RESTYLANE ® is the trade name for a specific formulation of non-animal sourced hyaluronic acid. It is composed of cross-linked long chain hyaluronic acid (a natural substance in the body) and is (USA) FDA approved for cosmetic injection into subdermal facial tissues.  It is a safe and natural dermal filler used to restore youthfulness to the face by treating wrinkles and bad facial texture.

Most commonly, it is injected under wrinkles and aging lines of the face such as the nasolabial folds, melomental folds (corners of the mouth down to chin—also called “drool grooves”), "crows feet" and forehead wrinkles. It may also be used for filling aging-related facial hollows and "orbital troughs" (under and around the eyes).  The denser version called PERLANE® is used to treating the “jowling” on the lower jaw angle.

RESTYLANE ® is most commonly used for lip augmentation—shape and fulness. Restylane maintains its shape using the body's own moisture. The hyaluronic acid in Restylane is hydrophilic or "water loving." As hyaluronic acid gradually degrades, each molecule binds to more water and over time, the same volume can be maintained with less hyaluronic acid. This ability of hyaluronic acid to bind to water is what helps provide lasting results.

It is produced by the Swedish company "Q-med", and has a long history of popularity in Europe and Australia, but has only recently been approved for use in the USA, due to the influence of Inamed's collagen ("Zyderm", "Zyplast") in that market.

The effects of RESTYLANE ® last around 6 months or sometimes more. Variants produced by the same company give better duration, and so " PERLANE® " lasts 9+ months and "SubCutaneous" lasts 15+ months. Recovery time from an injection takes around three days, as swelling and bruising can be a problem. Some practitioners will ask their patients to return to the practice two or three weeks after treatment for reassessment with view to a "top-up" if required.

In a recent study, when injected, RESTYLANE ® seemed to regenerate collagen in skin. Restylane is the world's leading dermal filler with over 10 million treatments now performed globally.

What can I expect?
You should take a few precautions before being treated with Restylane®. One week prior to treatment with Restylane, avoid taking St. John's Wort, high doses of Vitamin E supplements, aspirin, and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications, such as ibuprofen. These agents may increase bruising and bleeding at the injection site. Also, if you have previously suffered from facial cold sores, there is a risk that the needle punctures could contribute to another recurrence.  You will be given a prescription of Valtrex as a preventative for any herpetic outbreaks.  It is also recommend that you take Arnica (bought at health food stores) to decrease inflammation from treatment.

How much does it Cost?  This depends on the challenge and what your desires are.  If there are a lot of deep wrinkles and facial hollowing, the cost could be as much as $2,500.00 for softening and filling the wrinkles and contouring the lips.   On the other hand, mild and limited wrinkle softening could be as little as $500.

The cost will depend on what you want.  Prior to treatment, you will be interviewed and photos taken.  You will have the opportunity to demonstrate what your want corrected.  You will be given a fee quote based on your treatment objectives.  As a general rule, the fee can be based on the number of syinges of Dermal Fillers that are used.  $500 for the first syringe and $385 for each additional syringe. 

Why is a dentist doing wrinkle reduction?  As a Cosmetic Dentist, I do a lot of Smile Rejuvanations and Full Mouth Makeovers.  By age 50 most people have lost 25% of the length of their front teeth.  This decreases lip support and increases the wrinkles around the mouth as the bite collapses.  It can give the effect of a “smile with no teeth showing”.  A Smile Rejuvation can bring back support to the lips and reduce drooping tissue in the cheeks.  These results can often be enhanced by correcting the deep wrinkles and upper lip creases that add unwanted facial texture and detract from the Smile Enhancement results.  By softening the wrinkles and making the lips look younger the two treatments have a combined synergistic effect on restoring “a youthful” appearance ! Tooth whitening also rejuvenates teeth that have yellowed with age.

The same dental anesthetic and the same areas of numbness that are used to restore a smile are also used to restore the lips and face around the area of the teeth.

All the anesthetic for the dermal fillers are administered in the mouth in the same areas that would make the teeth numb.  There are no outside the mouth injections of anesthetics.  This greatly improves comfort of the treatment and significantly decreases the bruising and aids in recovery.  Nitrous oxide can be used during the treatment to enhance patient comfort.

Treatment Precautions and Contraindications:

1. The safety of Restylane for use during pregnancy, in breastfeeding females or in patients under 18 years has not been established.

2. The safety of Restylane in patients with increased susceptibility to keloid formation and hypertrophic scarring has not been studied. Restylane should not be used in patients with known susceptibility to keloid formation or hypertrophic scarring.

3. The patient should be informed that he or she should minimize exposure of the treated area to excessive sun and UV lamp exposure and extreme cold weather until any initial swelling and redness has resolved.

4. 4.  If laser treatment, chemical peeling or any other procedure based on active dermal response is considered after treatment with Restylane there is a possible risk of eliciting an inflammatory reaction at the implant site. This also applies if Restylane is administered before the skin has healed completely after such a procedure.
   

Don Lowrance, MS, DDS

Center for Cosmetic Dentistry

Consultation with photos and discuss your goals.

Office:  361-851-8274

4707 Everhart Rd.

Suite 101

Corpus Christi, TX 78411

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