Restylane®
(http://www.restylaneusa.com)
Restylane® is a a gel that is injected into the skin that adds volume to the lips and lifts up and fills out wrinkles and folds. Restylane® is mede of Hyaluronic Acid, which is a natural substance already present in your body that provides volume and fullness to the skin. Restylane® temporarily diminishes depressions and acts as a filler for a period of time, often longer than that of Collagen. It is NOT a replacement for Botox, since it does not alter the muscle activity. While there exist patient differences, most patients experience an improved effect for six to twelve months. Repeating the Restalyn within six to twelve months is recommended to maintain the effect and diminish wrinkling.
After your injection, keep your head elevated for one hour. Ice packs may be used for one to two days for pain and swelling. Additionally, Advil may be used for discomfort and swelling.
The amount and location of Restylane® injected corresponds with your initial desires. Treatment is performed on a unit dose of prepackaged syringes of 0.4 or 1.0 cc’s. Syringes cannot be stored. The number of syringes used determines the cost of the treatment.
While every effort is made to optimize results, patients may experience incomplete results. If one’s treated region does not have adequate resolution, retreatment may be necessary. A large portion of the cost of the procedure lies in the cost of the material. Therefore, retreatment of regions will be charged at the normal rates. Every effort is made to minimize the cost of the procedure and the need for retreatment.
Commonly asked questions
Is Restylane® FDA approved?
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has recently approved Restylane(R), an injection for the correction of moderate to severe facial wrinkles and folds, such as nasolabial folds, the lines between the nose and mouth. Restylane® is the first and only FDA-approved dermal filler made of a biodegradable non-animal stabilized hyaluronic acid (NASHA™).
How does Restylane® work?
Restylane® gel is injected into the skin in tiny amounts to add volume, lifting up and smoothing out unwanted wrinkles. The gel integrates into the dermal tissue then attracts and binds to water molecules to help maintain volume. It is gradually broken down by the body and disappears without any residue.
Is there an allergy test required?
No pre-test is needed.
Which areas of the face can be treated with Restylane®?
Restylane® can be used for smoothing out folds and wrinkles, lip enhancements and shaping facial contours. The most common areas are the glabellar lines (between the eyebrows), the nasolabial folds (from the root of the nose to the angle of the mouth) and the lips, although other sites can also be treated. Very superficial or very deep wrinkles may be difficult to correct.
What will I look like after the treatment?
The treatment takes about 30 minutes and immediately after the treatment, you can expect slight redness, swelling, tenderness or an itching sensation in the treated area. This is a normal result of the injection. The discomfort is temporary and generally disappears in a few days. After a lip treatment, the lips may become swollen and look somewhat uneven. This can persist for a few days (up to a week).
Is the treatment painful?
Every effort is mad to minimize any discomfort you may feel. A dental block is given prior to the treatment making the area numb prior to the injection of Restylane®
What precautions will I need to take after treatment with Restylane®?
During the first 48 hours after your treatment, do not massage or rub the treated area. If you have had a lip enhancement, avoid puckering your lips for the first two days after the treatment. Until the initial swelling and redness have resolved, do not expose the treated area to intense heat (e.g. in a solarium or by sunbathing) or extreme cold.
Are there any side-effects associated with Restylane?
Injection-related reactions such as swelling, redness and tenderness might occur. Other types of reactions are very rare, but about 1 in 2000 treated patients have experienced localized reactions thought to be of a hypersensitive nature. These have usually consisted of swelling or redness at the injection site, sometimes affecting the surrounding tissues.
Is Restylane® Safe?
Yes. Because of Restylane®’s careful design, it works with your body, not against it. It is a naturally occurring substance that has been used safely by physicians since 1996 worldwide. Restylane® is non-animal based and fully compatible with the body; therefore allergy testing is not required. Restylane has minimal side effects, the most common of which is bruising. Some experience temporary localized swelling at the injection site.
Is Hyaluronic Acide safe?
Hyaluronic acid is a natural substance that is found throughout your body. It gives volume to the skin, lubricates the joints and gives the eyes their shape. The hylaluronic acid in Restylane® is stabilized for long duration and is not of animal or human origin.
How long do the results last?
