As important as it is to prepare correctly for your dermal filler treatment, it’s also important to be mindful after your treatment. Following your aftercare instructions will ensure your results develop optimally so you can enjoy the best-looking results. At Peachtree Dermatology in Atlanta, GA, we are happy to give our patients plenty of guidance about Restylane treatments so they can achieve their ideal aesthetic results as quickly as possible.
What Should You Avoid After Restylane?
Aftercare for your dermal filler treatment is extremely important if you want your results to settle well. Most dermal fillers share the same aftercare instructions, such as how to use ice, the best way to sleep, and how soon you can wash your face. In general, you should not touch your face for six to 12 hours, and you should not rub or aggressively touch your skin for 24 hours. Other things to avoid after your Restylane treatment include:
Makeup
Makeup is one of the most important things to avoid after your dermal filler treatment. This is largely because your dermal filler injection sites need to remain sterile and clear of all bacteria for at least six to 24 hours. Even using your fingers to apply makeup instead of brushes can be problematic because you should not be touching your face so soon after your treatment.
Sun Exposure
UV rays in sunlight can be incredibly damaging to the skin and can cause your dermal filler to break down more quickly. During the first several days after your Atlanta Restylane treatment, while your filler is still settling, the formula will be especially vulnerable. Any intense exposure to UV rays can cause the filler formula to break down and become less effective.
Unprotected sun exposure on any injection site can trigger melanin production and produce spots of hyperpigmentation. If you must go outside after your treatment, please be sure to apply sunscreen to protect your skin.
Heat
Heat exposure is also important to avoid, particularly heat from hot water, showers, saunas, hot tubs, and tanning beds. Intense heat on the skin can make your filler break down more quickly or produce less effective results. Ideally, you should avoid exposure to intense heat for at least 12 to 24 hours after your appointment.
Pressure
Pressure against your skin can disturb the way your dermal filler settles, which can ultimately negatively impact the results of your treatment. Pressure can include sleeping on your side, scrubbing the skin, and patting the face. You should do your best to sleep on your back the first one to two nights after your treatment.
Strenuous Activity
Strenuous activity refers to any activity that can cause excessive sweating, particularly intense exercise. You should avoid strenuous activity for two reasons. The first is that sweating may irritate your skin after your treatment and heat in the body can cause inflammation that will interfere with the dermal filler settling.
The second reason to avoid strenuous activity is that elevating your metabolism can prevent your filler from being fully absorbed. If your metabolism is elevated, your body may process the filler formula too quickly, which will not allow the filler to settle correctly in the sub-dermal layers of your skin.
Alcohol Consumption
You should also avoid consuming alcohol after your treatment. Alcohol can thin the blood and slow down the healing process in your body; it can also cause your face to flush, which can interfere with the dermal filler settling into place.
Certain Skin Products
Skincare products such as chemical exfoliants (AHAs), retinoids, and Vitamin C accelerate the cellular turnover on your skin. Ordinarily, accelerating this process is a good thing since new skin cells will improve the tone and texture of your skin. However, after a dermal filler treatment, these products can cause skin irritation. Avoid these products for at least 24 to 48 hours.
Certain Aesthetic Treatments
There are also certain aesthetic treatments you should avoid after your dermal filler appointment. Facials, waxing, chemical peels, IPL or laser treatments, and microdermabrasion should all be postponed until at least two weeks after your treatment. We will help you build a treatment plan that will allow for adequate healing after your dermal filler treatment.
What Else Do You Need to Know About Restylane?
Restylane is a family of products formulated with hyaluronic acid, a natural molecule in the skin that helps your skin cells retain moisture. These dermal fillers have a smooth, clear appearance that settles smoothly beneath the skin and subtly improves the appearance of mild to moderate aesthetic concerns. Restylane is formulated with a patented cross-linking technology that simultaneously offers flexibility and stability to the filler formula.
Lyft
Lyft is one of the more flexible fillers in this collection. This filler can be used on the eyebrows, tear troughs, cheekbones, mid-face wrinkles, lips, and chin, as well as on the hands. Best-suited for mild to moderate concerns, this versatile filler can restore skin volume in most areas of the face with as little as one syringe.
Defyne
Defyne is designed to treat deeper wrinkles around the nose and mouth. Specifically, laugh lines and nasolabial folds are most commonly treated with this dermal filler. This formula is best for moderate to severe lines and wrinkles on the mid-face.
