On the one hand, having smile lines is a sign of a life well-lived, and on the other hand, having smile lines is a sign that you’ve lived long enough to see the first visible signs of aging. Yikes! Dynamic wrinkles, which are the wrinkles associated with facial movement, have a way of creeping up on us. The expert team at Revive Me in St. Cloud, MN knows a few ways to smooth smile lines, such as with Restylane!
Does Restylane Stimulate Collagen?
Yes, Restylane absolutely does stimulate the production of collagen. Restylane is a dermal filler that is used to restore facial volume, reduce fine lines, diminish wrinkles, and, in particular, smooth smile lines.
But unlike other dermal fillers, which only restore volume, Restylane works with your body’s natural regenerative processes to stimulate collagen from the inside out, and in doing so produces long-lasting, natural-looking results.
So, how does Restylane stimulate collagen? Well, the secret is in its active ingredient – hyaluronic acid.
What Is Hyaluronic Acid?
Hyaluronic acid is the current rising star of the cosmetic world, which means you’ve probably heard about it everywhere you go. From dermatologists to online beauty gurus to just about every over-the-counter moisturizer for anti-aging, it seems like hyaluronic acid is always in the spotlight. Good thing the focus on hyaluronic acid makes sense!
The reason hyaluronic acid is so essential is because of the role this naturally-occurring acid plays within the skin. Hyaluronic acid is a water-retaining miracle that can hold several times its own weight in water, which helps keep your skin cells moisturized in the sub-dermal layers of your skin.
Water-rich skin cells are the key to having voluminous, supple, elastic, and healthy skin. This means that when your natural levels of hyaluronic acid begin to decrease with age, so does the overall moisture balance and retention of your skin.
The Important Relationship Between Hyaluronic Acid and Collagen
The importance of hyaluronic acid isn’t only its hydrating abilities. It’s also important because hyaluronic acid and collagen share a pretty unique relationship. Collagen, which is a protein that provides structural support to your skin, is typically one of the first victims to fall from the natural effects of aging.
As you age, your body naturally producez less and less collagen, which is part of what increases skin laxity to such a degree that wrinkles can form. So, with both collagen and hyaluronic acid decreasing as a result of the aging process, you can see why the skin begins to change.
However, the reason why Restylane works so well is that it infuses the skin with hyaluronic acid that essentially feeds the collagen already present in the skin. Studies show that collagen production increases in the presence of hyaluronic acid – so when there is more hyaluronic acid in the skin, higher production of collagen is sure to follow.
Where Can Restylane Be Used?
Restylane is unique among other dermal fillers for a few reasons, one of the most prevalent being the versatility of its use. While some dermal fillers can only be used in one area of the face, Restylane has a significantly broader reach. The original Restylane formula can be used to:
- Smooth smile lines
- Restore cheek volume
- Correct under-eye hollow
- Enhance lips
- Fix asolabial folds
- Smooth dynamic wrinkles
Restylane can even be used off-label to restore volume to sagging earlobes and has been featured in studies to revive the appearance of thinning skin on the hands and feet.
What Can You Expect From Restylane Treatment?
At Revive Me, we serve clients both at our brick-and-mortar office and at our mobile clinic, where we come to your home for at-home treatments.
Regardless of where you choose to have your treatment, the steps of your Restylane treatment will always be the same. Some steps you can expect include:
Consultation
Your consultation gives us the opportunity to talk about your appearance-related goals, such as the desire to smooth smile lines or restore volume to the face.
We will examine the condition of your skin, paying particular attention to the areas you identify as primary concerns. We will ask about the kind of treatments and products you have used in the past, as well as your overall expectations for treatment.
Pre-Treatment
In order to get the best results from your treatment, you will need to follow a series of directions to prepare for your treatment. These pre-treatment instructions should be followed for 3 to 5 days before your treatment appointment and may include:
- Discontinue using Retinol or acid skincare products
- Do not take certain herbal supplements
- Do not take anti-inflammatory or blood-thinning medications
- Reschedule your treatment if you have a cold-sore
Step One: Sanitize and Numb
The first official step of your treatment will be to remove any excess dirt, oil, or make-up from the skin surface. This is a double-duty step because it also sanitizes your skin for the treatment and removes any bacteria from the skin surface.
Your certified technician will then apply a topical numbing cream to ensure your comfort for the duration of your treatment.
Step Two: Mark and Inject
Next, your aesthetician will identify and mark the best areas to make the injections to produce your desired results. For example, if your goal is to smooth smile lines, your injections will focus on the area around the mouth and the cheeks to restore facial volume.
