Restylane and Perlane are “fillers.” They decrease the severity of various facial lines by adding volume beneath the line or crease, essentially “filling-in” the line from underneath. Restylane and Perlane can also be used for increasing the volume and definition of the lips and for augmentation of other portions of the face that have lost volume over time. High Desert Dermatology uses Restylane for lip augmentation and to fill medium depth lines and creases and we use Perlane for deeper lines and creases.
Hyaluronic Acid Provides Volume
Restylane and Perlane are medications composed of hyaluronic acid (HA). HA is a substance that is naturally present in high quantities in human skin. HA and collagen are the two substances that provide the most volume and substance to the dermal layer of the skin.
There are a number of other HA filler products that we offer at High Desert Dermatology. During your consultation with the physician, we will mutually determine which product is best for your specific needs and tailor the treatment to you. In our experience, High Desert Dermatology feels that Restylane is a bit “bigger” and “stiffer” than Juvederm, which is desirable in cases of particularly deep lines or patients desiring full lips.
Quick Procedure
The 10 to 20 minute procedure requires a series of injections of the filler into the desired treatment areas. Prior to the injections, a topical anesthetic cream (numbing cream) is applied to the skin to diminish the discomfort of the injections.
Minimal Side Effects
Potential side effects, in addition to the moderate degree of discomfort at the time of the injection, include some additional dull pain at the treated areas after the treatment for 1 to 4 days. Bruising can sometimes occur, though this is unusual, and can last from 2 to 7 days. Swelling of the treated area is very common for a few days after the treatment. The lips, in particular, are an area in which the swelling can be most severe, sometimes resulting in an overly puffy appearance of the lips that can last for a few days.
Last for 6 to 12 Months
Ordinarily, once the filler has “settled-in,” which takes about a week, the product can be expected to last for a minimum of 6 months, but in many instances will last 9 to 12 months.
Please contact us if you are interested in Restylane, Perlane or other fillers available at High Desert Dermatology.