Michele S. Green M.D., FAAD., is a Board-Certified Cosmetic Dermatologist, Fellow of the American Academy of Dermatology, and has been an international leader in cosmetic dermatology for over 25 years. Upper East Side patients and those from the surrounding areas of New York City flock to her practice for a variety of cosmetic dermatology treatments. A graduate from Yale University, with an MD and Chief residency from The Mount Sinai School of Medicine in NYC, Dr. Green treats some of the most discerning, demanding women and men in the world, with issues ranging from premature skin aging to hyperpigmentation, rosacea, acne, skin laxity, hair loss, and sun damage.

Haute Beauty Expert Dr. Michele S. Green provides insight into hyaluronic acid dermal fillers, specifically the Restylane line of fillers.

Photo Credit: Shutterstock

In the world of facial rejuvenation, hyaluronic acid dermal fillers have become the go-to injectable treatment, which Dr. Michele Green has utilized as an expert injector for almost two decades. Dr. Green is one of the first dermatologists in NYC to incorporate the Restylane line of fillers for her patients in her boutique New York practice.

Restylane dermal fillers correct deep and fine wrinkles and add volume to restore fullness to your face to produce overall skin rejuvenation and a more youthful appearance. While proper skincare and sun avoidance are both important for your skin, there are times when skincare is not enough and patients require dermal fillers and neurotoxins, like Restylane to reverse the visible signs of aging.

What is Restylane?

Restylane is a hyaluronic acid dermal filler that can be used to smooth wrinkles, restore volume loss, plump lips, revitalizing and enhancing the face to create a natural, youthful look. Hyaluronic acid is a sugar that is naturally produced by the body and contributes to a fresh-faced appearance. As we age, we lose hyaluronic acid in the skin that we aren’t able to replace. Restylane injections can help repair some of the effects of lost hyaluronic acid in the skin and rejuvenate the face.

Restylane® is an injectable line of facial fillers composed of Restylane® L, Restylane® Contour, Restylane® Silk, Restylane Refyne, Restylane Defyne, Restylane Skin Boosters, Restylane® Lyft and Restylane® Kysse. The Restylane® brand of dermal fillers is used to re-volumize the face and reduce facial lines.  It is indicated for injection into the dermal layer of the skin for correction of moderate to severe facial folds and wrinkles, such as nasolabial folds, cheek augmentation, and correction of age-related midface contour deficiencies. You will see immediate improvement after injection of these products.

Restylane is a non-animal, biodegradable dermal filler composed of hyaluronic acid. Hyaluronic acid is a natural substance that exists in your body, and when injected, restores volume to your skin. The hyaluronic acid fillers help boost collagen in the body, which in turn restores age-related volume loss and reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles on the face.

What is the line of products in the Restylane family?

The Restylane family of products comprises several distinct products and utilizes the unique NASHA technology. Each Restylane injectable has its unique particle size, designed to treat various areas of the face, from fine lines to severe wrinkles.

Generally, Restylane is used to treat facial lines and wrinkles. In addition, it is possible to use Restylane to create fuller lips (Restylane L, Restylane Silk, and Restylane Kysse are all used), and to help shape facial contours (Restylane Lyft) on areas such as the cheeks and chin, and add volume to your hands. If you are considering lip augmentation, treating fine lines and facial wrinkles, marionette lines, smile lines, laugh lines, jowls, the chin, or restoring lost volume, the Restylane family of dermal fillers may be the best treatment for you.

The complete Restylane line of products includes:

Restylane Refyne is designed to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles by correcting age-related volume loss that can create deeper creases in the skin.

Restylane Kysse is a dermal lip filler that can enhance both the look and feel of your lips. Providing you with the luscious pout you’ve been craving!

Restylane Lyft is a hyaluronic acid filler treatment that is specifically tailored for use on the midface, around the jowls, chin, mouth, and hands. It is composed of an injectable hyaluronic acid gel, which stimulates healthy volume restoration.

Restylane Contour is designed primarily for cheek augmentation. It is an FDA-approved hyaluronic acid gel filler for correcting lost volume and elasticity in the midface.

