The popularity of facial fillers has increased dramatically in the last few years, with millions of treatments performed yearly in the United States alone. There are several reasons people keep coming back to these effective treatments, including their quick, minimally invasive application, great results, and versatility. While in the past, fillers were only formulated to help with lines and wrinkles, physicians have found that their potential uses are much broader than this. Manufacturers have been listening, and today more formulas are coming out with specific uses in mind. On the heels of Juvederm Voluma (used for rejuvenating and re-filling the cheek area) comes a new FDA-approved product from the Restylane family—with a very specific purpose.
A Restylane Product for Lip Rejuvenation
Just like other Restylane formulas, Restylane Silk is made of a hyaluronic acid-based clear gel. Hyaluronic acid is a sugar found naturally in the skin, and is a common material used in dermal fillers. Instead of a general formula to be used in various wrinkle treatments and augmentation, however, Restylane Silk is formulated specifically for the enhancement and rejuvenation of the lips. Subtle changes work best for the lip area, and the new formula helps control the results for optimal patient satisfaction.
With age, the lips begin to lose fullness, and often develop small vertical wrinkles surrounding them. Restylane Silk was developed to address these wrinkles specifically and contribute additional fullness to the lips. The injections can also improve lip shape and contour.
What Makes It Different?
With all the different hyaluronic acid fillers on the market these days, it makes sense to wonder what makes each formula different. Restylane Silk uses the same technology as many other hyaluronic acid fillers, but the particles in the gel are smaller and smoother than in other similar products, in order to give the most natural appearance to the lip area.
Hyaluronic acid fillers have long been praised for the beautiful, natural look and feel they offer lip augmentation patients, but Restylane Silk is the first filler designed for such lip enhancement. “Passing the kiss test” is a major factor for many potential lip enhancement patients (this refers to the lips feeling natural to the touch when kissed), and hyaluronic products are typically considered the best fillers for passing this test.
How Long Does It Last?
Data from the clinical study of Restylane Silk patients presented positive findings regarding the effectiveness and longevity of the product. Ninety-eight percent of patients had improved lip fullness after two weeks, with 77 percent still seeing improvement after eight weeks. Fifty-nine percent of patients had continued noticeable results six months after treatment, comparable results to established fillers. Like other fillers, repeat injections will be required to maintain long-term results.
The Procedure
Like other fillers, the treatment involves a simple injection process that generally takes under an hour. There is little to no downtime involved with the procedure, and swelling and bruising should be minimal, fading in the days following treatment.
Eligibility
Dermal fillers are generally tolerated very well by most patients and often produce outstanding results. That said, not everyone is a candidate for health reasons, which is one of the reasons it’s important to seek your treatments from a qualified, board certified plastic surgeon. He or she will be able to determine if you are healthy enough for fillers, as well as assess your needs and help you come up with the treatment that will work best for you. Patients interested in Restylane Silk must be at least 21 years of age, not have allergies to lidocaine, and not affected by a bleeding disorder.
The most important aspect of your treatment will be your surgeon’s skill, and since Restylane Silk is a new product, it may be harder to find a qualified provider in your area. Always consult with expert facial plastic surgeons when planning your treatment, like Dr. Edward Buckingham of Buckingham Center in Austin, Texas. Dr. Buckingham is double board certified and offers patients a range of effective anti-aging procedures. He is pleased to introduce Restylane Silk to his practice as a powerful tool for lip rejuvenation. Call Buckingham Center at 512-401-2500 to schedule your consultation.