What is Restylane and how does it work?
Restylane is a natural substance, made up of very complex carbohydrate-chains, which are broken down very slowly (over a period of months) by the body into simple sugars and used for energy by the body. The chemical name for this specific complex carbohydrate is hyaluronic-acid. We have hyaluronic-acid occurring naturally in our bodies, (it is one of the building blocks, like collagen, giving structure between the cells of the body), Restylane is therefore one of the safest products used for cosmetic reasons. Restylane works by its' volume effect, lifting up and smoothing lines and wrinkles or changing contours as desired. It also has a beneficial collagen-stimulating effect which helps to give very long-lasting results.

Who shouldn’t use it?
The contra-indications for a Restylane treatment is pregnancy, although there is no evidence that it is harmful, there is also none that it is safe during pregnancy. Also, any infection of the area to be treated, including viral infections, could be spread if a treatment was performed. We therefore wait for the infection to resolve before continuing with the procedure. Also any patients with documented allergy to hyaluronic-acid should not be treated.

What are possible side effects?
The side-effects are usually injection-related rather than product-related and include possible bruising and/or swelling at the injection sites. These are all temporary and usually resolve within a few days. Rarely there may be some pain or tenderness, which easily managed with ice and/or paracetamol. One other side-effect is over-correction of a defect which can cause the patient to look unnatural... it is therefore very important to choose an experienced practitioner to avoid unexpected results!

Once you have had a treatment what aftercare is needed?
We like to keep the treated area cool and clean and offer pain-relief and anti-histamines to minimise discomfort and any possible swelling. We advise avoiding alcohol that day and also avoiding vigorous exercise and hot spas or saunas directly after treatment (these tend to increase swelling). One can resume normal activities the following day.

How long does it usually last?
Restylane lasts a minimum of 6 months and, depending on the area treated and amount of product used, may last significantly longer. I have a few patients who, after a couple of treatments in the tear-trough, have not needed re-treatment for over 2 years. Also, because of its' collagen-stimulating effect, there is an ongoing improvement in the skin following Restylane treatments. The temporary nature of Restylane is what contributes to its great safety profile. As the ageing process continues over decades, it is reassuring to know that with Restylane, you always have the flexibility of having the result just where you need it now. Not where you may have needed it 20 or 30 years ago! Imagine for example full lips which look fabulous at 30 years of age, may not look quite as appropriate at 70 or 80....

What happens in a treatment?
Typically in a treatment we have an extensive consultation to assess the patient’s requirements and inform them carefully of what to expect. We like to take a photo of the area to preserve an accurate record of how it looks before the treatment. We clean the skin with alcohol to prevent infection. We then anaesthetise (numb) the area to be treated, to minimise discomfort, before proceeding to inject the Restylane into the area of concern. The results are immediate and the patient has plenty of opportunity to keep periodically checking on progress. The patient therefore has a lot of control over how much they wish to have injected/changed, particularly when we treat the lip-area. Once the procedure is completed, we clean the area again and offer pain-relief and after-care instructions, also occasionally advise the patient to apply ice/cold compresses to soothe the treated area. Any swelling associated with the treatment usually disappears by the following day.

How is Restylane produced?
Restylane is manufactured in a laboratory under very strict quality-control and aseptic conditions to supply us with a reliable, safe and effective product.

How is Restylane different from Botox?
Our bodies' natural collagen production decreases with age, causing the appearance of lines and wrinkles in the skin. Dermal fillers are used to lift up lines and wrinkles and fill hollows, to give a smoother appearance to skin and contours. One of the advantages of the hyaluronic fillers, eg Restylane, is that they also stimulate the body's own collagen production and allow long-lasting results. Botox on the other hand works by relaxing the movement of underlying muscles which scrunch up the skin into wrinkles. The two products therefore work in completely different ways, but compliment each other's effects and are often used in the same treatment to get a maximum benefit.

With thanks to Dr Joanna Romanowska
Dr Joanna Romanowska operates, with equal passion, in two parts of the medical world. One where she is a highly qualified and respected General Practitioner, the other where she is an outstanding advocate, practitioner and pioneer of Appearance Medicine. She is immensely proud of the creative and life-changing work she can pursue at Clinic 42 and believes strongly in her practice’s brand proposition: “You’ll love what you see.”

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