtually every zone of the face, including areas that have thin or delicate skin. This dermal filler is primarily used on nasolabial folds, which are the wrinkles that form around the nose and mouth, as well as the cheeks. This treatment is ideal for both anti-aging concerns and contouring various areas of the face, such as the cheekbones. This treatment can be used to address concerns such as:
- Forehead lines
- Glabellar lines
- Crow’s feet
- Undereye hollows or tear-throughs
- Cheek and nose augmentation
- Cheek hollows
- Laugh lines
- Smile lines and smoker lines
- Verticle lip lines
- Lip enhancement
- Chin wrinkles and augmentation
- Marionette lines
- Jawline contouring
Who Is This Treatment Right For?
This treatment has many people who are eligible for these dermal filler injections. The best candidates for this treatment include those who have moderate age-related concerns and those who would like to use a minimally invasive alternative to other cosmetic treatments, such as facelifts or browlifts. Candidates for this treatment must not be allergic to lidocaine or synthetic hyaluronic acid proteins, and must also not be currently pregnant or breastfeeding.
You will need to reschedule your appointment if you have a current breakout or skin infection, such as rosacea, eczema, psoriasis, cold sores, or fever blisters. You will also need to reschedule your appointment if you have a sunburn or other compromise to the health of your skin.
What Age Is Best for This Dermal Filler?
In general, most dermal fillers can be used by anyone who is a legal adult. However, for dermal fillers such as this one, which is designed for anti-aging purposes, the best age to have a filler treatment is likely around the age of 40 or older. But to be perfectly clear, the “best age” to have this treatment is when you notice any visible signs of aging on the skin, such as fine lines, wrinkles, and skin laxity or loss of skin volume.
Because aging happens to each of us at different rates, it’s possible you may notice wrinkles forming while you are still in your 30s, or that you will not notice significant wrinkles until you are in your 50s. A treatment such as this one can be used as a preventative treatment to a certain extent since the increase of skin volume will help prevent the worsening of fine lines and wrinkles.
How Does This Treatment Work?
This treatment works by injecting a special formula into the sub-dermal layers of skin to add additional skin support and replace any volume loss in the skin. Your treatment will be performed at our office by one of our skilled aestheticians, and your appointment will usually take about 20 to 30 minutes to complete. Because this treatment has a formula that is mixed with lidocaine, you will not experience any significant discomfort during or after your treatment.
The key to this treatment is the gel-like solution that is formulated primarily with hyaluronic acid. Once in the skin, the hyaluronic acid is metabolized by the body and helps the body produce its own collagen, which will, in turn, restore structure to the skin and smooth the appearance of wrinkles.
Why Does Hyaluronic Acid Matter?
You may have noticed that many skincare products now contain hyaluronic acid, which can usually be found in serums or moisturizers. Hyaluronic acid is a naturally occurring sugar molecule that is responsible for retaining moisture in your skin. In fact, this special acid is able to hold many times its own weight in water and, like collagen, decreases as a result of the natural aging process.
Studies show that there is a unique relationship between hyaluronic acid and collagen. Specifically, it seems that hyaluronic acid works as “food” for collagen since collagen levels tend to increase in the presence of hyaluronic acid. The fact that hyaluronic acid is biologically compatible and universally effective is one of the reasons why it is included in most dermal filler formula, and why your anti-aging skincare may benefit from including hyaluronic acid products.
How Many Vials Will You Need for Your Treatment?
This dermal filler is measured by syringes instead of vials because of how effective and concentrated the formula is. Most patients will only require one syringe of this filler to achieve their desired results. Some patients with severe or pronounced age-related concerns may require an additional syringe, but this is somewhat rare. Overall, one syringe of this filler can treat multiple zones of your face to lift and refresh your appearance.
How Much Does This Treatment Cost?