The injection portion of your treatment will take about 20 to complete. While it’s common to use one syringe per Restylane treatment, your aesthetician will determine the number of units required to achieve your desired appearance goals. If you are using Restylane to treat multiple areas of the face or if the condition of your skin is more than moderate, your treatment may require additional units.
Post-Treatment
Patients who receive the best results from this treatment follow the post-treatment instructions to the letter. Post-treatment instructions should be followed for at least 3 to 5 days after treatment and may include:
- Do not rub, massage, or scrub the face
- Only use gentle cleansers and tepid water
- Do not use Retinol or acid skincare products
- Discontinue certain herbal supplements
- Do not take anti-inflammatory or blood-thinning medications
- Avoid direct sun exposure
- No excessive sweating or heat, such as from saunas or hot tubs
- Use SPF 30 or higher during the day
How Long Is Recovery?
The recovery period associated with dermal fillers is usually less than a week before you can return to all your normal skincare habits, including using Retinol, glycolic acid, AHA, and other acid-based skincare products.
Immediately following your appointment, you are free to return to your normal daily activities, including driving and going back to work.
When Can You See Results?
The results you can expect from dermal fillers usually tasks about a week to manifest or become obvious. Some patients report noticing an immediate improvement in the volume of their skin directly after the treatment appointment, but the majority of patients require 1 to 2 weeks to see initial results.
Your results will continue to improve over the next several weeks, reaching a peak between 6 to 12 weeks following treatment. You may notice results sooner if your appearance-related concerns were minor.
How Long Will Results Last?
The results of this treatment will last for about 12 to 18 months per treatment. This is a stark contrast to other dermal fillers, which sometimes only last for 9 to 12 months.
The results of your treatment may last longer if your concerns were mild or if your body responds particularly well to the new infusion of hyaluronic acid.
How Many Treatments Will You Need?
Most patients only require one treatment to see results. However, depending on the needs of your skin and your overall goals, you may require a brief touch-up treatment about 2 to 4 weeks after your first appointment to top-off the Restylane injections and produce your desired results.
How Frequently Should You Have Treatment?
Most patients have this treatment about once a year. We encourage patients to schedule regular annual appointments to maintain the results of the treatment.
What Are Restylane Benefits?
Restylane has a ton of unique benefits that make the treatment attractive to prospective patients. In addition to being non-invasive and having minimal downtime, other benefits include:
Natural-Looking Results
The restoration of your skin volume will appear natural, meaning you can move your face freely and treat your skin normally after your immediate recovery period has passed.
The natural-looking results are because the dermal filler itself uses a naturally-occurring main ingredient.
Long-Lasting Results
Long-lasting results mean you will be spending less time getting treatments and ultimately saving money on your treatments.
The results of this treatment can last for just over one year at a time, meaning the results themselves are semi-permanent if they are maintained correction.
Multifunctional Treatment
This is a multifunctional treatment that can be used in virtually every area of the face. Whether you want to smooth smile lines or augment the shape of your lips, this versatile treatment can easily restore volume on the cheeks, around the eyes, and can even be used on the hands and feet.
If you are interested in using this treatment on multiple areas of the face and body, please let us know during your consultation appointment.
Safe and Effective Treatment
This treatment is safe and effective because, in addition to being derived from a naturally-occurring acid, this treatment is also approved by eh FDA for the restoration of facial volume.
The effectiveness of this treatment has been verified by rigorous clinical trials and has been noted as an effective treatment for the majority of patients.
Many Restylane Options
Restylane is part of a family of dermal filler products that all use similar hyaluronic acid formulas. Products like Restylane Lyft, Refyne, and Defyne are all specially formulated to accomplish specific tasks that the original Restylane filler may not be able to accomplish so quickly.
If you want to try a specific Restylane filler, please let us know during your consultation so we can customize your treatment plan.
Are You a Good Candidate for Restylane?
Adults who are not satisfied by their overall appearance are most likely good candidates for this treatment. You may be a good candidate for this non-invasive, natural-looking treatment if you want to:
- Smooth smile lines
- Restore skin volume
- Resolve hollowness in cheeks and beneath eyes
- Correct dynamic wrinkles
Smooth Smile Lines and Revive Your Youth With Restylane!
You should feel free to smile without worrying about making your dynamic wrinkles and smile lines worse. If you think Restylane is a good option to smooth your smile lines and revive the youthful volume of your skin, please contact Revive Me in St. Cloud, MN to schedule your first appointment today!
