You may be familiar with the Restylane family of dermal fillers – Restylane, Lyft, Silk, Refyne, and Defyne, which are used to smooth wrinkles, enhance lips, add volume and improve contour lines of the face. Galderma has recently added a newly FDA-approved hyaluronic acid (HA) to the family: Restylane Kysse.
Kysse is designed to enhance lip volume, color, and texture. It is the first lip filler that uses XpresHAn Technology™ which changes the way the hyaluronic acid binds inside your lips. When Kysse is injected, it effectively molds to your tissue, allowing you to maintain natural-looking expressions.
Kissability
In a creative and unique study approach, Galderma looked at the “kissability” of its product. Participants and their partners were asked to evaluate the kissable aspect of their lips post-injection with Kysse (Phase4 Kissability data). 98% Of participants were satisfied or very satisfied with the kissability of their lips. 73% Of partners agreed that the lips had a more kissable and natural feel. All to say this was a pretty cool study with promising results that you aren’t going to hear a complaint from your partner!
Duration
Many websites and providers are touting a 12 month duration indication for Kysse or that results are clinically proven to last up to one year. The “up to” is important wordsmithing. Additionally, it is critical to note just how much Kysse was injected into the lips since dose (amount) and duration are correlated. According to the Restylane Kysse package insert, the total median volume injected for initial and touch-up treatments combined in all areas treated was 3.35 mL. Yep, that’s right, over 3 syringes! It was broken down into a total median volume of 1.13 mL in the upper lip, 1.00 mL in the lower lip, 1.00 mL in the oral commissures, and 0.41 mL in the perioral lines (vertical lines above the upper lip). This dose yielded 77% of participants reporting effectiveness at 6 months and 60% reporting effectiveness at 12 months. So…does it last 12 months? Yes, with over 2 syringes in the upper and lower lip (including the touchup) for 60% of people.
Now, all that being said, I am a huge fan of the Restylane family and LOVE Kysse! It really is a great product but I am still going to tell you to expect about 6-9 months duration since I (and most providers I know) use 1.00 mL or less of Kysse at any given treatment session for the lips.
Downside
As with other HAs swelling, tenderness, and bruising were the top 3 adverse events reported, in that order. All were considered mild in severity and required no action.
Lips always swell. Bummer, I know…but hey, we have masks! Sleeping with your head above your heart, icing, and even taking Benadryl the evening of injection may help to mitigate the swelling.
I tell my patients to expect firmness for 5-7 days as the Kysse (or any HA) is integrating into the tissue. It should not change the way you talk but you may notice a bit of stiffness and tenderness in the lips during this time.
Lips frequently bruise. Unfortunately, even a vein finder doesn’t prove exceptionally useful on the lips. Speed and depth of injection as well as the glass of wine you had the night before, are factors that play a role in bruising. When lips bruise it’s very dark blue in color although it can usually be covered with a dark shade of lipstick. All bruises in the body take, on average, 2 weeks to turn over. I do have some tips and tricks to speed this along and will share those with you if I notice a bruise forming.
The Good News
Kysse is included in Aspire Rewards program which saves you money on treatments with Galderma products. I love that I am able to help supplement the cost of your aesthetic journey with me as a participating practice in the Aspire program. Be sure to check out the “Specials” section of the website for the latest ways to save money at your visit. At the time of this blog post you can snag a certificate for $100 off for Kysse!
So there you have it folks, the highlights of the newest lip filler, Restylane Kysse. For more information check out the Restylane Kysse Fact Sheet or visit restylaneusa.com.
Tracy