What Are the Side Effects of Restylane Fillers?

Getting dermal fillers is the first step towards addressing the many signs of aging on your face. Fillers can add volume to both deflated and naturally thin areas of the face, smooth out creases and skin folds, and improve your facial contour.There are many injectable fillers to choose from, and picking the right one is crucial to getting the results you want.

One common filler choice is Restylane, and like all facial injections, it comes with a number of “side effects”, or natural bodily responses that it triggers upon injection..

So what are the side effects of Restylane fillers? Some of the most common ones include redness, injection site swelling, pain, and tenderness, as well as firmness, bruising, and discoloration. Most of these are very minor and go away relatively quickly, but others can be more serious and can easily be avoided by choosing the right dermal filler provider. Here’s what you need to know.

Learn More: The Side Effects of Dermal Fillers

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Side Effects of Restylane Fillers

Restylane is a filler that contains hyaluronic acid, a gel that’s naturally occurring in our bodies. Like other dermal injections, injecting Restylane can result in several mild side effects that can go away after a number of days after injection and a few more serious side effects that may need medical attention.

Some of the more common side effects that dermal filler patients report include:

Redness
Injection site swelling
Pain and tenderness on the injection site
Firmness
Injection site bruising and discoloration

Most of these side effects are injection site reactions. Needle punctures trigger a natural bodily response to close microtears or holes on the skin. In turn, these reactions manifest in side effects like pain and tenderness a few days after the treatment. This means that your body is repairing itself; for instance, the facial bruising can be the result of broken capillaries in your dermis because of a needle puncture. Meanwhile, symptoms like redness, swelling, and firmness in the injected area are typically your body’s inflammatory reaction. These acute inflammation signs happen to prevent infections.

Injection site reactions can go away within a week after your injection, though mild bruising can take up to 2 weeks after injection to completely fade. You can use over-the-counter medication or cold compresses to mitigate the pain and discomfort. Using home remedies like aloe vera and consuming food that reduce inflammation can also help, but results may vary. Minor injection site reactions are of no major medical concern as long as they don’t persist longer than they’re supposed to take.

When to See a Doctor

There are some additional side effects to facial fillers that, although less common, may require seeing a doctor for a medical prescription, additional treatment, or emergency care. Some of these side effects include:

Skin infections – there are two ways you’re likely to get skin infections from your injection: the injection site wasn’t properly disinfected before administering Restylane, or you may have had bacterial infections like acne, eczema, or psoriasis near the injection site. You’ll need a licensed healthcare provider to prescribe topical or oral antibiotics to treat the active infection.
Lumps around the treatment area – there are two ways this can form. First, your provider may not have properly administered the Restylane into your treatment area. Instead of a smooth finish, it resulted in bumps around the area. Second, it’s possible that you may have touched or massaged the area too many times after your treatment that it affected the hyaluronic acid gel in your skin. In some cases, the lumps can disappear on their own. But in other cases, your doctor may use hyaluronidase to dissolve the filler to reduce its effects.
Adverse allergic reactions to hyaluronic acid – during your initial consultation, your provider should check if you have a history of allergies to any of the ingredients in Restylane before the injection of hyaluronic acid. From there, they can recommend an alternative dermal filler brand or cosmetic treatments. But if they fail to do this, you may be at risk of adverse reactions, including anaphylactic shock. If you notice the signs of a serious allergic reaction, seek emergency care immediately.
Permanent blindness or vision impairment – this is a very rare occurrence that happens when dermal fillers (or any soft tissue filler) are injected into a blood vessel. Aside from causing temporary or permanent blindness, it can also result in cerebral ischemic events, hemorrhaging that can lead to stroke, skin necrosis, or damage to your facial structure.

The best way to avoid these serious side effects is to choose a skilled and experienced provider. On top of enhancing your natural appearance by removing signs of aging, experienced cosmetic doctors can ensure your safety during and after the procedure.

Are Restylane Fillers Safe?

Restylane is safe to use for anyone looking to increase facial volume, achieve youthful and natural-looking results, and smooth out creases in certain areas. Restylane dermal fillers are FDA-approved and can treat a number of areas in your face, neck, and hands. There are many versions of Restylane dermal fillers, so your doctor can recommend any one of the following: Restylane Silk, Restylane Lyft, Restylane Refyne, and Restylane Defyne. These can vary in terms of which area of your face you want to treat.

Restylane contains hyaluronic acid, which is a naturally-occurring substance in the human body. Because of the body’s familiarity with the substance, there’s a lower chance of an adverse effect or allergic reaction. Aside from promoting collagen production, it can also hydrate the skin by helping retain water. As a filler, hyaluronic acid-based fillers are one of the more affordable types. It can take several days for the filler to set, but the improvements are instantly noticeable.

