What Is Restylane?
Restylane is a brand of FDA-approved hyaluronic acid (HA) dermal fillers, made by Galderma, that are injected to smooth facial wrinkles and folds and to add volume to areas such as the lips, cheeks, chin and under-eye hollows. The FDA regulates fillers as medical device implants. The original Restylane gel was approved on December 12, 2003, for moderate to severe facial wrinkles and folds.
Hyaluronic acid is a sugar found naturally in skin and cartilage. The HA in Restylane is made by bacteria and crosslinked so it lasts longer than the body's own HA. Results are temporary, and getting filler is a medical procedure.
Restylane at a Glance
| What it treats | Wrinkles and folds; lip, cheek and chin volume; under-eye hollows; back of the hands |
|---|---|
| How it works | HA gel binds water and adds volume under the skin |
| How it's given | Injections by needle or blunt cannula, usually in 15 to 30 minutes |
| How long it lasts | About 6 to 12 months, by product and area |
| Downtime and side effects | Little downtime. Swelling or bruising usually fades within 1 to 2 weeks. |
| Reversible? | Yes. Hyaluronidase can dissolve it. |
| FDA status | FDA-approved device, for specific areas in adults over 21 |
How Does Restylane Work?
Restylane works by placing a hyaluronic acid gel under the skin, where it combines with water and swells to fill a wrinkle or add volume. Crosslinking links the HA chains into a network that lasts longer. Results are visible right away, then fade as the body slowly absorbs the gel.
What Does Restylane Treat?
Restylane treats specific areas of the face and hands, and each product has its own FDA-approved uses:
| Product | FDA-approved uses |
|---|---|
| Restylane Kysse | Lip fullness and lines around the upper lip |
| Restylane Lyft | Cheeks, nasolabial folds, chin and back of the hands |
| Restylane Contour | Cheek augmentation and midface contour |
| Restylane Defyne | Nasolabial folds and chin profile |
| Restylane Eyelight | Under-eye hollows |
The FDA has not approved fillers for the forehead, nose, area between the eyebrows, neck, breasts or buttocks.
What to Expect Before, During and After Restylane
A Restylane treatment is usually one short office visit.
Before
- Your provider reviews your health history and medicines. Restylane Lyft needs no allergy test.
- Aspirin, ibuprofen, St. John's wort and high-dose vitamin E can increase bruising.
- If you get cold sores, you may be given medicine to prevent a flare.
- Treatment waits if the area has pimples, a rash or an infection.
During
The provider usually gives several injections of gel. You may feel stinging or burning.
After
- Most people return to everyday activities right away.
- Cold compresses can reduce swelling.
- A touch-up is sometimes given 2 to 4 weeks later.
How Long Do Restylane Results Last?
Restylane results usually last about 6 to 12 months, varying by product and area. In FDA-approved labeling:
- Smile lines (Lyft): about 6 months
- Cheeks: 2 to 12 months with Lyft; up to 48 weeks with Contour
- Chin: up to 12 months with Lyft; with Defyne, 73.7% still improved at 48 weeks
- Under the eyes (Eyelight): up to 12 months
- Back of the hands (Lyft): about 6 months
Restylane Risks and Side Effects
Restylane's most common side effects are mild to moderate injection-site reactions, such as swelling, bruising, redness, tenderness, itching and small bumps, which usually fade within 1 to 2 weeks.
- Less common: infection, lumps (nodules), cold sore flares, and swelling near the site after an illness, vaccination or dental work. In Restylane Lyft trials, some African American patients had skin darkening that resolved after 6 weeks.
- Rare but serious: accidental injection into a blood vessel, which can cause tissue death, vision problems including blindness, or stroke.
Get immediate care for unusual pain, vision changes, white, gray or blue skin near the site, or stroke signs during or shortly after treatment.
Who Shouldn't Get Restylane?
Restylane is not for people with a history of anaphylaxis or multiple severe allergies, or with allergies to lidocaine or the bacterial proteins used to make the gel. Restylane Lyft shouldn't be used if you bleed easily or have a bleeding disorder. Filler safety is unknown during pregnancy or breastfeeding, under age 22 and in people prone to keloid scars.
