As you age, your skin loses volume. This is a natural part of the aging process, but you don’t have to live with it. At Plastic Surgery Specialists of South Florida in Hollywood, FL, we are excited to offer a non-invasive solution to significant volume loss. Today, we are answering some of the most frequently asked questions about Restylane, including how quickly it works.
How Quickly Does Restylane Work?
Restylane starts to work immediately upon injection. You will notice a significant increase in localized volume as soon as your session is over. This is in stark contrast to other dermal fillers that take several weeks to restore lost facial volume.
Why Are the Results Immediately Apparent?
Primarily, this treatment provides immediate results because the gel-like dermal filler administered into the foundational layer of your skin provides immediate volume. This volume can help you look several years younger by the time you walk out of our office. Note, your results won’t fade as soon as your skin absorbs the gel. Rather, this filler’s active ingredient induces the production of essential supportive proteins within the foundational layer of your skin.
This has a couple of implications. First, your results will continue to improve over several weeks like other dermal fillers. Second, your results will outlast the longevity of the dermal filler.
The Active Ingredient
The active ingredient in Restylane is a polysaccharide called hyaluronic acid. This chain of sugar molecules is produced naturally by your body, so you can feel confident your results will look natural. Additionally, you don’t need to worry about an allergic reaction from the filler. Your skin can’t tell the difference between the hyaluronic acid (HA) in the filler and the HA it produces naturally.
Hyaluronic acid is taking the anti-aging industry by storm due to how effective it is. Nothing can moisturize your skin as HA can. It can help you look years younger because it attracts and binds to 1,000 times its molecular weight in water. This hydrates your skin inside and out and plays a crucial role in maintaining internal moisture balance.
What Is the Importance of HA?
Keeping your skin moisturized is important. However, HA provides your skin with many more benefits than maintaining hydration and restoring volume. Hyaluronic acid encourages the production of collagen. Collagen is the most important anti-aging protein in your skin. It provides significant structural support to your skin, keeping it tight and smooth.
How Soon Can You See the Final Results of Treatment?
It can take between four and six weeks to see the final results of your treatment. It takes a couple of days for the filler to spread beneath the surface of your skin and settle in. Then, it takes approximately one month for your skin to produce extra collagen in response to the extra hyaluronic acid.
How Long Do the Results of This Treatment Last?
The targeted treatment area plays a significant role in determining how long the results will last. For instance, you can expect to enjoy your final results for approximately one year if you volumize your mind-face. On the other hand, your results may last six months if you’re filling in your temples, erasing wrinkles on the backs of your hands, or improving the skin around your eyes and mouth.
How Can I Make the Results of This Treatment Last Longer?
To extend the longevity of your results, you should take care of the health of your skin. Here is some actionable advice.
Schedule Regular Maintenance Sessions
The simplest thing you can do to extend the longevity of your results is to schedule regular maintenance sessions. By scheduling regular maintenance sessions, you can extend the longevity of your results by up to 50%. For example, if the results of your midface volumization only last a year, with a touch-up session, you can expect results that last up to 18 months. If you schedule your maintenance sessions strategically, your results will never fade.
Consider Your Cosmetics
If you use the right skincare products you can extend the results of your treatment. For instance, if you incorporate topicals containing HA, vitamin C, retinol, or azelaic acid into your regular skincare routine, your skin will look younger for longer. These ingredients can improve the tone and texture of your skin. However, they are not effective enough to reverse the signs of aging alone. They work better to slow the visible effects of the aging process down.
Complementary Treatments
Complementary treatments are another great way to keep your skin looking youthful for as long as possible. For example, you may benefit from a deep pore cleansing to open up your pores and shrink them simultaneously so they are no longer visible and topical products are more effective. You may also benefit from getting an anti-aging facial every once in a while.
Anti-aging facials are designed to hydrate, illuminate, firm, and tone your skin. In just 50 minutes, you can enjoy brighter, younger, tighter, smoother skin and help your Restylane results last as long as possible.
Protect Yourself From Harmful Rays
Another simple way to extend the longevity of your results is to protect your skin from sun damage. Most people can receive adequate protection from UV ray damage by using SPF 30 to 40 sunscreen. That said, if you have a family history of such skin conditions as melanoma, you should opt for at least a broad-spectrum SPF 55 sunscreen.
