Sculptra
Sculptra works deep within the skin to help stimulate the natural production of lost collagen and boost previously lost volume. By maintaining and building your own natural collagen foundation, Sculptra helps create a collagen framework to smooth facial wrinkles.
How does Sculptra work?
To understand how Sculptra works, it’s important to understand what exactly collagen is and why it’s so important. Collagen is a fibrous protein found in the layer of our skin called the dermis. This layer sits just below the outer layer of the skin and is the true ‘living’ layer. Here you will find the proteins collagen and elastin. While elastin is responsible for the elasticity and ‘bounce-back’ effect of the skin, collagen is the fiber responsible for the structure and support of the dermis. Over time and as the result of other external factors like UV damage, collagen starts to break down. As we age, we also produce less and less collagen fibers. This results in the look of what we call aging skin, aka wrinkles, fine lines, sagging, etc.
Now that we’ve covered the basics of what collagen is, it’s easy to see how Sculptra, which sparks collagen production in the skin, is such a gem in the world of injectables.
Upon injection, the PLLA in your Sculptra treatment stimulates the cells in the dermis to produce more collagen fibers, producing a counteractive effect to the natural loss of skin firmness associated with aging.
What areas can Sculptra treat?
Sculptra is most commonly used for the nasolabial folds, aka ‘smile lines’. Other areas that can see great improvement from Sculptra treatments are:
● Hollow temples
● Marionette lines/‘laugh-lines’
● Sunken cheeks
● Jawline sagging
● Neck lines
● Chin wrinkles
What happens before a Sculptra procedure?
Before Sculptra, you’ll have a consultation with your healthcare provider. During this consultation, your healthcare provider will also ask about your medical history. It’s important to tell them if you’re taking any medications, as some drugs can increase the risk of complications after getting fillers. Tell your healthcare provider if you have:
Allergies.
History of bruising or bleeding after similar procedures.
Neurological problems.
Skin conditions.
What happens during a Sculptra procedure?
The Sculptra procedure is performed in a doctor’s office, typically for patients aged 35 to 60. It is most often performed with the use of a topical numbing cream and possibly a local anesthetic. Patients may experience minimal discomfort from the needle injection. The procedure can take 15 to 30 minutes. Patients return home within minutes after the procedure.
Sculptra is a synthetic Poly-L-lactic acid material. The material has been commonly used in dissolvable stitches and soft tissue implants. A natural form of Poly-L-lactic acid is produced in our muscles during exercise. The material works to gradually produce increasing thickness of the skin. The material is biocompatible and can be dissolved by the body.
Step One: Select numerous injection points for each area to be treated.
Step Two: Identify the correct amount of Sculptra for the procedure.
Step Three: The Sculptra filler is then injected beneath the skin, under the dermis and subcutis layer.
Step Four: Patients will be advised to apply an ice pack to reduce swelling. Patients will also be instructed to massage the area to help promote even distribution of the material.
Results gradually become evident over the course of a few weeks. Since Sculptra’s results are temporary (up to two years), treatments have to be repeated in future years to maintain the benefit.
Is there any downtime after a Sculptra treatment?
After their Sculptra treatment, most patients feel that they can go about their normal daily activities. Similar to HA fillers, you may experience some swelling at the injection site on the day of, but generally speaking, Sculptra is considered to be a zero-downtime treatment.