The Restylane Family: Which Filler Is Right for Your Face?

What Is the Restylane Family?

Restylane is a brand of dermal fillers made by Galderma and approved by the FDA for cosmetic use. All Restylane products are made from hyaluronic acid (HA) — a substance naturally found in your skin that holds moisture and adds volume. Unlike some older materials, Restylane HA is not derived from animals, which means allergic reactions are extremely rare (less than 0.1% of cases).

What makes the Restylane family unique is that it is not a single product — it is a lineup of formulations, each with a different thickness, stiffness, and ideal placement depth. Think of it like tools in a toolbox: each one is designed for a specific job. Your dermatologist selects the right Restylane product based on where you want treatment and how much volume or smoothing you need.

How It Works

All Restylane fillers work by adding volume beneath the skin’s surface. When injected, the gel integrates with your tissue and physically pushes the skin outward, smoothing lines and restoring fullness. Because hyaluronic acid attracts and holds water, the gel also adds a subtle hydration effect to the treated area.

The key difference between products in the Restylane family is their stiffness and thickness. Stiffer, thicker gels hold their shape under pressure and are used in deep tissue for structural support. Softer, more flexible gels move naturally with facial expressions and are better suited for areas around the mouth and lips. Here is a quick overview of the main products:

• Restylane Refyne: A soft, flexible gel for moderate wrinkles such as smile lines (nasolabial folds) and the lines that run from the corners of the mouth downward (marionette lines). FDA-approved in 2016. Results: 78% of patients achieved significant improvement at 12 months.
• Restylane Defyne: A firmer gel for deeper folds requiring more lifting power. Also FDA-approved in 2016. Results: 82% of patients showed significant improvement at two weeks, with 76% maintaining results at 12 months.
• Restylane Contour: A higher-stiffness gel designed for cheek augmentation (adding volume to the cheeks) and chin enhancement. Results: 86% of patients achieved significant cheekbone prominence at six months, with 79% maintaining results at 12 months.
• Restylane Lyft: The thickest, most volumizing option, originally known as Perlane. Used for substantial volume restoration in the cheeks, chin, and jawline. Results: 72% of patients maintained significant aesthetic improvement at 12 months.

What to Expect During Treatment

A Restylane appointment is an in-office procedure with no general anesthesia. Here is the general process:

• Consultation: Your provider discusses your goals and examines your facial anatomy to select the right product and placement.
• Numbing: A topical numbing cream is applied, and many Restylane products contain a small amount of lidocaine (local anesthetic) in the gel itself for added comfort.
• Injection: Depending on the product and treatment area, your provider uses either a fine needle or a blunt-tipped cannula. Cannulas are preferred for deeper placements and areas near blood vessels because they reduce bruising risk.
• Timing: Most appointments take 30–60 minutes, including consultation and aftercare instructions.

You can return to most normal activities the same day. Strenuous exercise and alcohol should generally be avoided for 24 hours to reduce swelling and bruising.

Results and Recovery

You will see a difference immediately after treatment, but final results appear once swelling settles:

• Days 1–2: Swelling and some bruising are common. The area may look over-filled temporarily.
• Days 5–14: Swelling resolves. Refyne and Defyne swelling typically clears within 5–7 days; deeper placements with Contour and Lyft may take 10–14 days or slightly longer.
• Months 9–18: Results fade gradually as your body absorbs the filler. Refyne and Defyne typically last 9–12 months; Contour lasts 12–15 months; Lyft lasts 12–18 months. Individual metabolism affects how quickly this happens.

Scheduled touch-up treatments every 6 months can help maintain consistent results. Some patients with slower metabolism maintain results for up to 24 months.

Benefits and Risks / Side Effects

Benefits:

• Multiple targeted formulations mean your treatment can be precisely matched to your anatomy and goals
• Non-animal HA means very low allergy risk
• Hyaluronidase can dissolve HA fillers if you are unhappy with results or if a complication occurs
• Results lasting up to 18 months with minimal maintenance

Common side effects (mild and temporary):

• Bruising, swelling, redness, and tenderness at injection sites — affects 10–20% of patients and resolves within 2–7 days

Rare but serious risks:

• Vascular occlusion (less than 0.01% of cases) — requires immediate treatment with hyaluronidase
• Nodules with Lyft in highly mobile facial areas — typically respond to massage or limited hyaluronidase
• Infection (minimized with proper sterile technique)

Who Is a Good Candidate

You may benefit from a Restylane treatment if you:

• Have smile lines, marionette lines, or other facial wrinkles you would like softened
• Have lost volume in your cheeks, temples, chin, or jawline
• Want results that last 9–18 months without surgery
• Are in good overall health with no active skin infections in the treatment area

Restylane products are not appropriate during pregnancy or breastfeeding, or if you have a known allergy to hyaluronic acid or lidocaine (which is included in some formulations).

When to See a Dermatologist

If you are considering any Restylane filler, consult with a board-certified dermatologist experienced with the full product line. Selecting the right formulation is a clinical decision requiring expertise in facial anatomy and injection technique. Contact your provider immediately if you notice severe pain, skin color changes, or vision changes after any filler injection — these can signal a vascular complication requiring urgent care.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How is Restylane different from Juvederm?
A: Both are FDA-approved hyaluronic acid filler brands, but they use different manufacturing technologies that affect gel consistency and behavior in tissue. Restylane uses Galderma’s cross-linking technology; Juvederm uses Allergan’s VYCROSS or HYLACROSS technology. The right choice depends on the treatment area, your anatomy, and your provider’s clinical preference — both brands have strong safety records.

Q: Can Restylane be reversed?
A: Yes. Because all Restylane products are made from hyaluronic acid, they can be dissolved with an enzyme called hyaluronidase. This is one of the main safety advantages of HA fillers over permanent or semi-permanent filler options.

Q: Can I combine Restylane with Botox?
A: Yes, and many patients benefit from both. Botox relaxes muscles to prevent dynamic wrinkles (lines caused by movement), while Restylane adds volume and smooths static wrinkles (lines present at rest). Your provider may treat both in the same visit or recommend having Botox done first, then adding filler 1–2 weeks later.

Q: Will I look “overfilled” or unnatural?
A: This depends on volume used and your provider’s technique. A conservative approach produces natural results. Ask for a subtle outcome during your consultation — you can always add more at a follow-up visit.