It is so important to protect your skin from UV rays because sun damage is the primary cause of premature aging. You may not get freckles or sunspots, but there is a very good chance you will experience skin sagging, wrinkles, and lines because UV ray damage weakens collagen and slows collagen production.
What Can I Expect During My Treatment Session?
The average treatment session takes approximately 30 minutes to complete. However, your session may take longer if you are treating several areas, such as your upper face, midface, and hands. We will advise you during your initial evaluation on how long you should expect your session to take. Another factor affecting how long your treatment will last is the number of injections you will need per treatment area.
How Many Injections Will I Need Per Treatment Area?
We can’t tell you exactly how many injections you will need per treatment area until we assess the severity of your cosmetic concerns. That said, people typically need one injection per treatment area for every decade of life. For example, if you’re 30, you will need approximately three injections per treatment area.
Is This Treatment Painful?
No, you will not experience any pain or discomfort during this treatment. Most Restylane formulas include lidocaine. If you are allergic to lidocaine, let us know during your initial consultation. We are happy to accommodate your allergy.
If you do not receive injections with lidocaine, you should still not expect your treatment to be painful or uncomfortable. The needle we use to administer the hyaluronic acid-based filler is too fine to cause pain. Additionally, since the filler is not injected into your muscle, you won’t feel extreme discomfort after your session is over. Let us know during your initial consultation if you would like your skin to be numbed before your injections so you don’t feel them.
Am I a Good Candidate for This Treatment?
You need to attend an initial consultation to determine whether this anti-aging injectable is right for you. While it is safe for most healthy adults, it is only designed to restore volume to the skin. If you are concerned about dynamic wrinkles, lines, and folds, you will benefit from Botox, Dysport, or Xeomin. We offer all three of these injectables and are more than happy to discuss the benefits of each with you.
Be prepared to discuss your medical history and current health during your initial consultation, including the drugs and supplements you are currently taking. As noted above, most healthy adults qualify for this treatment. It is very important to avoid taking drugs and supplements that can thin your blood in the 72 hours leading up to your injection session.
Which Formula Is Right for Me?
We can tell you which formula is right for you once we assess your cosmetic concerns. Restylane Defyne and Refyne are most commonly recommended for correcting moderate-to-severe midface concerns, such as hollowness, wrinkles, and sagging skin. Lyft is most often used for cheek contouring and significant skin lifting.
How Should I Prepare for This Treatment?
To prepare for this treatment, there are several things you need to do besides not taking blood-thinning drugs and supplements. For example, you need to wear adequate sun protection for at least two weeks before your session. Additionally, you should follow all guidelines regarding your skincare routine in the week leading up to your treatment. For instance, you should avoid skincare products containing acids, including glycolic acid and salicylic acid. Moreover, you should avoid mechanical exfoliation.
You should also avoid skincare products containing retinol, a derivative of vitamin A. Other things you should avoid in preparation for your treatment include excessive amounts of sodium and caffeine. If possible, do not smoke or drink alcohol in the two weeks leading up to your treatment so your blood pressure falls within the healthy range.
How Should I Care for Myself After Treatment?
Once your treatment session is over, you should continue to keep your blood pressure within a normal range. For example, you should avoid strenuous exercise, hot showers, hot tubs, steam rooms, and dry saunas. You should also limit your caffeine and sodium consumption to keep your blood pressure healthy. Additionally, you should make UV ray protection a priority in the week following your treatment. Do not sunbathe or use a tanning bed. Make sure you wear sunscreen when you go outside and reapply it every four hours.
Will I Need To Take Time Off From Work?
No, you will not need to take time off from work after this treatment. There is no downtime whatsoever. As soon as we review your post-treatment care guidelines, you are free to return to work.
Reverse the Signs of Aging Today
You don’t have to live with the visible effects of the aging process. Restylane starts to restore volume to your skin as soon as it is injected. To determine if this non-invasive treatment is right for you, contact us today at Plastic Surgery Specialists of South Florida in Hollywood, FL to schedule your initial consultation.
