Restylane

Restylane is the trade name for a range of injectable fillers with a specific formulation of non-animal sourced hyaluronic acid (HA). Restylane was the first stabilized hyaluronic acid filler on the market and reportedly has been used in over 11 million treatments worldwide (2010).^{[citation needed]}

In the United States, Restylane was the first hyaluronic acid filler to be approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for cosmetic injection into sub dermal facial tissues.^[1]

Restylane is produced by Q-Med.

Treatment areas

Restylane is most commonly used for lip enhancement (volume and contouring). It is used to diminish wrinkles and aging lines of the face such as the nasolabial folds (nose to mouth lines), melomental folds (sad mouth corners), "crow's feet" and forehead wrinkles (frown lines). It may also be used for filling aging-related facial hollows and "orbital troughs" (under and around the eyes), as well as for cheek volume and contouring of the chin, forehead and nose.^[2]

Restylane can also be used to revitalize the skin^{[medical citation needed]} by increasing skin elasticity structure, without the goal of adding volume, for example in the face, hands and décolletage.

Duration and recovery time

Duration depends on factors like the individual’s skin type, lifestyle and age. After the initial treatment, follow-up sessions are normally recommended around every 6 to 12 months depending on the individual and the treatment. A treatment of the lips lasts less than 6 months.

Treatments have a recovery time of 2 to 3 days.

Possible side effects and recovery

A treatment with a dermal filler like Restylane can cause some temporary bruising in addition to swelling and numbness for a few days. In rare cases there has been reports of lumps or granulomas. These side effects can be easily reversed with a treatment of hyaluronidase, which is an enzyme that speeds up the natural degradation of the injected hyaluronic acid filler.^[3]

Even though side effects are rare Restylane should not be used in or near areas where there is or has been skin disease, inflammation or related conditions. Restylane has not been tested in pregnant or breast-feeding women.

Treatment techniques

Most injectors inject the filler with a small needle under the skin. Numbing creams or injections decrease pain.

A new way to use Restylane was described in the August 2007 issue of the Journal of Drugs in Dermatology by Dutch cosmetic doctor Tom van Eijk, whose "fern pattern" injection technique aims to restore dermal elasticity rather than to fill underneath the wrinkles. ^[4]

References

1. ↑ FDA approval
2. ↑ Frequently Asked Questions - Restylane USA
3. ↑ Restylane Information
4. ↑ Van Eijk, Tom; Braun, M. (2007). "A Novel Method to Inject Hyaluronic Acid: The Fern Pattern Technique". Journal of Drugs in Dermatology 6 (8): 805–8. PMID 17763611.