Restylane Lidocaine 1ml — The Original NASHA Technology Filler (Restylane-L)

Restylane Lidocaine 1ml (marketed as Restylane-L in the United States) is the original Restylane product — first launched by Q-Med in 1996. It uses Galderma’s NASHA® Technology (Non-Animal Stabilized Hyaluronic Acid), a biphasic particle-based cross-linking process. The formulation contains 20 mg/mL of HA and 3 mg/mL (0.3%) lidocaine premixed for injection comfort. FDA approved for mid-to-deep facial wrinkles and lip enhancement.

NASHA stands for Non-Animal Stabilized Hyaluronic Acid — Galderma’s original cross-linking process used in classic Restylane, Restylane Lyft, Restylane Silk, and Restylane Eyelight. NASHA produces a biphasic, particle-based gel built for precision and structured projection. This contrasts with OBT / XpresHAn Technology (used in Defyne, Refyne, Volyme, Kysse, Contour) which produces a monophasic gel optimised for movement and flexibility.

Both products contain 20 mg/mL HA and 3 mg/mL lidocaine, but they use different cross-linking technologies. Restylane Lidocaine 1ml uses NASHA Technology — biphasic, particle-based, firmer projection. Restylane Kysse uses OBT / XpresHAn Technology — monophasic, soft, more flexible. Practitioners often select classic Restylane for patients wanting defined projection and Kysse for patients prioritising soft, natural lip movement.

Per Galderma clinical data, classic Restylane delivers approximately 6-9 months of correction in nasolabial folds and similar facial wrinkles, and approximately 6 months in lip enhancement. The shorter duration compared to newer OBT-technology variants reflects NASHA’s higher metabolic turnover in dynamic facial zones. Individual duration depends on dose, placement, patient metabolism, and movement intensity.

Yes. Restylane-L (the US name) holds FDA approval for mid-to-deep injection into facial tissue for the correction of moderate-to-severe facial wrinkles and folds, such as nasolabial folds, and for lip enhancement in patients over 21. Restylane was the first FDA-approved hyaluronic acid filler in the United States (approved 2003 for the non-lidocaine version, with Restylane-L approved subsequently).

Tear trough correction with Restylane is an off-label but widely used clinical application. NASHA’s particle-based structure provides predictable placement in the thin-skinned periorbital area, and practitioners often prefer classic Restylane over softer OBT fillers for this indication. Off-label use is at the practitioner’s clinical discretion. Tyndall effect risk requires very precise depth — deep supraperiosteal placement is generally recommended.

Restylane is manufactured by Q-Med AB in Uppsala, Sweden. Q-Med is a subsidiary of Galderma, which is headquartered in Lausanne, Switzerland. Q-Med originally launched Restylane in 1996 as the world’s first non-animal HA dermal filler.

The 3 mg/mL (0.3%) lidocaine HCl is premixed into the gel during manufacturing. This eliminates the need for on-site mixing with separate lidocaine vials and reduces injection-site discomfort by providing immediate local anaesthesia at the moment of injection. Clinical studies show meaningful reduction in patient-reported pain scores compared to non-lidocaine versions.

Store at 2-25 °C in original packaging, away from direct sunlight. Do not freeze. Shelf life is typically 24 months from manufacturing date when unopened. Once opened, contents must be used immediately — partial syringes cannot be retained for later use.

No. Restylane uses non-animal stabilized hyaluronic acid (NASHA) produced by bacterial fermentation. The ‘non-animal’ in the technology name is literal — there are no animal proteins or by-products. The product is contraindicated in patients with severe allergies to gram-positive bacterial proteins (used in the fermentation process).