Refyne
Refyne is a subtler formula that is designed to correct the appearance of mild signs of aging in the mid-face. Ideal for smile lines around the mouth and lines on the chin, the Refyne formula softens lines to achieve a more natural-looking result, especially for people who are noticing early visible signs of aging.
What Can You Expect From Treatment?
Most of the time, your dermal filler appointments will take 30 minutes to complete, start to finish. The perfect lunchtime appointment, dermal filler treatments can be easily worked into any schedule and allow you to return to your normal daily activities immediately after your appointment. Your treatment will be comfortable and follow several basic steps.
First, your skin will be cleansed to remove dirt, oil, make-up, and other impurities. Then, your skin will be marked to identify target injection areas to restore the volume of your skin. The injections themselves will last only a few seconds, although several injections will be used to restore facial volume.
How Soon Will You See Results?
The lovely thing about dermal fillers is that you will be able to see the results of your treatment immediately after your appointment is over. Your skin will look plush and soft while the dermal filler settles, which can take about five to seven days. Once your filler settles, your results will gradually improve as your skin absorbs more water and as natural collagen forms in the sub-dermal layers of your skin.
How Long Do Results Last?
The results of this filler will last varying times based on the specific formula used for your treatment and where the filler is used. For most people, Lyft produces results for about six to 12 months in the mid-face. Both Defyne and Refyne can last up to 12 months for the treatment of facial lines and folds. Some people who respond very well to Restylane Atlanta may experience results that last for 18 months.
How Frequently Should You Have Treatments?
The frequency of your treatments will ultimately depend on how long your results last. It’s common to touch up one area of the face, such as lines around the mouth, after about six months since fillers around the mouth wear off more quickly than less mobile areas of the face. Generally, an annual appointment every 12 months will help you maintain your results seamlessly.
What Is the Best Age for Treatment?
Candidates for this treatment should be over the age of 21, even for those who want to contour the chin, jawline, or lips. Many patients who use dermal fillers are between the ages of 30 and 40 and use fillers as a way to soften the early visible signs of aging. Some patients are between the ages of 40 and 60 to treat moderate to deep signs of aging.
Will Your Results Look Natural?
Yes, the results of your treatment will look natural. The goal of a dermal filler treatment is to improve your appearance subtly by filling in lines, wrinkles, skin laxity, and other signs of visible volume loss. Because of the cross-linking technology used in these dermal fillers, you can be confident that your results will settle smoothly beneath your skin and restore your skin volume gradually. You will look younger without appearing like you’ve had cosmetic help.
Many patients can enjoy a lifted effect from this treatment since increased skin volume will also tighten and tone the skin. In fact, dermal fillers are so accomplished at this that it’s becoming more common for patients to turn to “liquid facelifts” instead of traditional plastic surgery to improve their appearance.
Can You Combine Products?
Yes, you can always combine products within the Restylane family. In fact, it’s very common to mix and match your filler products so you can achieve your ideal aesthetic results. No two people age quite the same way, so it’s possible to need the Refyne formula in some areas of the face and the Defyne formula in others. Mixing and matching your dermal filler products within this collection can help you fine-tune your desired results.
Can You Use Botox With This Treatment?
Yes, using Botox with dermal fillers is very common. Because dermal fillers restore volume and Botox relaxes facial muscles, different types of wrinkles can be treated at the same time. If you’re interested in combining treatments, please let us know during your consultation.
Who Are Good Candidates?
Most people over the age of 21 are good candidates for hyaluronic acid-based fillers since the formula is well-tolerated by the body. If you have mild to moderate visible signs of aging you would like to correct, such as hollowness in the cheeks, nasolabial folds, and marionette lines, you are likely a good candidate for this treatment.
There are only a few restrictions for people who are not qualified for this treatment. For example, if you have a history of severe allergic reactions, particularly to lidocaine and gram-positive bacteria, you may not be able to use this treatment. This filler should also not be used by women who are currently pregnant or breastfeeding.
Restore Your Youthful Appearance
If your goal is to look effortlessly and naturally long, then dermal filler treatments may be an ideal aesthetic treatment for you. As long as you follow your recommended aftercare instructions, you will be able to enjoy long-lasting results with this collection of fillers. Contact Peachtree Dermatology in Atlanta, GA to schedule your initial consultation today.
