Well, it’s not really my favorite, but maybe #2 – my favorite is fat. I’m talking about Restylane Silk. Restylane (hyaluronic acid) has been available in San Antonio for many years. It is a naturally occurring substance that is found within the soft tissue of all mammals. Restylane is synthetically produced from a process of bacterial fermentation, chemically stabilized, and purified for use as an injectable soft tissue filler (non-animal, stabilized hyaluronic acid). The hyaluronic acid in Restylane is biocompatible and is a totally non-animal product; there is little risk of animal-based disease transmission or allergic reaction. The newest formulation, Restylane Silk is a very fine particle size filler that works great in the lips. Because of the small particle size, it can fill the fine lines and creases in and around the lips. Restylane Silk is the first FDA approved filler specifically designed for lip enhancement and the smoothing of wrinkles around the mouth.
The main problem is that with aging, the lips will often thin and loose shape. You may also notice an increase in the vertical lines around the lips. Some people call these “smoker’s” or “bar code” lines. But even in non-smokers will get these lines. Typically, women will complain about difficulty putting on lipstick. They’ll notice the lipstick tends to seep into the vertical lines or that they don’t have much pink showing.
In the past we have given Botox to the area but that can leave the mouth moving kind of funny. I have used some of the older fillers in the lips but was never really happy with the “duck lips” look afterwards. In the office, I have used a device called the SurgiWire to break up the lines and that worked well, but has a lot of bruising for several days after. My best results so far have involved a trip to the operating room where I can do a lip lift and fat grafting. But, most patients don’t want to go to the operating room just to fix their lips. They also do not want the swelling, bruising, and downtime of surgery.
Using Silk I have not noticed the pout that I would see with other fillers and there is really no downtime. Another benefit is that I can fill in the deep vertical lines. When we add the Ulthera lip treatment in the mix, we really get a nice result. The Ulthera works to tighten the loose skin and stimulates some collagen formation. The Restylane Silk helps replace volume and the result is a natural, refreshed look to the lips. We have seen a little more bruising with Silk than with some of the other fillers, but I think that is a small price to pay for the more natural look.
If you feel like your lips could use a little more fullness or tightening, call today for your consultation. We can review your concerns and goals and I’ll let you know if Silk is a good option for you.