How long does Restylane last? The product and treatment area matter

Many Restylane treatments have published result timelines of about six to twelve months. Some extend to eighteen months, but only for particular products, areas or treatment plans. Restylane is a family of hyaluronic-acid (HA) fillers—not one formula with one lifespan. A quote that says only “Restylane” is missing information you need to interpret its longevity claim.

The useful question is: Which Restylane product, injected where, with how many treatment sessions? The figures below come from US product information reviewed in November 2026; they are not statements of Japanese approval or guaranteed maintenance intervals.

Restylane duration by formulation and area

“Up to” describes a published duration of treatment effect, not how long everyone will retain their preferred appearance. Initial treatment in these studies may include a touch-up, rather than a single injection session.

Product	Treatment area	Published duration and important qualification
Restylane / Restylane-L	Facial folds; lips	Patient brochures describe effects generally lasting about 6 months. The original Restylane brochure also describes up to 18 months with repeat treatment, rather than one injection lasting that long. Restylane brochure, Restylane-L brochure
Restylane Silk	Lips and wrinkles around the mouth	Up to 6 months, according to the manufacturer’s clinical-study summary. Silk patient information
Restylane Kysse	Lips	Up to 1 year, according to the manufacturer; its US pivotal study followed results through 48 weeks after the last injection. Manufacturer FAQ, Kysse instructions
Restylane Refyne	Facial folds, such as nasolabial folds—the creases from the nose toward the mouth	Up to 12 months. Refyne patient information
Restylane Defyne	Facial folds; chin	Up to 12 months. Defyne patient information
Restylane Lyft with Lidocaine	Cheeks; chin; facial folds; backs of hands	The brochure describes 2–12 months for cheeks, up to 12 months for chin, and about 6 months for folds and hands. The same product has different timelines by area. Lyft patient information
Restylane Contour	Cheeks/midface; temples	Patient information states up to 12 months for cheeks/midface and up to 18 months for temples. The manufacturer’s FAQ separately advertises 18 months for cheeks; ask which study and treatment schedule support that claim. Contour patient information, manufacturer FAQ
Restylane Eyelight	Under-eye hollows	Patient information describes effect maintained up to 12 months. Marketing reports improvement through 18 months with optimal treatment, including patient-rated outcomes. These are not interchangeable measures of longevity. Eyelight patient information, manufacturer product page

These are not head-to-head rankings. Different studies assess different areas, treatment amounts and definitions of improvement.

What an eighteen-month claim can hide

For original Restylane, the patient brochure explicitly links the eighteen-month figure to another treatment at 4½ or 9 months after the first. That changes both the appointment plan and the budget. It is not evidence that one syringe will provide eighteen months of correction. Restylane patient brochure

Even a one-year study does not mean everyone retains the same result. In the Kysse pivotal study, 60% of assessed participants—101 of 169—still met the study’s lip-fullness response criterion at week 48: at least a one-point improvement from baseline. That measures remaining improvement, not unchanged fullness or satisfaction with a particular lip size. Kysse study results

Visible fading also does not prove complete clearance. Kysse labeling notes that product remnants may remain in tissue after the clinical effect has returned to baseline. A calendar date alone is therefore not a reason to add more filler. Kysse precautions

What to verify at a Tokyo consultation

Japan-specific labeling matters. The January 2026 Japanese package insert for Restylane Lid lists correction of moderate-to-severe facial wrinkles, such as nasolabial folds. It explicitly excludes lips, eyelids and shape-changing uses such as nasal augmentation from its indications. Overseas lip-filler authorization does not establish Japanese authorization for a similarly named product. PMDA package insert

That insert also states that duration varies with the wrinkle being treated, tissue stresses, injection depth and technique. Ask the practitioner to translate the product’s published evidence into a plan for your anatomy—not simply repeat the longest number in its marketing.

Before accepting a quote, ask:

• What is the exact product name on the box, and is this product and intended use approved in Japan?
• Does the stated duration include an early touch-up or later repeat treatment?
• What volume is proposed, and why is it appropriate for this area?
• When will you assess the settled result, and what would justify maintenance?
• Are follow-up assessments and additional filler charged separately?

Keep an early touch-up—an additional injection to complete the initial correction—separate from maintenance months later. Compare the cost of the proposed treatment plan, not a syringe price divided by the longest advertised lifespan. For quote details, see our guide to hyaluronic-acid injection costs in Tokyo.

Seek immediate medical attention for unusual pain, white skin near the injection site, vision changes or stroke symptoms—such as sudden difficulty speaking, facial drooping or limb weakness—during or shortly after treatment. These can signal a rare but serious blood-vessel complication, not ordinary fading or settling. Restylane safety information

L·F Tokyo provides treatment-planning information, not medical care. A licensed practitioner should assess suitability and any repeat-treatment decision.