Restylane Dermal Fillers For Aging Skin: What To Expect & How They Work

At HealthOne, we believe that healthy skin is a core part of your overall well-being. It’s your body’s largest organ, and it deserves to be taken care of. Many people wish to enhance their natural beauty so they feel more confident, and one of the most common ways to do this is with dermal fillers.

In this blog, we’re taking a look at an innovative facial rejuvenation product: Restylane by Galderma. Whether you want to restore lost volume, smooth out wrinkled skin, or just look and feel a little fresher, we’ll help you understand how these treatments work and what they can do for your skin. We sat down with Ada Shim, Nurse Practitioner and Aesthetic Injector at HealthOne Skin Clinic, to learn more.

What Are Dermal Fillers?

If you’ve been learning about the different types of anti-aging treatments on the market, you’ve likely come across the term “dermal fillers”. They are smooth, gel-like substances injected under the skin to add volume, soften fine lines, and improve the skin’s appearance.

There are a variety of fillers available, but the most commonly recognized form is made from Hyaluronic Acid (HA). This trusted type of filler is what all Restylane products are made from.

The Science of Hyaluronic Acid

Hyaluronic acid is a naturally occurring substance found in the skin. It’s known for its impressive ability to retain water – a single molecule can hold up to 1,000 times its weight!

Although it’s naturally created in the body, our bodies produce less of it as we age. This is why if you’re looking for plumper, firmer skin, hyaluronic acid-based fillers are a great choice – it's replenishing a substance your body already knows and loves.

How Restylane Works for Aging Skin?

As we age, our skin experiences a variety of changes.

• Collagen and elastin loss result in thinner, less elastic skin.

• Fat pad migration, creating a thinner and more droopy face profile

• Bone resorption, reducing the “scaffolding” that keeps our skin tight

Ada explains, “In their younger years, people’s faces generally look like an inverted triangle, which is pretty consistent across all races. As we get older, that shape shifts into a longer rectangle, and you begin to see jowling. This is something we can often address with fillers, like Restylane, depending on how severe the jowling is.”

Restylane dermal fillers work by replacing the missing scaffolding. Unlike topical skincare products that work on the surface, Restalyne is injected into specific layers of the skin to help lift the tissue and fill in areas of lost volume.

Types of Restylane Fillers

Everyone’s features and beauty are unique, which is why there’s no “one-size-fits-all" approach with filler. Restylane makes a variety of products designed for use in different areas of the face. They vary in thickness, flexibility, and texture.

Here’s a list of the Restylane products we use at HealthOne.

• Restylane: the original HA-based filler, ideal for providing support and structure to areas like the lips and smile lines.

• Restylane Lyft: a filler with high lifting power to fill deep folds and support volume loss in areas like the cheeks or back of the hands.

• Restylane Refyne: a softer filler used to smooth out lines around the mouth.

• Restylane Defyne: a filler used to soften laugh lines and define the chin.

• Restylane Kysse: a smooth filler specifically designed for lip enhancements.

• Restylane Contour: a natural-looking, flexible filler for cheek volume.

• Restylane Silk: a subtle filler suitable for thin lips and softening wrinkles.

• Restylane Volyme: a great filler option for plumpness in the cheeks.

“This is a brand that comes with many options, allowing layering to achieve a result that can basically be done on any face,” Ada says. “There are densities ranging from super watery to bone-like density, and everything in between. For instance, if you are doing a cheek augmentation versus lips, you would want a soft filler for the lips versus something sculptable for the cheeks.”

The Treatment Journey: What to Expect

At HealthOne, our goal is to provide each patient with a safe and comfortable experience. Our practitioners are medical professionals with decades of experience in the industry, and we’re here to help you achieve your aesthetic goals safely and professionally. Here’s a recap of what happens when you come in for Restylane dermal fillers.

1. Complimentary Consultation

Every aesthetic journey starts with a conversation. During this complimentary consultation, we’ll examine your skin, discuss your aesthetic goals, and review your medical history to ensure you’re a good candidate for Restylane dermal fillers. Maybe you want to look less tired, restore lost volume, or look your best for a special celebration – now's the time to share this with your provider.

“Every face is so different, which is why it is vital for the injector to truly understand your vision,” Ada shares. “They need to get in your head—even discussing things like what you do for a living and what your motivations are—to deliver the best result that fits your personal aesthetic and ensures the outcome is both natural and tasteful.”

2. The Injection Process

The next step is to book your treatment, which can happen on the same day as your consultation or on a predetermined date in the future. Restylane dermal filler is a quick procedure, typically taking 20-30 minutes.

• Does it hurt? Restylane products contain a local anesthetic called Lidocaine, which numbs the treatment area as it’s being injected. In some cases, your injector may also apply a medical-grade numbing cream. Together, these make the procedure quite tolerable; many patients compare it to a light pinch.

• Comfort First: Restylane products contain Lidocaine, a local anesthetic that numbs the area from the inside out as the product is injected.

• Precision: Our injectors use fine needles or micro-cannulas to place the product precisely where it’s needed.

• Immediate Results: You will see a visible difference before you even leave the chair.

• The First 24-48 Hours: You may experience mild swelling, redness, or bruising at the injection site. This is a normal inflammatory response.

• Pro-Tip: Avoid strenuous exercise, excessive heat (saunas), and alcohol for the first 24 hours to minimize swelling.

• The "Settling" Period: While you see results immediately, the filler takes about 2 weeks to fully integrate with your tissues and settle into its final look.

3. Recovery & Aftercare

There is very little downtime associated with dermal fillers. You can typically return to work or daily activities immediately.

• The First 24-48 Hours: You may experience mild swelling, redness, or bruising at the injection site. This is a normal inflammatory response.

• Pro-Tip: Avoid strenuous exercise, excessive heat (saunas), and alcohol for the first 24 hours to minimize swelling.

• The "Settling" Period: While you see results immediately, the filler takes about 2 weeks to fully integrate with your tissues and settle into its final look.

How Long Do Results Last?

One of the most common questions we hear is: "How long will this last?"

Restylane hits the sweet spot: it’s long-lasting, but not permanent. Since Hyaluronic Acid naturally occurs in the body, it will slowly be metabolized over time.

• Cheeks and Jawline (Lyft/Contour): Typically 12 to 18 months.

• Lips (Kysse): Usually 6 to 9 months, as the lips move frequently.

• Under-eyes (Eyelight): Up to 12 months.

Longevity depends on your metabolism, the product used, and the area treated. You can visit us for touch-up appointments to refresh your results.

Choosing an Experienced Injector

An important question you might be asking yourself is “which injector in Toronto should I visit?” We suggest finding an injector with years of experience, advanced clinical training, and anatomical knowledge.

Restylane is an incredibly safe procedure; however, there can be rare complications such as infections or vascular inclusions (filler entering a blood vessel). By choosing an experienced provider, you’ll feel comfortable knowing you’re in good hands – and you can discuss any questions about risks or safety with them during a complimentary consultation.

At HealthOne Skin Clinic, our team consists of highly trained practitioners, including Nurse Practitioners like Ada Shim, who specialize in facial anatomy to ensure the highest safety standards.