What Your Doctor May Not Be Telling You About Restylane
What is Restylane?
Restylane™ is a transparent gel form of hyaluronic acid that has been approved by the FDA for injection into a patient’s lips to increase their size, or into facial tissue around the nose and mouth to reduce wrinkles and folds.1
Hyaluronic acid is naturally produced in the human body.
The hyaluronic acid in Restylane is generated in the laboratory by using the Streptococcus species of bacteria, generating a hyaluronic acid can be used with minimal side effects.2
Hyaluronic acid, whether synthesized or extracted, essentially is an excellent binder of water in the body. When injected into the skin, the molecules expand and hold water near the surface of the skin, thus causing a plumping or lifting effect on the face and neck.
Restylane contains no lidocaine, making this a viable filler for people who are alleric to lidocaine..3
Does it work?
The FDA has approved Restylane for the purpose of smoothing and diminishing wrinkles. You should expect your results to last approximately six months.
It appears that the skill of the physician is a vital component in overall satisfaction reported by customers using this product. There are many reports on the internet of perfect results,4 as well as nightmare stories where the product was improperly used. 5
What is the downside of using Restylane?
With any injection, there is a risk of infection. The greater risk with Restylane is miss-use by a physician not well versed in the application of the product. Superficial necrosis may occur if the product is injected through error, in or near the dermal vessels, or too close to the skin surface.6
In order to make sure that your experience with Restylane is successful, you should check your physician’s credentials specifically for Restylane. Ask about his recent training with this exact product. Seek out friends or co-workers that may have a dermatologist they have used. A personal referral is your best resource.
Let your Doctor know if you have any of the following conditions:
- Allergy to lidocaine
- Severe allergies that have required a hospital stay
- An allergy to gram-positive bacteria7
- Any bleeding disorders
- A history of anaphylaxis
This list is not complete. You should make every effort to let your health care professional all medications you are taking, as well as any other interactions you have had with prior procedures, or drug interactions in the past.8
Restylane has not been studied in pregnant women or women who are breast feeding. If you are pregnant or breast-feeding, you should not use Restylane.
Learn everything you can about Restylane before you get an injection.
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1 http://www.fda.gov/MedicalDevices/ProductsandMedicalProcedures/DeviceApprovalsandClearances/Recently-ApprovedDevices/ucm276637.htm
2 http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/cdrh_docs/pdf4/P040024S051c.pdf
3 http://www.yourplasticsurgeryguide.com/injectables-and-fillers/restylane.htm
4 http://www.skintour.com/video-demos/restylane-demonstration
5 See, for example, http://www.realself.com/Restylane/reviews
6 http://www.fda.gov/downloads/AdvisoryCommittees/CommitteesMeetingMaterials/MedicalDevices/MedicalDevicesAdvisoryCommittee/GeneralandPlasticSurgeryDevicesPanel/UCM252489.pdf
7 http://www.surgistrategies.com/articles/2005/12/gram-positive-and-gram-negative-bacteria.aspx
8 http://www.fda.gov/downloads/AdvisoryCommittees/CommitteesMeetingMaterials/MedicalDevices/MedicalDevicesAdvisoryCommittee/GeneralandPlasticSurgeryDevicesPanel/UCM252489.pdf