Restylane, sometimes misspelled as Restyline, is a dermal filler, designed to restore fullness to the skin and correct moderate to severe wrinkles and folds. It is made of non-animal-based hyaluronic acid, a substance that already exists in the human body and is used to provide volume and fullness under the skin. Restylane is injected by a plastic surgeon and the results can last for six months and even longer. The product is biodegradable and completely disappears. According to statistics released from the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, there are nearly 6.9 million Americans who experienced either surgical or nonsurgical plastic procedures in 2002.
Local Reactions
Restylane is injected directly into the skin in very small amounts using an ultrafine needle. After the injection the doctor will sometimes massage the area to give it the correct contouring. According to Johns Hopkins Cosmetic Center, there is minimal discomfort during the procedure but cold compresses afterward can help reduce swelling and bruising to the area. According to ABoardCertifiedPlasticSurgeonResource.com, patients may also experience redness, tenderness and bumps at the injection site. Local skin discoloration and cold sores are not uncommon, and generally resolve spontaneously within several days. Patients may also experience localized infection that should be treated by the physician.
Systemic Reactions
According to ConsumerGuideToPlasticSurgery.com, the more common side effects of Restylane are flulike symptoms including headache, nausea and general malaise. People may experience muscle weakness that will resolve spontaneously, generally within days. Sometimes individuals will experience generalized muscle weakness for several months after the procedure.
Skin Surface
According to doctors at the Mayo Clinic, some individuals may experience irregularities in the surfaces, contours and firmness of the skin that has had an augmentation procedure. Some plastic surgeons will massage the area after injection to prevent this problem as much as possible. These irregularities will resolve as the Restylane is degraded and excreted from the body.
References
- The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery: Injectables: Are Restylane and Hylaform the Next "Must Haves"?
- Johns Hopkins Cosmetic Center: Restylane
- ABoardCertifiedPlasticSurgeonResource.com: Restylane
- ConsumerGuideToPlasticSurgery.com: Restylane Injections: Benefits, Costs and Side Effects
- MayoClinic.com: Facial Fillers for Wrinkles
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