Restylane® Produces Ravishing Results!
An increasing number of patients are seeking affordable aesthetic improvements that don’t require major downtime or invasive procedures. One of the most popular and widely used nonsurgical alternatives is the injectable filler Restylane®. FDA approved in the United States for cosmetic purposes since 2003, Restylane® has been successfully used by more than 4 million patients worldwide for wrinkle correction, facial contouring, and lip enhancement. (Source: Q-Med Esthetics)
Restylane® is a gel-like substance called hyaluronic acid. Hyaluronic acid is a polysaccharide (also known as a carbohydrate). It occurs naturally in all living organisms and is identical in all species and tissue types. The safe use of Restylane® has been well documented in medical specialty areas such as eye surgery, orthopedics, and more recently medical cosmetics.
The natural aging process includes a gradual decline in the amount of hyaluronic acid in our bodies, especially the skin. Hyaluronic acid plays an important role in giving volume to the skin, shape to the eyes, and elasticity to the joints. The loss of this substance contributes to reduced dermal hydration and increased folding of the facial contour. To date, more than 27 million patients throughout the world have been treated with hyaluronic acid based products. (Source: Q-Med Esthetics)
The hyaluronic acid in Restylane® is unique. Traditionally, hyaluronic acid has been extracted from animal sources. However, Restylane® is biosynthetically produced by bacterial fermentation. This eliminates the risk of transmitting diseases between species, or eliciting allergic reactions in patients who are sensitive to common foods, such as beef, chicken and eggs.
In the world of aesthetics, Restylane® is used for smoothing age-related lines around the mouth, creating volume in the contours of the face or correcting hollow cheeks, sculpting and enhancing the lips, and smoothing fine to moderate wrinkles between the eyebrows. It can also be used in the corners of the mouth to produce a more youthful look to the lips.
Restylane® is available in physician offices that provide aesthetic services. If you are considering Restylane® or other fillers, seek a consultation with a trained physician who can answer your questions. Ask the physician to:
1) Describe the procedure and how long it will take
2) Help you understand the type of pain you can expect and how it will be managed
3) Evaluate your general health for conditions that might make the procedure inadvisable (bleeding disorders, pregnancy, allergies, etc)
4) Describe possible side effects (localized swelling, redness, etc)
5) Provide instructions for post-procedure care
The procedure should be relatively free of pain and takes approximately 30-45 minutes. The length of time a Restylane® treatment will last is very individualized. Results are influenced by your skin structure, lifestyle, and age. The degree of correction requested by the patient, the injection technique, and the skill of the physician also influence results.
In general, follow-up treatment is recommended in 6-12 months for the treatment of lines, wrinkles, folds and facial contouring. For lip enhancements, follow-up treatment is recommended in 6 months. Touch-up treatments usually add to the duration of the overall treatment effect. Treatment costs vary depending on the amount of Restylane® used and generally range from $300 (1/2 syringe), to $500 (full syringe).
Article contributed by Betty Troutman, DO. Dr. Troutman has completed specialized training techniques for injections in Botox®, Restylane®, Restylane® Fine lines and Perlane from the Cosmetic & Laser Training Institute in Toronto, Canada. She is Board Certified by the American Board of Family Medicine and has practiced at Wichita Clinic since 1991. She has administered Restylane® and other fillers at Advanced Aesthetics by Wichita Clinic for the last several years. She is accepting new patients at 609-4440.
Betty Troutman, MD
Originally published in WOMEN’S FOCUS MAGAZINE
July/August 2006
(Granted permission for reprint).
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