What's Covered on This Page
- What Restylane Injections Are Used to Treat
- Preparing for Your Restylane Appointment
- What is my treatment experience with Restylane treatments at Jolie Visage like?
- What Happens After You Get Fillers and Aftercare Guidelines
- How Long Restylane Injections Last & When to Schedule Your Next Appointment
- How long do Restylane injections last in Murrells Inlet's humid coastal climate?
- What should I do to prepare for my Restylane appointment?
- How soon can I go back to normal activities after Restylane injections?
- Who is a good candidate for Restylane injections?
- Will Restylane injections make me look overdone or unnatural?
- What areas of the face can Restylane treat in one visit?
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What Restylane Injections Are Used to Treat
There are a variety of different reasons why people stop by our Murrells Inlet office. They may come in because they notice that their lips aren't quite as full today as they were five years ago. They may find themselves catching their reflection and noticing more severe lines around the mouth that don't seem to respond to makeup. Or, they may simply want their skin to reflect how well-rested they really are.
Restylane injections work by replacing hyaluronic acid, which your skin naturally loses over time. Your body already produces the substance, which adds moisture, firmness, and volume. It's not a foreign substance; we're simply restoring what time took away from you.
A few of the more common areas treated with Restylane injections include:
- Nasolabial folds (lines around the mouth that go from the nose to the corners)
- Marionette lines (lines which can give a tired or sad appearance)
- Thin or uneven lips due to volume loss
- Under eye hollows
- Cheeks that have lost volume
Most often, people begin their treatment journey due to noticeable nasolabial folds. Many will come in and point at the lines, asking us to just take them out. We are able to effectively reduce the appearance of these deep lines with just one session of Restylane injections.
What patient makes the right candidate for Restylane treatments? Adults over the age of 25 can benefit greatly from Restylane. We work with a variety of people from the Garden City area in the 30s who are interested in subtle lip enhancements as well as patients in their 50s and 60s who are interested in restoring fullness to the cheeks. According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, hyaluronic acid fillers are currently the most popular non-surgical cosmetic procedure.
This is certainly consistent with what we witness as we treat new patients each week.
However, there are those cases where Restylane is contraindicated. This includes pregnant or nursing patients, and those with certain autoimmune issues, though we will help to explore other treatment options during your consultation.
For the best Restylane results, it is helpful for patients to have realistic expectations and goals. The treatment won't make you look 25 years younger; it should simply allow you to appear refreshed and revitalized while still looking like yourself. It's the difference between the work looking good, and the work looking unnatural. That is a distinction we take seriously and always to deliver.
Preparing for Your Restylane Appointment
There are often more questions than people realize about how to prepare for your Restylane session. Though preparing for a Restylane appointment is actually quite simple, there are some small steps you should take that can contribute to the comfort of your treatment and the quality of your results.
Consider starting a week in advance of your appointment with your Restylane treatments. These are a few things we recommend when your visit is upcoming:
- Avoid taking blood thinners like aspirin, ibuprofen, and other blood thinning supplements such as fish oils for a week out before your treatment. This increases bruising. If you are on blood thinners prescribed by a physician, please speak with them first.
- Refrain from alcohol for a minimum of two days leading up to your appointment. The underlying reason is the same: alcohol causes increased facial swelling by thinning the blood.
- Avoid booking your appointment immediately preceding a significant event. Please allocate a minimum of two weeks prior to events like weddings, vacations, or professional photography sessions.
- Attend your appointment with a clean face, free from makeup, heavy moisturizers, or sunscreen.
- Consume a light meal before your treatment and refrain from attending on an empty stomach, as low blood sugar may result in feelings of faintness in conjunction with injection treatments.
We have patients from as far as Garden City driving over for their treatments on a lunch break. That is perfectly fine! Just be sure to allot an hour so that you do not feel rushed.
Something that is not often discussed is sun exposure. If you have spent an entire weekend on the MarshWalk and your skin is now red and sunburned, we will most likely recommend that we reschedule you to avoid any unpredictable results from injecting into a skin surface that is currently irritated from the sun.
Another thing that often catches our clients off guard: taking Arnica supplements prior to your treatment can actually help decrease the bruising if you take it a few days in advance of your appointment; we recommend this to many of our patients.
Please be sure to bring with you a list of all medications and vitamins that you take. This is necessary even if they are herbal, as some herbal supplements and medications do affect the hyaluronic acid gel. Our licensed medical team will review all of your information with you.
Do you wonder if one of your current medications may be a problem? Please reach out to us ahead of time, or just give us a call. The five minutes spent clarifying this on the phone can save you a rescheduling on the day of your appointment.
What is my treatment experience with Restylane treatments at Jolie Visage like?
We have many patients from the surrounding Murrells Inlet community who have never had Restylane injections prior. No worries! It helps to know what to expect.
First, we have a detailed conversation. We do not use a script. Our nurse injector will meet with you, ask you about what bothers you most about your face, and observe your face in natural light. Is it the lines that run from the side of your nose to the corner of your mouth?
Maybe your under-eyes are always puffy even when you have gotten a full night's rest? Our injector will map exactly what we are treating as well as how much volume will be necessary to achieve your goals once we identify them.
Once we begin your treatment, this is what happens:
- We start by disinfecting the area we will be treating. We then apply a numbing cream and let this rest for approximately 15 minutes so you are not uncomfortable.
- Our injectors use a fine needle to carefully place small amounts of Restylane into specific areas under the skin.
- We stop in between various treatments so you are able to witness your progress as you treat with a mirror in your hand.
- We'll finish by doing a very light massage over the area to spread out the dermal filler.
- Finally, we'll offer you an ice pack and discuss the post-treatment guidelines that are important to follow.
Most of these appointments take between 30 and 45 minutes, depending on the areas we're treating. Some of this time will be spent letting the numbing cream do its job.
Restylane injections aren't typically considered uncomfortable. Most people report they're like a quick pinch. Since Restylane is actually pre-mixed with lidocaine, an anesthetic, we find it tends to get less uncomfortable as we treat each area. Our patients typically tell us it was less painful than they anticipated.
It is possible to go back to normal life immediately after receiving this treatment. In fact, some Burgess area patients will stop by a nearby restaurant for lunch after a MarshWalk restorative facial. Though mild swelling and bruising can happen as a result of the procedure, these are very common and are unlikely to interfere with a normal routine. Our chief dermal filler injector is highly trained in placement of injectable treatments.
We use a conservative approach to fillers, preferring to inject fewer fillers than too many on the first visit, because a more conservative approach allows for the most natural result and can be supplemented by subsequent treatments.
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What Happens After You Get Fillers and Aftercare Guidelines
We want everyone walking out of our office feeling like themselves! It's true, that is our number one goal.
Sometimes Restylane injections cause immediate swelling or bruising, and most people think they do. While mild swelling is a possibility, we don't think it causes much of an interruption to our MarshWalk patients' routines. Patients can get injected around lunch time (noon) and return to work by 1.
The First 48 Hours After Restylane Injections
The first 48 hours are the most important after a Restylane procedure. Your body is settling in to the gel underneath your skin, so be sure to:
- Avoid touching the area for six hours. Don't rub or press on it, don't "touch it up", and certainly don't rub it off!
- Avoid strenuous activity for 24 to 48 hours. Walking is fine, but not hot yoga or weight lifting.
- Avoid alcohol for the first 24 hours as it can lead to increased bruising.
- Sleep at an elevated angle the first night. A second pillow will do it!
- Use an ice pack sparingly if needed. Use a cool, damp washcloth for 10 minutes on and 10 minutes off for an hour.
The injection site may be sensitive and slightly red. This will heal quickly and should be gone within a day or two.
Day 3 Through Day 14
This is when the rubber hits the road! Restylane contains hyaluronic acid and pulls moisture into the treated area, which actually increases the result over two weeks. The first week may be subtle, but by day 10 to 14 patients feel it is full and smooth. Our patients tell us often that if we'd known about this 5 years ago they would've been doing it!
Any mild swelling or bruising should have disappeared at this point. If you had a lip procedure, the initial swelling has likely subsided enough to show off the new shape. Don't worry if you notice areas that look a bit uneven or lumpy at the five-day mark, as your fillers often require the complete two-week period to settle into their final position. That's why we schedule post-treatment touch-ups at the two-week mark for our Murrells Inlet patients, just to be sure the results are looking natural and you're feeling comfortable.
