Perlane FAQs

Answers to your most frequent questions about Perlane^® treatments..

• What is Perlane?
• How does Perlane work?
• Who should use Perlane treatments?
• Who should NOT use Perlane treatments?
• Who should administer Perlane treatments?
• What does Perlane treat?
• What results should I expect from Perlane injections?
• How long does a Perlane treatment take?
• Are Perlane treatments safe?
• Are Perlane injections painful?
• How soon are the results of Perlane injections noticeable?
• How long are Perlane injections effective?
• How often can I get Perlane treatments?
• Are there side effects from Perlane?
• Perlane Versus Restalyne.. Which is right for me?
• Is Perlane affordable?

What is Perlane?
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Perlane^® is made from non-animal stabilized hyaluronic acid (NASHA) gel. This means that Perlane^® contains no animal products. Since hyaluronic acid is a natural substance found in the skin and other tissue, there is no need for a skin test when using Perlane^® filler.

The hyaluronic acid in Perlane supplements the body's natural supply, which becomes depleted with age. Perlane^® is biodegradable so its effects are not permanent. The results of a Perlane^® filler treatment tend to last six months to a year. This is much longer than the typical results of collagen injections, which may only last three to six months.

Unlike BOTOX^® Cosmetic, Perlane^® does not make you numb. Perlane^® can be used in conjunction with BOTOX^® Cosmetic, which neutralizes the muscles that create wrinkles, but Perlane^® simply reduces the visibility of wrinkles and folds.

How does Perlane work?
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Perlane^® is injected into the skin with an ultra-fine needle. It plumps the skin to smooth away wrinkles and folds. Perlane's^® water-loving nature attracts and binds water molecules to help maintain volume. Perlane^® is composed of hyaluronic acid, a natural substance that already exists in the body. The hyaluronic acid in Perlane^® is a crystal clear gel that is chemically cross-linked (the long chemical strands are tied together) to delay breakdown by skin enzymes. Perlane^® is non-animal-based and free from animal protein. This quality prevents disease transmission. Allergy pre-testing is not necessary.

Who should use Perlane treatments?
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If you would like to improve the contour of your facial skin Perlane^® may be for you. The hyaluronic acid in Perlane^® can be used to improve the contour of facial skin and to reduce wrinkles, folds, scars and other facial skin depressions.

Perlane^® may be right for you if you would like:

• Wrinkle correction
• Diminishing worry lines, smile lines, crow's feet, marionette lines & smoker's lines
• Lip enhancement
• Reducing the severity of nasolabial folds
• Chin augmentation
• Filling cheek depressions
• Redefining lip border
• Softening acne scars
• Nasolabial Folds

Who should NOT use Perlane treatments?
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Perlane^® should not be used in patients who have severe allergies marked by a history of anaphylaxis (hypersensitivity to the ingestion or injection of a drug or protein), multiple severe allergies or severe allergies to gram-positive bacterial proteins.

Who should administer Perlane treatments?
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Perlane^® injections can be performed by either physicians or nurse practitioners who are experienced in the field of dermal filler.

What does Perlane treat?
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Hyaluronic acid implantation can be used to improve the skin's contour and reduce depressions in the skin due to scars, injury or lines. Facial lines and features that can be corrected using hyaluronic acid implantation:

• Worry lines that run across the forehead (forehead lines)
• Crow's feet at the corner of the eyes (periorbital lines)
• Frown lines that run between the eyebrows (glabellar lines)
• Smoker's lines which are vertical lines on the mouth (perioral lines)
• Marionette lines at the corner of the mouth (oral commissures)
• Deep smile lines that run from side of the nose to corners of the mouth (nasolabial furrows)
• Cheek depressions
• Redefining lip border
• Acne scars
• Some facial scars

The big advantage of Perlane^® is that it is a non-permanent and natural treatment. The chemical contains a natural bodily chemical which fills up the skin like normal tissues. The modeling and contouring effects appear natural.

What results should I expect from Perlane injections?
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Perlane^® will help smooth moderate to severe facial wrinkles and folds. In a clinical study most patients needed one injection to achieve optimal wrinkle smoothing; about one-third of patients needed more than one injection to get a satisfactory result. The smoothing effect lasts about six months. Perlane^® gradually disappears from the body without a trace.

How long does a Perlane treatment take?
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Perlane^® injections do not take long. Most injections can be performed within 30-45 minutes.

Are Perlane treatments safe?
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Perlane^® has been used safely by dermatologists and plastic surgeons since 2000 worldwide. Perlane^® was studied in multiple clinical studies resulting in high patient satisfaction. Side effects were mild. Most of the side effects went away in seven days. Perlane did not cause allergic reactions.

Perlane^® requires no pretesting, but you should take a few precautions before being treated. Avoid using St. John's Wort, high doses of Vitamin E supplements, aspirin, and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications, such as ibuprofen prior to treatment, because these may increase bruising or bleeding at the injection site. Also, if you have previously suffered from facial cold sores, discuss this with your physician. He or she may consider prescribing a medication to minimize recurrence.
Refer to Side Effects.

Are Perlane injections painful?
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Perlane^® is injected directly into the skin in tiny amounts by an ultra-fine needle. To help maximize your comfort, you should discuss the use of numbing medicines with your doctor before treatment.

How soon are the results of Perlane injections noticeable?
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The results of Perlane^® are immediate and lasting and recovery time is minimal.

How long are Perlane injections effective?
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Perlane^® dissolves and is absorbed by your body over time. Your results will depend on several factors including; your skin's structure, your lifestyle, and your age. Perlane^® treatments last for between six and nine months, although individuals will have varied results.

How often can I get Perlane treatments?
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Depending on the results you'd like, you can discuss maintenance with your doctor and the period between injections. Follow up injections typically need less Perlane^® to achieve the results you want. Time between injections is typically 6 to 12 months.

Are there side effects from Perlane?
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After receiving a Perlane^® injection some common side effects may be pain, redness, swelling, itching, discoloration, and tenderness at the point of injection. These side effects typically subside within two days of the Perlane^® injection procedure.

While more severe reactions are rare, occuring in only 1 of 2000 patients on average, some have experienced localized swelling at the injection point, thought to be brought on by hypersensitivity. Tenderness, redness, and very rarely acne-like formations have appeared. Reactions can typically occur only a few days after the injection, or as long as four weeks. When a reaction does occur, its average lifespan is only a few weeks, and is typically described as moderate and mild.

Perlane Versus Restalyne.. Which is right for me?
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Both products are equally good but their applications vary with the patient's condition, requirements, and circumstances under which the product has been used.

Perlane^® is primarily the same product as Restylane^®, but Perlane^® filler contains a larger concentration of hyaluronic acid. Because of this higher concentration of hyaluronic acid, Perlane^® is usually used for larger folds, while Restylane^® is better suited for smaller wrinkles or to maintain the results of a previous Perlane^® injection. Because of the differing levels of hyaluronic acid, Restylane^® is less expensive than Perlane^® filler.

Is Perlane affordable?
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Perlane^® is a customized procedure based on your specific needs, so the cost will vary from patient to patient. In general, the cost of Perlane^® is comparable to the cost of similar procedures. Because Perlane^® is long lasting, it may prove to be very economical over the long term. Please ask your doctor to give you an estimate of the cost.

For more information about Perlane treatments...

We'll be glad to answer your Perlane^® questions personally, so don't hesitate to call or email DermaVogue.