It’s important to also take into consideration the cons of getting Restylane. Compared to alternatives like synthetic dermal fillers (which can last several years) and autologous fat injections (which can act as a permanent filler), hyaluronic acid-based dermal fillers don’t last aso others. But you can always practice proper aftercare steps to maximize the effects of your filler, given that you’ll get follow-up injections for maintenance. If you’re looking for fillers that last longer than one year, you’ll want to opt for other brands.

Anyone over the age of 18 can get Restylane injections. However, your provider may recommend an alternative filler or not to get fillers done if you:
Are allergic to any substances found in hyaluronic acid injection
Allergy to lidocaine
Have a bleeding disorder, healing disorder, herpes, or an active skin disease near the injection site
Are taking anticoagulants, immunosuppressants, and anti-inflammatory drugs
Have a history of keloids
Have had or plan to have other cosmetic treatments, such as laser treatment and chemical peels
Are breastfeeding or pregnant

Your provider should discuss the risks of Restylane injections so you can get an accurate recommendation whether using Restylane is safe for your case. If you don’t qualify for Restylane or any other dermal filler, they may recommend alternative cosmetic treatments or other cosmetic procedures to treat your target areas.

Restylane vs. Other Fillers

Restylane isn’t the only dermal filler you can choose. During your initial consultation, a cosmetic doctor can recommend the best dermal filler that meets your beauty goals. They may also recommend other facial injections like Botox (or any other botulinum toxin injection) that you can use instead of or together with your dermal injections. To compare Restylane with two other types of fillers and Botox injections, view the table below for reference.

	Restylane	Radiesse	Bellafill	Botox Injections
Average price per syringe	$684	$717	$1,058	$10 to $15 (per unit)
Manufacturer	Q-Med (a division of Galderma Laboratories) (Sweden)	Merz Aesthetics (Germany)	Suneva Medical, Inc. (US)	Allegra
FDA-approved?	Approved in 2003 (Available in the US: Restylane Silk, Restylane Lyft, Restylane Refyne, and Restylane Defyne)	Approved in 2006	Approved in 2015	Approved in 2002
Dermal Filler Substance	Hyaluronic acid	Calcium hydroxylapatite microspheres	Polymethyl-methacrylate microspheres (synthetic filler)	Its main ingredient is botulinum toxin, a substance that can paralyze muscles
Best used for, according to the American Board of Cosmetic Surgery	Lower cheek augmentation, jawline, nasolabial folds, lip filler for lines and lip augmentation, chin, under the eyes (tear trough), smile lines, upper neck, back of your hands	Moderate to severe facial wrinkles and facial skin lines, nasolabial folds (smile lines), facial folds, oral commissures (corners of your mouth), vertical lines, marionette lines, pre-jowl folds, chin wrinkles, and hand rejuvenation	Nasolabial folds, chin, acne scars, depressed scars, and other types of facial scars	Dynamic wrinkles (wrinkles caused by repeated muscle movement over time). These include horizontal lines on your forehead, frown lines, crow’s feet, etc.
Average duration, according to the manufacturer	Results can vary *The American Board of Cosmetic Surgery estimates hyaluronic acid fillers have an average duration of around 6 to 12 months.	At least one year	5 years	3 to 4 months
Unique Features	Restylane is the first hyaluronic acid dermal filler approved by the FDA in the United States.	Radiesse is the only FDA-approved Calcium hydroxyapatite dermal filler. It can also be used to treat the loss of fat volume in your hands.	The only FDA-approved long-term solution for acne scars.	Freezes muscles to prevent creasing and reduce the appearance of fine lines and deeper wrinkles from developing.

Each dermal filler comes with its own advantages like length of effectiveness, cost, and the additional benefits you can get based on how the filler substance reacts to your skin. For a more in-depth comparison, consult with a doctor to receive medical advice about which one is best for you.

Learn More: Which Filler Should You Get To Avoid the Tyndall Effect?

Get Radiant and Youthful Skin With Restylane Fillers Only at Aesthetica

woman receiving an injection of dermal fillers in her face

Like many other facial injections, Restylane comes with side effects. Before you commit to a long-term dermal filler treatment, it’s best to weigh the pros and cons. There may be some pain or discomfort after your injection, but this is common and the side effects should fully fade within 2 weeks. More serious side effects are possible, but the risk of developing adverse outcomes is low if you get your Restylane from a trustworthy provider with experience and skill.

At Aesthetica, our physician-led team has years of experience administering dermal fillers,providing countless patients with amazing results. We use the latest techniques and innovations in the industry to ensure nothing less than perfection for all our clients. Look and feel you best with us and book your initial consultation today.