Do you feel self-conscious about your face due to sagging, wrinkled skin? At Old Town Med Spa in Chicago, IL, we have just the solution for you. Today, we’re talking about the differences and similarities of two of the most effective injectable dermal fillers: Restylane Refyne and Restylane Defyne.
What Is the Difference Between Restylane Refyne and Defyne?
Restylane Refyne is FDA-approved to treat moderate-to-severe marionette lines and nasolabial folds. Contrastingly, Restylane Defyne is designed to treat mild marionette lines and nasolabial folds.
Everything You Need to Know About Restylane
If you have lines around your mouth and nose that you want to eliminate, Restylane may be right for you. However, you probably have a few questions. Keep reading for a closer look at what this filler is, how it works, and what to expect throughout the treatment process.
What Is Restylane?
Restylane is a hyaluronic acid-based dermal filler designed to increase volume in your midface and lower face, facilitating a youthful, healthy appearance. Other anti-aging injectables smooth out wrinkles by immobilizing the underlying muscles.
However, this injectable fills in wrinkles to smooth them out and tighten loose skin. It is perfect for the treatment of tricky nasolabial folds because the needle used to administer the medication is incredibly fine and can produce precise results.
How Does Restylane Work?
All Restylane formulas work thanks to their active ingredient hyaluronic acid. Hyaluronic acid is a chain of sugar molecules that your body produces naturally. This polysaccharide is crucial for your health due to its moisturizing properties. It keeps your eyes moisturized and is found in your connective tissues lubricating your joints. It is also present in your skin, keeping it hydrated, volumized, smooth, and healthy.
When hyaluronic acid is administered into the foundational layer of your skin, it provides an immediate increase in volume. However, the benefits don’t stop there. Hyaluronic acid encourages the production of extra collagen, a critical protein for the suppleness and firmness of your skin. Finally, this polysaccharide attracts and binds to an incredible amount of water so your skin becomes and stays hydrated.
Why Do Wrinkles Occur?
Numerous chemicals make up your skin. One of the chemicals found in abundance in your skin is hyaluronic acid. Other essential chemical compounds include collagen and elastin, fibrous proteins, and fibers that make up the supportive structure that keeps your skin tight, young, and healthy. This supportive structure also gives your skin the elasticity to bounce back after you emote.
Unfortunately, as you age, your skin produces these essential proteins and fibers at a reduced rate. In other words, your skin can’t bounce back after you emote. This leads to permanent facial wrinkles. Also, “permanent” wrinkles caused by volume loss appear.
What Can I Expect Throughout the Treatment Process?
Preparing for Treatment
What’s great about Restylane Refyne and Defyne is there is minimal preparation required beforehand. Unlike other anti-aging treatments, there are only a few simple steps you must take to prepare for your injections.
For instance, you must avoid taking any blood-thinning drugs or supplements seven days before your session. This includes such drugs and supplements and ibuprofen, aspirin, vitamin E, and fish oil. You should also stop smoking and drinking for a few days.
What to Expect During Your Treatment Session
Before your treatment session, you need to come in for an initial evaluation so we can determine whether Restylane Refyne or Restylane Defyne is right for you. Then, we will review your health history and current health to ensure you are currently healthy enough to qualify for this treatment. Once we have developed your customized anti-aging treatment plan and answered any questions you have, we will schedule your injections.
On the day of your session, we will clean your skin thoroughly to remove any oil or dirt that may be on your skin. Then, we will apply a topical anesthetic if you don’t want to feel the medication being administered. However, we assure you that the injections are not painful due to how fine the needle is. Once your skin is prepared for treatment, we will administer the medication into several strategic locations in each area of concern.
What to Expect After Treatment
After your session is over, for the most part, you can do whatever you want. Since this treatment isn’t invasive, there is no lengthy recovery period, and there is almost no downtime. You are free to return to work immediately. However, if you have some PTO saved up, you can also drive yourself home and spend the rest of the day relaxing happily.
There are only a few restrictions you should adhere to following your treatment for the best results. For example, you should avoid performing any vigorous activity and wear sunscreen diligently when you have to spend time outdoors. Also, you should avoid anything that will make you sweat, such as visiting a steam room or dry sauna. Besides that, you are free to do whatever your heart desires.
Benefits of Restylane Treatments
You’ll Feel Better About Yourself
We all suffer from the side effects of aging. We all wake up one day and notice sagging skin, lines, folds, and wrinkles. Unfortunately, this often causes people to feel self-conscious. Luckily, with Restylane injections, you don’t have to worry about how old your lines and folds make you look. You can restore your youthful visage quickly and enjoy a youthful visage for months to come.
You’ll See Rapid Results
Remember, hyaluronic acid injections provide an immediate increase in volume. If you’re using Restylane Defyne to target mild nasolabial folds and marionette lines, you may be satisfied with the results of your treatment immediately. If you’re using Restylane Refyne to target moderate or deep nasolabial folds and marionette lines, you will feel better about your appearance as soon as your treatment session is over.
However, you should keep in mind that the best results have yet to come. The extra hyaluronic acid in your skin encourages extra collagen production. The results of the extra collagen production will become apparent just one to two weeks after your treatment, and you will feel so self-confident you may decide to sleep in and go to work without makeup. The best part about the extra collagen production is it helps the results last longer.
You’ll Enjoy Long-Lasting Results
Your skin metabolizes hyaluronic acid fairly quickly. However, it doesn’t use up collagen nearly as quickly. Therefore, the results of this treatment will last for 12 to 18 months. Also, the results fade slowly once a significant amount of the collagen has been metabolized. That gives you several months to schedule a follow-up appointment once you notice your results fading.
You’ll Rest Easy Knowing This Treatment Is Safe
Another incredible benefit of Restylane treatments is they are completely safe. Some cosmetic procedures are effective anti-aging tools, but there is a lot of risk associated with them. Even worse, the preparation before and recovery following some cosmetic procedures are intense. Also, other anti-aging injectables contain ingredients that provide effective results but aren’t great for your skin.
On the other hand, the hyaluronic acid in Restylane formulas is bioidentical to the hyaluronic acid your skin produces. Your skin won’t be able to tell the injected hyaluronic acid came from an outside source. Furthermore, clinical trials have proven all Restylane formulas are safe, and they have earned full FDA approval.
You’ll Probably Qualify for Treatment
Another downside to cosmetic procedures is the qualification requirements are extremely high. On the other hand, most people qualify for Restylane treatments. You have to be in fairly good health, but if you’re not pregnant, breastfeeding, or trying to become pregnant, there is an excellent chance you will qualify.
Remember, we will discuss your current health and medical history during your initial consultation to ensure this treatment is right for you. You must be completely honest with us about your health and the medications you are currently taking. You may qualify for this treatment, even if you have certain medical conditions if you are healthy enough to stop taking certain medications for a few days.
Discover How to Achieve Your Ideal Aesthetic Today
If the signs of aging your face is showing are caused by volume loss, Restylane Refyne and Restylane Defyne may be perfect for you. These injectable dermal fillers safely and quickly eliminate wrinkles and provide results that last for months. To discover how to reverse all of your signs of aging, contact us today at Old Town Med Spa in Chicago, IL to schedule your initial consultation.
