Restylane vs. Perlane — Battle of the Fillers
- Posted on: Jul 15 2015
At Creative Image Laser Solutions, fillers are a popular part of our business. Why? Because they offer fast solutions to problems such as volume loss and wrinkles without any downtime. Plus, they’re affordable, and because their results are not permanent, they allow patients to do a test run of sorts on different areas of their faces.
Restylane and Perlane are two popular fillers that come from the same manufacturer, QMed. They are both hyaluronic acid fillers, meaning they are made from hyaluronic acid, a naturally occurring substance in the body that is responsible for hydration and plumping of the skin. Both attract and bind with water molecules to fill the injection area.
So, patients wonder, what’s the difference between the two fillers?
Perlane
Perlane has a thicker consistency than Restylane. It is actually about three times thicker than Restylane. This is because is has more crosslinking. Crosslinking allows the filler to have a longer duration in the tissue before being absorbed by the body.
Because it is thicker, Perlane is best at filling moderate to severe folds, areas like the cheeks, chin, and nasolabial folds. Perlane, due to its thickness, needs fat in the area to hide the filler. It isn’t for areas such as around the eyes or lips where the skin is thinner.
Restylane
Restylane, because it is thin in consistency, is perfect for areas where the skin is thin. It works well in the hollows under the eyes or around the lips. Sensitive areas with fine wrinkles are Restylane’s forte because it tends to flow and spread out.
As for duration, Restylane lasts about a year; Perlane lasts about 18 months.
Posted in: Dermal Fillers