Which Facial Filler Should I Get: Perlane® or Restylane®?

Restylane® and Perlane® from Medicis, Inc. are both hyaluronic acid fillers made of sugar gels. It is common to ask which product is better. The reality is that these are similar products with important differences. Restylane® is a softer product that provides excellent volume, tends to stay where it is injected, but can be shaped well once placed in the tissue. Perlane® is also a soft product that provided slight better volumizing, tends to stay where it is injected, and resists shaping more tha Restylane®. Each product has a somewhat different role in facial volumizing. The right choice for you very much depends on your issues. This is best determined by an individual consultation with a highly qualified cosmetic surgeon. Here are some general guidelines and common usages that can give you an idea of when each filler tends to be appropriate, but individualized treatment never takes a one-size-fits-all approach and diagnosis and treatment planning must be done in person. What’s the Difference betwee Perlane® and Restylane®? Both Perlane® and Restylane® are fillers that work especially well when volumizing the face to give it a softer, more youthful look and restore hollow and deflated areas. Perlane® is a thicker material tha Restylane® and it usually lasts a few months longer. This is an amazing length of time as Restylane can be effective for a year or more. Restylane® usually works better for the sensitive area under the eye where the skin is thin here and there is little fat. The ability of the Restylane to be readily shaped once it is placed in the tissue means that many potential irregularities can be resolved as the material is placed. For the same reason, Restylane is also excellent at the lip edge. Elsewhere in the face, there is much better tissue coverage for the placement of the slightly thicker Perlane®. Perlane® has a larger molecular structure that Restylane and as a results it is a somewhat better volumizer tha Restylane®. It is preferred in areas like the cheeks, eyebrow, chin, and the tissues around the mouth called the perioral area. Why does it work best in these areas? Because these areas have more fat to work with than the lower eyelid dark circle. Perlane®’s thickness necessitates that it be placed deeper tha Restylane®, while Restylane® works very well near the surface of the skin and in areas where little fat is present. Perlane® is wonderful for adding volume to places with more fat under which a doctor can place this filler. It is less ideal for the lip edge and under eye area where the Restylane serves as a better choice. Because of both their similarities and differences, Restylane® and Perlane® can be used together to improve the facial aesthetics by eliminating unsightly angles, sunken features, and haggard looks. For example, Perlane® can be placed in the top of the cheek at the time that Restylane® is used to treat the dark circles in the lower eyelid hollows. Both of these actions are beneficial in themselves, and when used together they amplify the improvements even more. What If I’m Unhappy with My Results? These services are the fastest growing cosmetic services because of how happy people are with the results. Yet service is not a magic wand and it is sometimes necessary for a treatment to be adjusted. First make certain that your doctor is aware of your conce s. If you are having an issue, don’t simply wait until your next visit. It is a good idea to contact your doctor and let them know what is going on. There is often a great deal of value in being seen early if there is some issue. By consulting with your doctor after a procedure, these issues can be readily addressed. Unlike other fillers, hyaluronic acid fillers like Restylane® and Perlane® can be adjusted after treatment to resolve any surface irregularities that might be present after treatment. In fact, it is possible to modify these treatments even if it has been quite some time since you were treated. Over time, these products do absorbed by the body and eventually disappear over a year or two.