Restylane® Silk: Frequently Asked Questions What is Restylane Silk? Restylane Silk is a hyaluronic acid based filler. Hyaluronic acid is a sugar that is naturally present in your skin and joints. Restylane Silk is part of the Restylane family of fillers and has produced really great results in the area around the mouth and the lips. What is Restylane Silk indicated for? Like other areas of the face, the lips and skin surrounding the mouth show signs of aging as an individual gets older. This often results in lip thinning, lost shape, and an increase in vertical lines above the lip. Restylane Silk is the first and only FDA-approved product specifically designed for subtle lip enhancement and the smoothing of wrinkles and lines around the mouth in patients over 21 years of age. How is Restylane Silk actually used in treatment? Restylane Silk is typically injected more superficially than other fillers, and it can be used for non-surgical lip augmentation/lip enhancement for fuller lips as well as volume replacement in the creases around the mouth and nose. What makes Restylane Silk different from other dermal fillers? Restylane Silk is designed specifically to provide natural-looking results in the lips and wrinkles around the mouth. It can be injected much more superficially than other fillers, which makes it ideal for the vertical smoker’s wrinkles and thin/ wrinkled lips. What makes Restylane Silk different from Restylane or Perlane? Restylane silk is made of smaller, smoother particles than those used in other Restylane products like Restylane or Perlane. That’s what makes it ideal for lip augmentation and filling wrinkles around the mouth. How long does Restylane Silk last? The majority of patients show maintained lip improvement at 6 months following treatment. Although, some patients have found that the results last longer. Are the injections painful? Topical numbing medication is used on all lip filler patients. We use a special formulation of topical anesthesia to minimize bruising and provide optimal anesthetic effect. It’s best to leave this on for 30 minutes prior to the injection, so we have a very comfortable and relaxing “Quiet Room” within the clinic for your enjoyment during this time. Dr. Velargo and Dr. Hendrick are believers in cool compress anesthesia as well as “acupressure” techniques to make the injections as comfortable as possible. Because such a tiny needle is used, the injection
process is not typically very painful. Additionally, lidocaine is contained in the injection formula in order to ease discomfort. Is allergy testing needed? Unlike some other dermal fillers, allergy testing is NOT required prior to injection with Restylane Silk. An allergic reaction would be exceedingly rare. How young can you be treated? Restylane Silk is FDA approved for patients over 21 years of age. Does it matter if I am 30, 40, 50 or older for treating or for the results I will see? Dr. Velargo and Dr. Hendrick use facial fillers both medically and artistically, much like a sculptor, to provide you with a natural younger look. This requires the ability to determine the best areas for injections, the type of filler used, and how much filler should be used. Younger patients in their 20’s, 30’s, and 40’s who usually have good lip structure/ shape and may just need some additional volume and hydration are typically the most ideal Restylane Silk patients. As we age into our late 40’s and 50’s, the upper lip begins to disappear, and in cases where lip structure needs to be recreated, other fillers with larger particle sizes (e.g. Restylane or Juvederm) are more ideal. Of course some older patients still have great lip structure and some younger patients may have very thin lips, so our recommendation of filler type really depends on the individual patient’s needs rather than a numerical age. Can all skin types be treated? All skin types can be treated with Restylane Silk. This is a volumizing product, which does not alter the characteristics of the skin tone. Can men be treated? Absolutely! Men can benefit from lip injections or injections around the mouth for the same reasons as women do. How long does treatment take? We don’t like to “rush through” the injection process at the New Orleans Center for Aesthetics and Plastic Surgery. While you will be numbing for about 30 minutes, the injection process itself typically takes about 20-30 minutes. We are going to make sure this is an enjoyable, comfortable process for you, so if more time is needed, we are happy to accommodate! Does Restylane Silk require any special techniques or training? While Restylane Silk does not require any special certificate, Dr. Velargo and Dr. Hendrick are both trained and skilled injectors with years of experience injecting all sorts of fillers. The doctors actually flew in a renowned Restylane Silk injector from Texas for hands on training as soon as they started carrying the product. She was very impressed with both Dr. Hendrick’s and Dr. Velargo’s techniques and results! Lastly, Dr.’s Velargo and Hendrick are both intimately familiar with surgical facial anatomy, which sets them apart from their non-surgically oriented colleagues and provides a better foundation for treating the big picture of facial aging. Additionally, they are able
to offer a non-biased opinion about where a patient’s money is best spent to achieve their desired goal (e.g. an investment in surgery or an investment in filler over time). Can you combine Restylane Silk with other facial anti-aging treatments? Most definitely! Many patients have numerous areas of the face addressed simultaneously. Whether adding additional cheek volume, injecting Dysport or Botox, or performing a chemical peel/ laser treatment, many patients combine therapy to obtain the best results possible. When can I return to work and resume my social life? You can proceed with most of your activities, including returning to work, after you leave our office following injections with Restylane Silk. What are the common side effects of Restylane Silk? Most patients experience some minimal swelling, bruising, and soreness for a few days. What can be done to prevent bruising? While prevention of a bruise can’t be guaranteed, there are certain steps you can take to minimize your risk. Stopping medications that may thin the blood in the days and weeks leading up to the injection is a good idea (e.g. fish oil, Vitamin E, aspirin, motrin, aleve, ibufrofen, etc...). Additionally, you can take oral Arnica Montana or bromelin tablets in the week leading up to your injection. Bromelin is also found naturally in pineapple and papaya, so fresh juices are a great, healthy way to help prevent bruising as well. Should bruising occur, you can cover any discoloration with makeup, apply cool compresses to reduce the inflammation, and apply topical Arnica Montana to speed the resorbtion of any bruising. What if I don’t like the results – can Restylane Silk be removed? Restylane Silk, like the other hyaluronic acid fillers, is reversible with the injection of an enzyme, hyaluronidase, which will dissolve the product. At the New Orleans Center for Aesthetics and Plastic Surgery we take every step to ensure that you will be pleased with the outcome to prevent having to go down this path. This is part of the reason that we have you play an active role in the injection process. We empower you with a hand mirror and ask frequently throughout the process if you are pleased with the size, shape, and symmetry of your lips. How often can I be injected? You can be injected as frequently as is needed to obtain and maintain the size and shape that is most aesthetically pleasing. Once you achieve your ideal lips, you will want to get maintenance injections about every 6-9 months. If injected at this interval, you will likely need less product for each subsequent injection. How much does it cost? Restylane Silk is sold by the syringe and not by the unit (as Dysport and Botox are). At the New Orleans Center for Aesthetics and Plastic Surgery, we charge $550 per syringe (as of August 2015). This price is subject to change. While this may seem like a lot of money, think about it in terms of a 6-month investment. At around $92/ month, that’s less than many people spend per month on Starbucks coffee. So, make your coffee at home, save up your money, and call us at 504-533-8848 to get the lips you’ve been dreaming about!
New Orleans Center for Aesthetics and Plastic Surgery www.plasticsurgerynola.com 2633 Napoleon Ave, Ste. 920 New Orleans, LA 70115 (504) 533-8848