Restylane Skin Boosters is a method to nourish and hydrate the skin without the need for downtime. It uses cutting-edge NASHA (Non-Animal Stabilized Hyaluronic Acid) technology to naturally integrate into the skin and improve the skin texture, skin elasticity, and smoothness of the skin surface in patients of a wide variety of skin types, ages, and genders.

Restylane Defyne is a hyaluronic acid formulation with unique XpresHAn cross-linking technology to reduce the appearance of moderate-to-severe nasolabial folds (smile lines), frown lines, and marionette lines.

Restylane for Chin improves the appearance of a “weak” or recessed chin through the long-lasting Restylane Defyne formulation.

Restylane for Under Eyes is used to restore volume in the tear troughs, which can help reduce the appearance of under-eye hollows. Oftentimes our “tired-looking” eyes or dark circles are caused by age-related volume loss in the tear trough area, which can create shadows beneath the eyes.

Restylane for Lips instantly plumps the lips giving a natural-looking volume enhancement – providing long-lasting results.

What are the benefits of Restylane?

One of the advantages of Restylane injections is that they have almost no downtime. Hyaluronic acid fillers restore lost collagen in the skin and immediately improve the skin’s elasticity. These dermal fillers correct deep and fine wrinkles and add volume to restore fullness to your face to produce overall skin rejuvenation and a more youthful appearance.

What is the process of having a dermal filler injected?

At your initial consultation, you will discuss which areas of your face are your specific concerns. Working closely with Dr. Green, she will help you to develop an individualized treatment plan. The next step is to have photographs done of the treatment areas for your records and to have an assessment of your facial anatomy and desired cosmetic results. Dr. Michele Green will then review your complete medical and cosmetic history and assess if you have any contraindications to treatment.

Before injections, patients are asked to discontinue any blood thinners or herbal supplements for at least one week before your injections to avoid excess bruising. On injection day, a topical numbing cream, which contains lidocaine, is applied to the treatment area for 30 to 45 minutes to lessen any discomfort from the Restylane injections. The areas are cleaned with alcohol before your injections and iced immediately afterward to prevent any unnecessary swelling.

Dr. Green will inject Restylane dermal filler directly into the skin in tiny amounts using an ultrafine needle, resulting in minimal discomfort with superior sculpting results. Since hyaluronic acid is a substance that the body produces naturally, the risk of side effects is minimal, with usually some temporary redness and swelling at the injection site. Dr. Green will often layer or combine Restylane products with other dermal fillers and injectables such as Botox during the same visit, to have the most youthful appearance. Restylane can be injected into various areas of the face, into wrinkles in the nasolabial area, jowls, under eyes (tear troughs), or other facial areas showing volume and collagen loss.

What should you do after Restylane injections?

After injection, it is important to avoid taking blood thinners and herbal supplements for one week after your treatment. You should also minimize strenuous exercise and avoid exposure to the sun, saunas, steam rooms, heat, or UV light, for 24 hours after the treatment to avoid swelling or redness. Applying ice compresses immediacy after the procedure helps minimize any swelling. Any bruising can be treated with oral Arnica supplements or a quick treatment of the V-Beam pulsed dye laser.

How long does Restylane last?

The results of your treatment should be visible almost immediately, although they may be disguised by a little swelling at first. Restylane and Restylane L, dissolve slowly over time, and generally last between six to nine months, depending on the number of syringes and the areas injected.

Restylane Lyft tends to last longer, up to one year in duration as it is a thicker hyaluronic acid filler than the original Restylane-L. Restylane Kysse for lips lasts up to twelve months, and Restylane Silk up to one year.

How do you get started with Restylane today?

If you are bothered by fine lines, wrinkles, or the visible signs of aging, Dr. Michele Green is here to help. Dr. Green is a leading NYC dermatologist with extensive experience in a number of non-surgical, non-invasive procedures which can address various skincare needs such as lasers, dermal filler, and lip augmentation treatments, including Restylane. Dr. Green has been consistently voted as one of the “Best Doctors” by Castle Connelly, New York Magazine, Super Doctors, and The New York Times as a pioneer in the field of cosmetic and medical dermatology. Please call the office today at 212-535-3088 or contact us online to schedule a consultation to discuss Restylane dermal fillers and other non-invasive dermatologic procedures.