As part of the natural aging process, the support structures of the skin that provides youthful firmness and fullness begin to slowly break down. A decline in collagen levels is primarily to blame for these changes, which manifest on the facial skin as a loss of plumpness and volume and the development of noticeable lines and wrinkles due to loss of elasticity and resulting sagging of facial structures and fat contributing to the development of eyelid bags, jowls, marionette lines and thin lips. Injectable fillers like Restylane® can help slow and reverse these changes without the need for surgery.
Please contact us online or call our plastic surgery offices for more information on Restylane® in Chicago or Arlington Heights, including prices.
Dr. Placik is a board certified plastic surgeon in Chicago and an active member of The American Society of Plastic Surgeons. He received his medical degree from Northwestern University where he also completed residencies in general and plastic and reconstructive surgery.
Read more >>Restylane® battles facial aging in two key ways. On an immediate level, Restylane® fills in lines and wrinkles to minimize their appearance and replaces volume in areas that have lost fullness. However, Restylane® goes a step further to slow the aging process on a molecular level by changing the behavior of the skin. Hyaluronic acid (HA), which is a natural occurring sugar in the body, is a key ingredient in Restylane®, and is one of the reasons this filler delivers such beautiful results.
Hyaluronic acid helps the skin retain moisture that’s essential for looking healthy and vibrant. Since HA levels naturally decrease with age, restoring HA with Restylane® enhances your skin’s own ability to fight the aging process. Additionally, an increase of HA levels can be a catalyst for the production of more collagen in the skin. As collagen levels rise, the integrity and strength of the skin’s underlying support system is reinforced, giving skin a firmer, more youthful appearance. This leads to longer-lasting results compared to similar fillers by actually rebuilding the skin’s cellular structure.
During a treatment session with Restylane in Chicago, Dr. Placik uses a special cannula technique to inject the product into the treatment area, most commonly the marionette lines, nasolabial folds, lipstick lines, corners of the mouth or to augment the lips. Restylane® can also be used to simulate the appearance of cheek implants, or and chin implant and can be administered to create the effects known as a nonsurgical nosejob, nonsurgical face lift or nonsurgical eye lift.
The cannula method is a unique approach to delivering the product without the trauma caused by sharp needles. Bruising tends to be significantly less than product administered with needles while minimizing the tendency for intravascular injection or complications. For patients concerned about dynamic wrinkles in the upper face, like crow’s feet or laugh lines, Dr. Placik may suggest including BOTOX® Cosmetic injections as well.
After a treatment session, some patients experience swelling, redness, bruising and discomfort. These are typically mild and normally resolve within a week after treatment, although patients receiving lip enhancement sometimes report that the swelling and tenderness can last up to 2 weeks. Dr. Placik may recommend a cold compress to increase comfort and control swelling. Patients should avoid touching the treated area for the first 6 hours after their appointment, and should stop taking aspirin, Excedrin, Aleve or any form of ibuprofen at least 10 days before the procedure to decrease the likelihood of bruising.
Any patients troubled by lines and wrinkles around the mouth and nose may be good candidates for Restylane®, particularly if they hope to improve their appearance without cosmetic surgery. Men or women with a history of severe allergic reactions or those who are sensitive to any of the ingredients in Restylane® should not use it. Because the effects of Restylane® on pregnant or nursing women are not fully known, anyone who is currently breastfeeding or pregnant, or plans to be in the near future, isn’t advised to use Restylane®. The FDA has only approved Restylane® for lip enhancement in patients 21 years and older.
Many patients are able to put their makeup on immediately after treatment and go about their normal routine, although a small amount of puffiness or swelling is common for the first few days. Patients can significantly lower their chances for bruising if they stop taking aspirin, ibuprofen, Excedrin or Aleve in the weeks leading up to their procedure.
The results from one Chicago Restylane treatment session generally last 4 to 6 months although they are FDA approved for one year, so Dr. Placik usually suggests scheduling between 1 to 3 follow-up treatments per year depending on your body’s chemistry and the area injected to maintain your results.
Each treatment session is different and each patient has different needs and goals. For this reason, the cost of Restylane® will vary from patient to patient and will ultimately depend on how many syringes of Restylane® Dr. Placik uses to adequately improve your areas of concern. Dr. Placik and his staff strive to provide excellent value and can help you with financing to make your treatment even more affordable.
The common side effects from Restylane® include redness, soreness, swelling, bruising and itching. For most patients, these side effects are mild to moderate and subside within the first few days following the procedure. As with all injectables, there is a potential for infection at the injection site, although this is rare.
To meet with Dr. Placik, arguably the best in plastic surgery Chicago has to offer, you can request a consultation online or call our Arlington Heights office at 847-398-1660 or our Chicago office at 312-787-5313 to schedule your appointment. We look forward to meeting with you and helping you look your very best.
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