Facial wrinkles and creases begin to appear as the underlying collagen and elastin fibers begin to break down and wear out. While this breakdown is part of the natural aging process, it can also result from excessive squinting, frowning and smiling. Until recently, the most frequently used material for filling lower facial wrinkles and frown lines was injectable collagen. However, collagen injections aren't for everyone. A very small percentage of patients are allergic to bovine collagen and most people are disapointed in how quickly collagen resorbs.

What is it?
If one where to analyze the ingredients of the skin, you would see that hyaluronic acid composes 90% of the skin's volume. This is the material that holds the skin's collagen and elastin molecules in place. Hyaluronic acid is much more hydrophillic than collagen. This allows it to attract water molecules to the injected sites resulting in a more natural longer lasting augmentation that resists lumpiness.

Where does it come from?
Restylane and Perlane are not extracted from animals or made from materials that do not belong in the dermis. It is made using recombinant DNA, the same way that scientists now make human insulin for diabetics. This process is so exact that your body cannot tell the difference between this injectable hyaluronic acid and the hyaluronic acid that your own body produces. In contrast to other biodegradable implants, This means very little to no risk of allergic reaction. Therefore, they are perfectly safe to use instantly without pre-testing.

How do they work?
Restylane and Perlane contain cross-linked hyaluronic acid in the form of a crystal-clear gel. Hyaluronic acid is a material that naturally belongs in the skin, but decreases with age and wrinkling. It is injected into the skin to lift the lip, wrinkle or fold. Once in your skin, it attracts the body's water and creates volume, resulting in a healthy and vital appearance. When injected into the lip they can restore a more natural, youthful look or depending on your needs, give a more sensuous pouty look.

What areas respond the best to treatment?
Fine lines on the upper and lower lip smooth and fill nicely with Restylane. Deeper wrinkles and folds in the cheek areas nasolabial and drool lines at the corners of the mouth) respond well . Depending on your age and the size of the augmentation, Lip enhancement can last up one year.

How will I look after my treatment?
Following your injections, normal activities can be resumed immediately. Discomfort is minimal. The treatment site may have a little swelling, which may last a few hours to a few days. There may be some slight bruising which can be covered with make-up. Because of this possibility, we recommend that your social calender is cleared for 2-4 days.

How long will it last?
Depending on the area treated, initial correction usually lasts from six to twelve months. People usually get used to their appearance during this time and then want more plumping even though the initial augmentation has not yet worn off. The nice thing about this is that the material seems synergistic on repeated injections. This means that your 2nd treatment, if done at the right time will give you a larger or longer augmentation than the first one did. By experience, these products last almost 3 times as long as collagen

Is it safe?
Yes. Hyaluronic acid occurs naturally in the body and therefore it also dissolves naturally with time and is integrated into your body's tissues. The synthetic, biodegradable hyaluronic acid known as Restylane or Perlane has been used in Europe and Canada for many years. And there has never been a confirmed reported allergic reaction. Restylane has been the number one filler in the world for the last 5 years. It has a proven track record of longevity and safety that is unmatched by any of the new fillers that are out today. In our opinion, it is the best safest filling material on the market

What's the difference between Restylane® and Perlane®?
All these products have the same 20 mg/cc strength of hyaluronic acid; they just vary in gel particle size. This variability makes for tailoring of injections according to the depth of the wrinkles and desired lip enhancement. Your doctor will help you decide what is best for you. Please note while Restylane has been FDA approved, Perlane is still awaiting approval.

What are the treatments like?
The treatment is performed by injecting Restylane or Perlane under your skin. No pre-test is needed. Pain relief is usually not needed afterwards. Lip enhancement is preceded by an anesthetic block for upper and lower lips so the treatment is painless. Many patients like the added comfort provided when we apply painless dental block, this makes the procedure no more painful than getting your blood drawn. The treatment will take about an hour out of your schedule. All of this time is not for injections but time for the doctor to consult with you, ensure proper anesthesia, perform the treatment, and time to ice any swelling. Be sure to eat before arriving.

How much will I need?
Your age and what your concerns are, will influence the quantity that will be needed. We naturally lose skin thickness as we age, typically 1% of the skin's volume is lost per year. As a rule of thumb, if you are in your 30's, you have lost about 1/3 of your skin thickness and will usually need one syringe to achieve a proper correction. If you are closer to 50, then 2 syringes are often needed. There is no reason why you must do both syringes at the same time. In fact we have noticed better results in some patients if they have one treatment and the have the second treatment the following month. This way you can achive a slower augmentation that will not interfere with your social schedule.

The great thing about Restylane and Perlane is that you can replenish your natural beauty whenever you feel the need. Unlike permanent implants, Restylane and Perlane always leave you a choice when the effect of the treatment has worn off. We can also avoid any of the permanent side effects that can occur when using other less natural implants.