Restylane vs. Juvéderm and Other Fillers
Restylane and Juvéderm are both crosslinked hyaluronic acid fillers, so they work the same way and can be dissolved; other filler materials last longer but are harder to remove.
| Filler | Material | How long it lasts | Easy to remove? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Restylane (Galderma) | Hyaluronic acid | About 6 to 12 months | Yes; hyaluronidase breaks it down |
| Juvéderm (Allergan) | Hyaluronic acid | About 6 to 12 months | Yes; hyaluronidase breaks it down |
| Calcium hydroxylapatite fillers | A mineral found in teeth and bones | About 18 months | Removal may be difficult or impossible |
| Poly-L-lactic acid fillers | A man-made polymer | Up to 2 years; results build over weeks | Removal may be difficult or impossible |
Restylane at GENEVA
At GENEVA Primary Care & Med Spa in Alpharetta, GA, a provider evaluates your concern, goals and medical history, then recommends treatment at GENEVA or a referral to a specialist.
Learn more about dermal fillers and lip filler at GENEVA. GENEVA serves patients from Alpharetta, Johns Creek, Milton, Roswell and Cumming.
Related Terms
- Dermal Fillers
- Hyaluronic Acid Filler
- Juvéderm
- Hyaluronidase
- Lip Augmentation
- Cheek Augmentation
- Tear Trough
- Nasolabial Folds
Restylane FAQs
How long does Restylane last?
Restylane usually lasts about 6 to 12 months, depending on the product and the area treated. In FDA-approved labeling for Restylane Lyft, results last about 6 months for smile lines, 2 to 12 months for cheeks and up to 12 months in the chin. In the Restylane Kysse lip study, study doctors found at least a 1-point improvement in lip fullness in 60% of people 12 months after treatment. Because the body slowly absorbs the gel, keeping results requires repeat treatments once the effect fades.
Is Restylane safe?
Restylane is FDA-approved, and most of its side effects are mild and temporary, but like any filler it carries some risk, including rare serious complications. Swelling, bruising, redness and small bumps usually clear within 1 to 2 weeks. Infection, lumps and delayed swelling are less common. The most serious risk is accidental injection into a blood vessel, which can cause tissue death, vision loss or stroke. Get emergency care for vision changes, unusual pain, white, gray or blue skin near the site, or stroke signs after treatment.
Does Restylane hurt?
Restylane injections can cause stinging or burning, and products such as Restylane Kysse, Lyft and Eyelight contain the numbing medicine lidocaine to reduce it. In a split-face study of 60 patients, people rated injection pain at about 47 on a 0 to 100 scale for Restylane Lyft without lidocaine, compared with about 15 with lidocaine. The numbing lasted up to 60 minutes. Your provider may also use ice, a numbing cream or a nerve block, which lips often need.
Can Restylane be dissolved?
Yes, Restylane can be dissolved, because it is made of hyaluronic acid, which an enzyme called hyaluronidase breaks down. Providers use hyaluronidase to treat lumps, some delayed reactions and emergencies. The Global Aesthetics Consensus Group recommends injecting it immediately if filler blocks a blood vessel and advises injectors to keep it on hand. The FDA notes that non-HA fillers can be difficult or impossible to remove. Hyaluronidase can itself cause allergic reactions.
What is the difference between Restylane and Juvéderm?
Restylane and Juvéderm are both brands of crosslinked hyaluronic acid filler; Restylane is made by Galderma and Juvéderm by Allergan. Both work the same way and can be dissolved with hyaluronidase. Both lines include FDA-approved products for the lips and under-eye hollows. For example, Restylane Eyelight and Juvéderm Volbella XC are each approved for under-eye hollows, with results that may last up to 12 months. Fillers differ in physical properties such as stiffness, and expert consensus advises matching the product to the area treated.
What should I avoid before and after Restylane?
Before and after Restylane, avoid products that can increase bruising, such as aspirin, ibuprofen and other NSAIDs, St. John's wort and high-dose vitamin E. The Restylane Lyft labeling advises avoiding them for 1 week after treatment. Afterward, the same labeling advises not touching the area for 6 hours and avoiding intense heat, such as sunbathing or sun lamps, until redness and swelling are gone. Dermatologists also advise waiting until the next day to exercise and avoiding tanning beds. Never stop a prescribed blood thinner without talking with your treating doctor first.
Can a primary care provider evaluate you for Restylane?
Yes, a primary care provider can evaluate whether Restylane fits your goals and health history. At GENEVA Primary Care & Med Spa in Alpharetta, a provider reviews your goals, medical history, allergies and medicines, then recommends treatment at GENEVA or a referral to a specialist. The FDA advises choosing a licensed provider trained in filler injection, with experience in dermatology or plastic surgery, and asking about that experience. Avoid filler at a non-medical spa, salon or home, and never buy filler online.