Don't pine for a pillowy pucker or brood over lip creases, crevices and lines—it's time to pump up the volume with Perlane®! Much like its cosmetic cousins BOTOX® & Restylane®, Perlane® uses hyaluronic acid (just more of it) to fill deep lines and fatten lackluster lips into diva-esque smoochers.

Get ready to get noticed with Perlane®-perfect results.

Blue Medi Spa is recognized as one the top Medical Beauty Spas in the Los Angeles area and is conveniently located in Sherman Oaks offering Perlane® injection treatments to SPA clients from the San Fernando Valley, Van Nuys, Encino, Woodland Hills, Calabasas, Studio City, Burbank, Pasadena, Glendale, Century City, Hollywood, Beverly Hills and all Los Angeles areas.

Perlane®: treatment info

What is Perlane® used for?

Perlane® injections are used to smooth moderate to severe facial folds and wrinkles such as the lines from the nose to the corners of the mouth (nasolabial folds). Perlane® generally lasts for about 6 months. It has been found to be a safe dermal facial filler that restores volume and fullness to the skin.

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How does Perlane® work?

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.

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How long do Perlane® Injections last?

Perlane® is proven to deliver long-lasting results. Studies have shown that Perlane® effects generally last about six months as shown in the following graphs. Perlane® gradually disappears from the body without a trace.

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Are Perlane® injections safe?

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.

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Who should not use Perlane®?

Perlane® injections should not be used by people with previous bad allergies (particularly to certain microorganisms known as gram positive bacteria), to drugs that have required in-hospital treatment, or in people with bleeding disorders. Perlane® should not be injected anywhere except the skin or just under the skin.

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What are some warnings to consider about Perlane®?

The use of Perlane® injections at sites with skin sores, pimples, rashes, hives, cysts, or infections should be postponed until healing is complete. Use of Perlane® in these instances could delay healing or make your skin problems worse. You may experience skin discoloration (bruising), swelling, redness, tenderness, pain, itching, or small lumps in the area where you are injected. If any of these events occur, the majority usually last less than seven days. If any symptom lasts longer than two weeks, call the Perlane® physician who administered the Perlane® injection. Inflammatory papules (red or swollen small bumps) may rarely occur. You may need antibiotics to treat them.

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What are some risks that may be experienced?

As with all facial filler procedures like Botox, Restylane, and Perlane®, the injection of Perlane® carries a theoretical risk of infection and formation of scar tissue. The safety and effectiveness of Perlane® have not been established in the treatment of lips, in nursing mothers, and in patients under 18 or over 65 years of age. Perlane® use in nursing could harm you or the nursing child. The use of Perlane® in African-American patients can result in hyper pigmentation (darkening of skin color), which may take several weeks to correct. If you have had herpes before, an injection can cause the herpes to come back. The safety of Perlane® used with other skin therapies such as laser, mechanical or chemical peeling, and hair removal has not been established. The use of Perlane® in these skin therapies may not work or they may damage your skin. You should avoid exposing the area(s) treated with Perlane® to excessive sun or UV lamps, and extreme heat and cold until any redness or swelling has disappeared.

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What are the major side effects of Perlane® treatments?

Rarely, the Perlane® physician may inadvertently inject the product into a blood vessel, which can cause injury to the blood supply and damage to the skin. Rarely, a few people have developed infections of the gel that must be treated with antibiotics or other treatment. Infection of the gel may be hard to treat, but will always go away when the gel is absorbed.

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What should patients do prior to Perlane® treatment?

Perlane® requires no pre testing, 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 Perlane® physician. He or she may consider prescribing a medication to minimize recurrence.

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Do Perlane® injections hurt?

Clients ask all the time "...do Perlane® injections hurt?" 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 Perlane® physician before treatment.

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How much do Perlane® treatments cost?

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 Perlane® physician to give you an estimate of the cost.

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What should I call my Perlane® physician about after the treatment?

Most side effects like bruising, swelling, pain, tenderness, redness, and itching will usually go away within a week. Call your Perlane® physician if you have persistent problems beyond 14 days. Blisters or skin sores may signal that you are having a recurrent herpes infection that should be treated. You can develop an infection that should be treated with antibiotics. If you experience redness, tenderness, and pain that does not go away you should call your Perlane® physician.

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What is the dose of Perlane®?

The amount Perlane® used depends on your face and what you would like to have treated. The average patient who has all of the severe wrinkles around the mouth corrected will use less than half of a tablespoon.

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Perlane®: before & after treatment instructions

Before Your Perlane® Treatment

• No anti-inflammatory drugs (Ibuprofen, Motrin, Advil, Aleve, Vioxx, etc.), aspirin, high doses of Vitamin E, or Ginko Biloba one week prior to treatment. This will reduce the possible side effects of bruising and/or swelling in the treated area(s).
• Consumption of alcoholic beverages prior to Perlane® treatment can increase the chances of bruising and/or swelling.
• You cannot be pregnant or breastfeeding to receive Perlane® treatment.
• If you have a history of oral herpes, you must pre-treat with an anti-viral three days before your scheduled Perlane® treatment visit.

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After Your Perlane® Treatment

• Swelling, redness, and tenderness will occur after your Perlane® treatment and usually resolves within 72 hours.
• Cold compresses (a cloth dipped in cold water, wrung out, and applied to the injected area) may be used immediately after Perlane® treatment to reduce swelling.
• Avoid touching the treated area within 6 hours of your Perlane® treatment so you do not accidentally injure your skin. After that, the area can be gently washed with soap and water.
• Until there is no redness or swelling, avoid exposure of the treated area to intense heat (sun lamp or sun bathing) or extreme cold weather.
• If you have suffered previously from facial cold sores, there is a risk that the needle punctures could contribute to another occurrence. Ask your Perlane® physician about medications that may minimize a recurrence.
• Avoid taking aspirin and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications, St. John's wort, and high doses of Vitamin E supplements for one week after treatment. These agents may increase the risk of bruising and bleeding at the injection site.
• Avoid aesthetic lasers, microdermabrasion, or IPL over areas with Perlane® for a minimum of one week after Perlane® treatment.

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Follow Up

• Follow up treatments should be scheduled usually every six months.
• Consistent repeated treatments will produce best resolution of wrinkles.