Restylane

Restylane

Product Line: Restylane, Restylane-L.

Class: Hyaluronic acid (HA)-based soft tissue or dermal filler.

Approved cosmetic uses: Moderate-to-severe facial wrinkles and folds — including the nasolabial folds — and lip enhancement. Restylane is part of the Medicis family of products, which also includes Perlane and Perlane-L (other hyaluronic-acid based fillers).

Mode of action: Restylane products are HA-based fillers. Hyaluronic acid occurs naturally in all mammals, though production tends to deplete with age. Restylane replaces HA, filling in or volumizing wrinkles and folds.

Results: Results with Restylane are instantaneous and may last up to six months.

Side Effects may include:

  • Headache
  • Nausea
  • Flu-like symptoms
  • Redness, pain and itching at the injection site(s)
  • Small bumps beneath the skin (rare)
  • Temporary muscle weakness

Cost: Restylane cost varies based on the areas being treated and the location of the practice. In general, it ranges from $200 to $1,000.

Other HA fillers:

Injection Pain (1-5 scale, with 5 being the most pain): 1.5

Note: Restylane-L contains lidocaine, a numbing agent that may help take the sting out of the injection. Pain is subjective, and varies from person to person.

Popularity: HA-based fillers are the second most popular type of minimally invasive cosmetic procedure, according to American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery.