Restylane, Perlane, and Dermal Fillers

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Treatment of Laugh Lines, Folds, and Improving Lip Size and Appearance

Restylane20logo.gif picture by eaadds

 

Having Restylane® or Perlane® done by Dr. Alvarez is different in some subtle ways. First, as a dentist, Dr. Alvarez is accustomed to working on changing the appearance of your face, on determining facial beauty, and normally uses the contours of your teeth and smile to cause a change in the contours and soft tissue of your face. Second, Dr. Alvarez will apply Low Level Laser Therapy* to the area to be treated. In the opinion of Dr. Alvarez and the Facial Beauty Institute®, use of low level laser therapy reduces the inflammation, bruising, and swelling associated with treatment*. In addition, Dr. Alvarez is very comfortable in fully numbing all the areas of your mouth/face that would involve treatment. In contrast, many physicians are not comfortable in using local anesthetics, other than topical, to numb you before your Restylane® treatment.


Dermal rejuvenation is a wonderful adjunct/partner to cosmetic dental procedures. What frames a beautiful smile better than full, yet natural looking lips? Many times in order to achieve optimal results, doing beautiful veneers or crowns is just not enough.  


Dermal fillers like Restylane® or Perlane® can provide the following:


1) Achieve a more youthful, rested, fresher appearance.


2) Enhance an already, or new beautiful smile.


3) Help soften and greatly reduce the look of wrinkles, nasolabial folds, and marionette lines.


4) Lift the corners of the mouth.


5) Enhance the shape, contour, and size of the lips.


6) Eliminate the "bleeding lipstick" look of women that have lost fullness of the lips over the years.


7) Add volume to the face to provide for a better profile. 

Restylane and Perlane Facts

  • Restylane® and Perlane® are made from Non-Animal Based Stabilized Hyaluronic Acid (NASHA) in the form of a gel, which is manufactured, and then packaged, in a pre-filled syringe.

  •  FDA Approved and used since 1996.
 
  • Hyaluronic acid occurs naturally in our skin. It is a sugar molecule found in nature. It binds with water and creates volume that gives our skin its soft, youthful appearance.
 
  • As we age, this naturally occurring substance diminishes and our skin becomes thinner and more prone to lines and wrinkles.
 
  • Restylane® has no genetic identity.  It is an inert substance that will not cause an allergic reaction. Therefore, unlike collagen, no pre-testing is required.
 
  • Treatment consists of a series of small, shallow injections, once the skin has been numbed by anesthetic.
 
  • It is quick and the results are instantaneous. Some tenderness and swelling can be expected but this normally subsides after 48 hours. Results will improve over the next 4-6 weeks as the molecules absorb and bind water.
 
  • As with any cosmetic procedure, a touch up is normally required after an initial period of healing (usually 3-8 weeks).
 
  • How long a treatment remains effective depends upon a patient’s individual response. Influencing factors can be related to age, lifestyle, smoking, alcohol use, skin type and muscle activity. Generally, the treatment lasts 6-12 months, and only takes about 20 minutes to an hour to do (depending on areas treated). 
 
  • The procedure may be repeated as often as you like.

*-Low-level laser therapy (LLLT) refers to the use of red-beam or near-infrared lasers with a wave-length between 600 and 1000nm power from 5–500 milliwatts. These lasers are nonthermal. Due to the low absorption by human skin, it is hypothesized that the laser light can penetrate deeply into the tissues where it may have a photobiostimulation effect. LLLT is also referred to as cold laser therapy, low-power laser therapy (LPLT), low-intensity laser and low-energy laser therapy. When LLLT is administered to the acupuncture pressure points, it may be referred to as laser acupuncture. LLLT includes an extensive variety of procedures involving several laser types and treatment methods. These various treatment procedures have been proposed for a wide range of medical conditions. Use of LLLT is considered experimental, investigational or unproven.