For the last 30 years, Restylane® has been a trailblazer in aesthetic dermatology – and the launch of Restylane SHAYPE™ in Canada marks yet another remarkable achievement for the brand.
The success of Restylane is underpinned by the expertise of its team. Based at Galderma’s state-of-the-art facility in Uppsala, Sweden, every unit is developed using leading technology.
A revolutionary product reshapes the industry
In the 1990s, Restylane scientists turned their attention to the hyaluronic acid (HA) molecule, a naturally occurring substance that dissolves quickly inside the body.
“The hyaluronic acid molecule is fantastic,” says Per Winlöf, Galderma’s Chief Design Expert in Uppsala. “You can put it into the body and the body will accept it. So, what we did was to develop a method to make that material insoluble.”
That breakthrough technique was achieved by harnessing the power of two complementary gel technologies: NASHA® and OBT™. OBT achieves very flexible gels that are clinically proven to maintain the naturalness of dynamic expressions. Meanwhile, NASHA—and its latest advancement, NASHA HD® — technology is both the firmest HA gel available on the market and the injectable closest to the HA naturally found in skin. This is designed for enhanced lift and targeted product integration.
From a daring idea to global expansion
After successful clinical trials, recalls Per Winlöf, “it became evident that this was probably going to be something big.” However, the necessary distribution capabilities didn’t exist at that time.
So once approved and commercialized, the team put every effort into growing production. And thanks to our superior manufacturing capabilities and technology, we successfully scaled up our production to keep pace with demand. And we did it without sacrificing quality.
Today, the global appetite for aesthetics treatments continues to grow rapidly. “We supply approximately 9 million units a year,” says our Aesthetics Operations Liaison, Per Andersson, “which is a lot compared to when I started in 2006. And that’s really impressive.”
To keep up with the needs of patients worldwide, Restylane’s high performance relies on a best-in-class manufacturing process at Galderma’s facility in Uppsala, Sweden – one of the world’s most advanced filler production sites.
Devotion to quality amid swelling demand
The specialists in Uppsala have unmatched expertise in HA filler gels and oversee every stage of production, from research and development to lab testing through to manufacturing.
Each step in the manufacturing process is marked by a commitment to excellence. As Per Andersson puts it, “At the site in Uppsala, quality is in the essence of our culture. It’s embedded in all the design elements of the product, the process, and the facilities.”
Restylane products are prepared in four steps, which are underpinned by robust quality control and assurance: bulk, filling, assembly and packaging. The care taken during these steps ensures the integrity of the syringe which, in turn, secures product quality. The outcome is a product that offers physicians the best possible injection experience.
Restylane’s portfolio today stands as the world’s most diverse range of individually engineered hyaluronic acid injectables, with solutions available to meet the needs of patients and injectors all over the world.
Per Winlöf sums up the collective feelings of the Uppsala team when he says, “Everybody is really proud of what we’re doing here. From a small Swedish city, we are supplying the entire world."
The story continues
With its remarkable legacy, and a team unwavering in their commitment to excellence, Restylane example of how Galderma advances dermatology for every skin story. And its journey looks set to reach even greater heights.