Restylane®

Serving Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Restylane was recently approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of folds and wrinkles in the face. It is another skin treatment option Dr. Barber offers for a more youthful appearance.

Restylane injections work by bringing back fullness and volume to your skin, thus eliminating wrinkles and folds. It works well on nasolabial folds (the lines between your nose and the corners where your lips come together) and melomental folds (lines around the jaw line known as "marionette" lines). It also improves the look of your lip border.

The treatment is fast and simple with minimal recovery.  The results are instant and long-lasting, generally around six months.

Candidates

Ideal candidates for Restylane include anyone who has facial wrinkles and folds, especially nasolabial folds. The only exceptions are women who are pregnant or breastfeeding. Anyone under age 18 shouldn't use Restylane. If you have recently taken drugs that prevent blood clotting or use blood thinners, you aren't an ideal candidate, if you want to avoid bleeding and/or bruising.

Safety

The safety of Restylane is well documented. It is being used safely in over 70 countries and over 4 million procedures have been performed.

Preparation for Treatment

About a week before getting your Restylane treatment, you should discontinue use of the following, since these substances may increase bleeding and bruising at the site of the injection:

• aspirin
• high doses of Vitamin E supplements
• nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications, such as ibuprofen
• St. John's Wort

The Procedure

The Restylane treatment process is very simple. Restylane is injected directly into the treated area using an ultrafine needle. Most patients experience minimal discomfort, but Dr. Barber may offer you the option of numbing the treatment site first. It is a quick, easy, and convenient wrinkle treatment with immediate results.

Side Effects

The most frequent side effect of Restylane is redness or swelling at the site of the injection. Additional side effects experienced after Restylane treatments may include bruising, pain, and additional redness or swelling. These usually subside in fewer than seven days. Red or swollen bumps may also occur, but these are unusual. Finally, if you have previously experienced cold sores on your face, the injections could contribute to a reappearance of the cold sores.

Recovery

Dr. Barber may ask you to keep the treated area out of the sun, as well as avoid any cold outdoor activities or UV lamp exposure until all signs of redness or swelling have disappeared.

If you are interested in finding out how you can get the instantaneous results of a Restylane treatment, please call or email us today to schedule an informative consultation with Dr. Barber.