At our clinic, the price of our dermal fillers starts at about $425. For this specific dermal filler, you can expect to pay between $400 and $800, depending on how much of the filler is used and how long it takes to complete your treatment. However, overall, this filler is more affordable than many other popular dermal fillers, particularly when you factor in how long the results of your treatment will last
Will You Need Multiple Treatments to See Results?
No. One treatment is enough to produce your desired results. This is usually true for most injectable treatments. However, because the results of this treatment are temporary, you will eventually need another treatment. But your initial treatment can be completed in one appointment.
How Soon Until You Can See Results?
You will see initial results within one to three days of your treatment, which will usually appear as a fuller, firmer, and more supple face. However, in the coming days, you may notice that the results of your treatment will begin to fade. It’s important to remember that your initial results are largely due to the increase of fluid in your skin and that this fluid will be absorbed so that the injectable filler can be metabolized.
Most patients will be able to realize the full results of this treatment within two weeks of their treatment appointment. It will take about seven to ten days for the injectable filler to settle into your skin and begin producing more collagen within the sub-dermal layers of your skin. Your results will continue to improve for several more weeks.
How Long Do Results Last?
The results of your treatment will last for a long time. Most patients can expect the results of their treatment to last for 12 to 18 months at a time, depending on where the treatment is used. For example, less-mobile areas of the face, such as your cheeks, will likely have results that last longer, while areas of the face where dynamic wrinkles form may have results that last only as long as a year.
When Should You Have Maintenence Treatments?
You should schedule your next treatments when you notice that the results of your first treatment are beginning to fade. Your maintenance treatments are designed to continue your results without pause so that you never have to start at square one again. For that reason, it’s important to pay attention to your skin and notice when fine lines and wrinkles begin to reappear. Most patients schedule annual yearly appointments to maintain the results of their treatment.
What Are the Benefits of Restylane?
There are several benefits for this filler, which is one of the most popular fillers in the world to tread moderate age-related concerns. In addition to the long-lasting results, other benefits of this treatment include:
Treatment Options
You have several different treatment options when it comes to Restylane, which is part of a family of specialized dermal fillers. In addition to the highly versatile original formula, you may also want to consider the following treatment options:
- Defyne for deep smile lines
- Refyne for moderate smile lines
- Lyft for cheeks and skin laxity
- Silk for lips and lip lines
- Kysse for lip augmentation
It can be helpful to choose specialized fillers instead of the original formula, particularly if you want to target specific appearance concerns. For example, because some formulas have different densities, one variant of this filler can be more effective for moderate or severe wrinkles than for mild concerns. We can help you select the filler that is ideal for your appearance concerns.
Non-Invasive
Dermal filler treatments such as this one are often preferable to invasive cosmetic surgeries. In fact, many patients use dermal fillers as liquid facelifts, which is a type of treatment that can fully lift and refresh your appearance without needing to undergo more complicated treatments.
Minimal Downtime
Because this is not a surgery, there is no official downtime or prolonged recovery associated with this treatment. You will be able to return to work and most of your normal daily activities on the same day as your treatment. However, you will have a few aftercare instructions to follow, such as avoiding direct sunlight, not using certain skincare products, and avoiding strenuous exercise during the first three to five days of your treatment.
Low Risk
This is a relatively low-risk treatment due to the fact that there is a low chance of an allergic reaction to the filler. This is because hyaluronic acid is compatible with the human body, which means very few people will have any reaction to the treatment. However, if you have a history of any allergy to lidocaine, you will need to let us know during your consultation so we can explore other treatment options for you.
Natural-Looking Results
The best benefit of this treatment is natural-looking results. The results of this treatment appear so natural because the filler stimulates the production of your body’s natural collagen, which will fill in skin volume in a natural way.
Refresh and Lift Your Appearance With Restylane
Age-related concerns don’t have to be a reason to feel self-conscious about your appearance. If you want to enjoy long-lasting and natural-looking results with Restylane treatments, please contact the Southeastern Institute of Restorative Medicine in Dothan, AL to schedule your initial appointment today. We look forward to helping you achieve your appearance goals.