It has been shown in clinical trials that Restylane® is effective for up to six months, but individual results may vary.
SCULPTRA
(http://www.sculptra.com/US/aboutsculptra/Index.jsp)
SCULPTRA™ is the latest breakthrough in newly FDA-approved injectible fillers. This non-invasive treatment corrects the deepest of lines and wrinkles with long-term results using a biodegradable material called “poly-L-lactic acid”. Studies have shown that SCULPTRA’s potency can even correct lipaoatrophy, a condition that causes facial fat loss (typically occurring in patients with HIV).
Using a local anesthetic to minimize discomfort, SCULPTRA™ is injected using a very fine needle. It works by increasing the thickness of the skin and fills in what has been lost. Results are gradual, depending on the type of results desired and the severity of the problem. Over time, the appearance is dramatically altered after multiple treatments. Once the desired look is achieved, this semi-permanent treatment lasts up to two years, but could require minor touch-ups.
SCULPTRA™ does not require skin testing prior to use, however you will need to discuss with the doctor whether you could be allergic to any ingredients and what medications you may be taking.
As with most injections, side effects, though minimal, could possibly occur. The most common are redness, swelling, bruising and pain around the treated area. Using icepacks immediately following treatment can minimize these effects.
Sculptra™ is injected into the skin for restoration and/or correction of the signs of facial fat loss (lipoatrophy) or for volume defects. It has been recently FDA approved. Areas of correction include the sallow cheeks, tear trough deformity (depression)under the eyes, temporal depressions, and cheek folds. A series of two to four injections six weeks apart are typically required. Published studies report that the results last for two years or longer.
Volume
- Restores fullness to the face, creating a rejuvenated, natural appearance.
- Treats the deepest of wrinkles
- SCULPTRA™ provides a 3-fold increase in skin thickness
Duration
- Statistically significant increases in mean dermal thickness persisted throughout the 2-year study
Safety
- Clinically proven to be an effective, well-tolerated, and long-lasting treatment
- Biodegradable and biocompatible lactic acid polymer
- Synthetic; derived from natural components
- Requires no skin test
History
- Used internationally since 1999 as New-Fill™ in an estimated 150,000 patients in more than 30 countries
Q & A
What is SCULPTRA™?
SCULPTRA™ is a synthetic injectable material known as “poly-L-lactic acid” which is biocompatible (a material that does not harm the body) and biodegradable (able to be broken down by the body). Poly-L-lactic acid has been used for many years in dissolvable stitches, soft tissue implants, and other types of implants.
How does SCULPTRA™ work?
SCULPTRA™ is injected below the surface of the skin in the area of fat loss, providing a gradual increase in skin thickness. Results are visible within the first few treatment sessions.
SCULPTRA™ will not correct the underlying cause of the facial fat loss, but will help improve the appearance by increasing skin thickness in the treated area.
Are the results immediate?
At your first treatment visit, it may appear that SCULTRA™ worked immediately because of swelling from the injections and the water used to dilute SCULPTRA™. In a few days, the swelling goes down and the water is absorbed by your body. SCULPTRA™ takes time to gradually correct the depression in your skin. Your health care provider will see you again in a few weeks to decide if you need more SCULPTRA™ injections.
How many treatments are required?
The doctor can decide the appropriate number of treatment sessions and the amount of SCULPTRA™ you will need. This depends on the severity of the condition and the outcome desired.
How long do treatment results last?
While treatment results differ for each person, a clinical study shows the treatment results to last for up to 2 years or longer. Touch-up treatments may be needed to maintain the desired effect.
What are the possible side effects of treatment with SCULPTRA™?
The most common side effects with any injection include bleeding, tenderness or pain, redness, bruising or swelling. These side effects generally last, on average, 3 to 17 days.
One possible delayed side effect with SCULPTRA™ can be small bumps under the skin in the treated area. These small bumps may not be visible, and you may notice them only when you press on the treated skin. These bumps tend to happen within the first 6 to 12 months after the first treatment. Occasionally, these bumps go away on their own. Visible bumps, sometimes with redness or color change to the treated area, have also been reported. As with all procedures that involve an injection through the skin, there is a risk of infection. Report any side effects to your health care provider.
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