How Long Restylane Injections Last & When to Schedule Your Next Appointment
Our patients walk out of our office by the MarshWalk not realizing how good their new, natural-looking results are until roughly six months after the initial treatment, when they catch themselves looking in the mirror and thinking, "Hmm, I might be ready to go in for a touch-up." Restylane injections typically maintain your desired results for six to 12 months, although this is somewhat of a wide range of time. This can depend on which specific part of your face was targeted for filler injections, as filler placed on lips will be metabolized quicker than the cheek and under-eye areas; after all, your lips are in constant motion throughout the day while you speak and chew, and the same is not true for the rest of your facial structure. It also depends on your metabolism, too, which is why our Murrells Inlet customers who live outdoors and enjoy activities such as running, swimming, or paddle boarding might find the longevity of their Restylane injections is on the lower side of the spectrum (six months), versus the higher side (12 months).
Various elements that will affect the longevity of your Restylane treatments include:
- The treatment area (and how much movement is involved in that specific area of your body)
- Your metabolism and activity level
- The amount of product placed during your session
- Whether or not you've had previous Restylane injections in that area (as it's noted that repeat filler treatments tend to last longer).
Another note is worth mentioning. As stated by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, repeat patients who stay on a regular filler treatment cycle see their fillers last longer with each visit. There's more to it than meets the eye, and your body adapts to the filler beneath. But when is the right time to go in for the next treatment?
Generally, we'll tell patients that they can return at the seven or eight month mark. You may begin to notice a gradual softening around then. And because your treatment may not have completely dissipated by that point, less Restylane will be needed for future touch-ups. Some of our repeat patients schedule their follow-up appointment during their initial one, a proactive plan.
If you'd like to schedule your next Restylane injection in advance, before your results fade too much, call us and we can put together a plan for your future appointments.
Restylane Injections is one of the medical spa services at Jolie Visage in Murrells Inlet. If you're considering more than one treatment, we'll help you build a plan that fits your goals.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about restylane injections services in Murrells Inlet
How long do Restylane injections last in Murrells Inlet's humid coastal climate?
Restylane injections typically last 6 to 18 months depending on the treatment area. The coastal humidity here in Murrells Inlet actually helps, since well-hydrated skin holds filler longer. Areas with more movement, like lips, tend to break down faster than cheeks or nasolabial folds. Sun exposure is the bigger concern locally. Spending long weekends on the MarshWalk without SPF can shorten your results. We always remind patients to protect their skin after treatment.
What should I do to prepare for my Restylane appointment?
Stop taking aspirin, ibuprofen, and fish oil about seven days before your visit. Skip alcohol for at least 48 hours before your appointment. Come with a clean face and eat a light meal beforehand so you don't feel lightheaded. If you've had sun exposure and your skin is irritated, let us know before you come in. We may need to reschedule to get you the best result possible.
How soon can I go back to normal activities after Restylane injections?
You can return to your normal routine the same day as your treatment. Most patients from the Burgess area and near the MarshWalk grab lunch right after their appointments. You may notice some mild swelling or a small bruise, but nothing that stops your day. We do ask that you avoid intense exercise, alcohol, and direct sun for about 24 hours. Give yourself at least two weeks before a big event like a wedding or vacation photos.
Who is a good candidate for Restylane injections?
Most adults over 25 are good candidates for Restylane injections. We see clients in their 30s who want subtle lip volume and patients in their 50s and 60s looking to restore cheek fullness without surgery. If you are pregnant, nursing, or have certain autoimmune conditions, Restylane may not be the right fit. That is exactly what your consultation is for. We go through your health history and goals before we ever pick up a needle.
Will Restylane injections make me look overdone or unnatural?
No, Restylane injections done well should make you look refreshed, not different. We use hyaluronic acid, a substance your body already produces naturally. The goal is to put back what time has taken away. Our approach here in Murrells Inlet is to place a little less and bring you back for a touch-up if needed. You should look like yourself on a really good day, not like someone who had work done.
What areas of the face can Restylane treat in one visit?
Restylane can treat several areas in a single appointment. The most common requests we see are nasolabial folds, marionette lines, thin or uneven lips, under-eye hollows, and flat or dropped cheeks. Many patients come in focused on one area and leave having addressed two or three. Your injector will look at your whole face in natural light and help you decide what makes the most sense for your goals that day.