Collagen and elastin production dramatically slows down as we age, draining our confidence with symptoms like hollow cheeks, a gaunt face, and folds in our skin. Just because aging skin is unavoidable doesn’t mean you have to sit back and let it work a number on your confidence, though—you can fight back with Sculptra. Sculptra jumpstarts your body’s natural collagen and elastin production, gradually restoring lost volume. It adds volume to the face and softens fine lines and wrinkles, leading to a fresh, youthful appearance. And the best part? It’s long-lasting!
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Sculptra is a dermal filler that falls into the biostimulator category, meaning that it stimulates your body to create its own collagen and elastin in the injection area. Unlike the other Biostimulator—Bellafill—Sculptra doesn’t create any immediate change; instead, it slowly stimulates your body to make its own collagen over several sessions. The result is the most effortless-looking, soft facial volume that restores a youthful appearance. Three treatments of Sculptra are recommended to achieve optimal results.
Sculptra can last up to two years, but some patients report longer results. Yearly touch-ups are recommended to maintain ultimate results.
All biostimulators last much longer than traditional fillers because they contain different active ingredients. Most fillers are made with Hyaluronic Acid (HA), which only acts as a facial-volume substitute. On the other hand, Sculptra contains collagen-stimulating microspheres that address the underlying cause of facial aging—collagen loss. This means that the microspheres ramp up collagen to plump the area you have injected. The microspheres in Sculptra are poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA), long chains of lactic acid that are already naturally occurring in the human body.
Every dermal filler appointment at Esthetics Center begins with a consultation with a skilled nurse to discuss your goals and concerns. Three Sculptra treatments are recommended for most patients, but the number of treatments needed depends on the individual patient’s goals and how much volume loss they’ve experienced. Your nurse will determine the number of treatments you need during your consultation.
During this consultation, we will also assess your medical history to help you choose the appropriate treatment and product. Before beginning any injections or other treatments, we will take before and after pictures to track your progress towards achieving your goals. Depending on the number of areas to be treated, you will be out the door and able to resume normal activities within 30-60 minutes, with just a few instructions for aftercare.
Typically, the injections and saline suspending the PLLA particles cause mild swelling—this will give you a glimpse of what your final results will look like. After 24 hours, the swelling subsides. The tiny PLLA particles will start stimulating collagen and elastin production deep within the dermis, and you’ll begin to see results in 6-8 weeks.
Most patients find dermal filler injections quite tolerable, but we are happy to offer additional measures to ensure you are comfortable during your Sculptra treatment. For example, you can expect topical icing and injected lidocaine numbing to the treatment area. In addition, some of our patients choose to utilize our Nitrous Oxide system (laughing gas). These measures result in the most comfortable patient experience possible.
Biostimulators are the ideal filler for anyone who wants to build soft, natural-looking volume in their face gradually. Someone who wants to take a more natural approach to filler is also a great candidate for Sculptra. That’s because most other dermal fillers are facial volume substitutes, but Sculptra treats volume loss by revitalizing your natural collagen production. Sculptra is effective in smoothing out wrinkles, enhancing facial contour, and filling out a gaunt face.
No! We take great pride at Esthetics Center in being skilled injectors who never make our patients look unnatural or overfilled. As the saying goes, “The best injectable is undetectable.” Secondly, biostimulators are known for creating soft, natural-looking results; they stimulate your skin cells to gradually produce collagen over time (which is also what makes biostimulators so long-lasting). As some of the softest and most natural fillers we have found, we recommend them for those patients who want subtle but beautiful results. Last but certainly not least is that Sculptra is the most effortless looking dermal filler of them all. It is known for natural-looking, gradual volume enhancement.
Yes, Sculptra is safe! It has been used to safely and effectively rebuild lost facial volume since 1999. It was first used to counteract the side effects of HIV treatment—facial volume loss that left patients with hollow, sunken cheeks and deep folds. It didn’t take long for the esthetics community to begin using Sculptra to treat the natural volume loss that occurs with age.
As with any medical or cosmetic procedure, the most important thing you can do is make sure you see a licensed and trained professional. Doing so ensures that you get high-quality products that are being injected correctly.
The main side effects of any injectable treatment are bruising, redness, swelling, and mild discomfort during the healing phase, typically lasting approximately seven days.
Aftercare for Sculptra is minimal. We instruct patients to follow the 5x5x5 routine after Sculptra treatments–massage your face for five minutes five times a day for five days post-treatment. Patients typically experience swelling for one to two days post-injection. This swelling is mild enough to give you a glimpse of what your results will look like once your treatments have worked their magic. Many of our patients tell us that they love their appearance with the swelling.
However, following a few simple suggestions can help minimize your downtime and discomfort. We recommend you refrain from using makeup or skincare products on the day of treatment. You should not engage in heavy exercise for 24 hours. Sleeping with your head slightly elevated will also decrease swelling.
There are also some things to avoid before your treatment to minimize discomfort and bruising. This includes stopping any food, supplement, or medication that thins your blood, including ibuprofen, aspirin, fish oil, flaxseed, and alcohol. In addition, you may use arnica supplements before the treatment and during the recovery phase to minimize bruising and swelling. If you are unsure if something you are taking might interfere with your treatment, please call our office, and we will be happy to assist you.
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Dr. Rice received his medical degree from Loma Linda University in Southern California where he also completed an internship in general surgery and specialty surgical training in Otolaryngology—head and neck surgery. Dr. Rice went on to complete advanced training in Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at the Institute of Facial Plastic Surgery. He is double board-certified…
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