Restylane and Perlane are hyaluronic acid-based injectable gels that smoothes your facial wrinkles and folds by adding volume when injected into your skin. They are recommended for treating nasolabial folds and other wrinkles around the mouth, and frown lines in the forehead.
The basic material of Restylane, hyaluronic acid, the same material as makes up Juvéderm, works naturally in your body as a skin filler and as a joint and tissue lubricant. Unfortunately, naturally-occurring hyaluronic acid diminishes with age, leaving the skin susceptible to wrinkles, both by a reduction of volume and a loss of skin elasticity.
Restylane is gradually absorbed by the body because it is a natural bodily compound, but as it is absorbed, the remaining material binds water molecules. This means that Restylane and Perlane can maintain their volume for about six months. Although retreatment is seen as a disadvantage of fillers, it also allows for periodic touch-ups, revisions, and re-treatments.
Restylane is not animal-based, but is derived from the material produced by streptococcus bacteria, so you will not need an allergy test prior to your procedure.
The procedure
As with other injectable fillers, Restylane injections take 15 minutes to ½ hour depending on the number of injections required. The procedure consists of:
- Numbing cream is applied to the area
- Restylane is injected under the skin where filling is necessary
- Your doctor may gently massage the treated area, although you are discouraged from doing so
- Full results may take about one week to become apparent
Recovery
You will most likely experience some swelling, pain, and redness following Restylane injections. These should subside within a week after your treatment. Avoid strenuous activity, sun exposure, and excessive heat, for about 24 hours following treatment.
Comparison with Other Treatments
Restylane and Perlane are good at treating wrinkles caused by folding skin and/or loss of facial volume. They are not good for correcting dynamic wrinkles such as crow’s feet or forehead wrinkles, which are better treated using BOTOX® injections.
Restylane and Perlane are different from Juvéderm because they are made with a granular texture. This granular texture can help them provide maximum correction, and Perlane in particular is designed for injection deep into the skin to provide more volume to a sagging face. They are not, however, good for injection directly below thin skin or in places where the granular texture may become evident, such as during lip augmentation.
Longer-term results from injectables can be achieved but are more expensive. Autologous Fat Transfer is good for those with suitable donor areas. Sculptra creates an allergic response that triggers your body to generate its own filler and may be good for people who prefer long-term results that appear gradually. Radiesse or Artefill are composite fillers whose results are long-lasting, but just how long-lasting is not yet known.
If you would like to learn more about Restylane and Perlane, schedule a consultation with a local cosmetic surgeon.
