WHAT IS SCULPTRA AUSTIN
Sculptra Austin is an injectable made from poly-L-lactic acid that can help replace lost collagen. This helps to provide a more natural, smoother appearance to the face without adding the extra volume and/or bulk of traditional fillers.
Sculptra offers gradual results that slowly soften folds and wrinkles over several weeks. Most people see a hydration effect to their skin almost immediately, while the other benefits can take several weeks. Because the sessions are spread out, and because Sculptra’s full effects progress over time, your face will seem to naturally yield a more youthful and refined appearance.
HOW LONG DOES SCULPTRA AUSTIN LAST?
Results have shown to last up to 2 years in some patients, but results will vary from person to person. You deplete the new collagen just like you do your existing collagen, so it is all based on how quickly you are aging.
HOW IS SCULPTRA DIFFERENT FROM OTHER DERMAL FILLERS?
Sculptra is categorized as a “synthetic” filler because of its poly-L-lactic (PLLA) acid microparticles. Fillers such as Juvéderm and Restylane are categorized as “natural” fillers because they are made primarily of hyaluronic acid, a naturally occurring substance in the body that is responsible for plumping and hydrating the skin. When these fillers are injected beneath a wrinkle, the hyaluronic acid binds with nearby water molecules and instantly plumps the skin, erasing the wrinkle. This is a more ephemeral treatment, as these fillers do not encourage new collagen production. When the body eventually absorbs the hyaluronic acid in 6-12 months (the duration of most fillers), the wrinkle or crease will return.
Sculptra provides results for up to two years because the PLLA microparticles stimulate the body to produce new collagen in the areas of the injections. Once injected, the body begins to absorb the PLLA, and this triggers new collagen to be produced. These new collagen strands gradually restore facial volume naturally, and the wrinkles and folds are erased or dramatically lessened in appearance.
WHO IS AN IDEAL CANDIDATE FOR SCULPTRA?
Sculptra is well-tolerated and has been approved by the FDA. This long-lasting filler is effective for treating fairly deep lines and creases, and it has few restrictions. If you have the typical lines that form around the mouth and from the nose to the mouth, Sculptra is a great, long-lasting solution.
Really, the only patients who cannot have Sculptra are those with a history of keloid or hypertrophic scarring.
WHAT AREAS IS SCULPTRA USED?
Sculptra is effective for the typical lines and creases that develop around the mouth:
- The lines framing your mouth (parentheses and marionette lines)
- Deep folds between the nose and mouth (nasolabial folds), also called smile lines
- Chin wrinkles
HOW MANY SCULPTRA SESSIONS ARE NECESSARY?
Sculptra is injected into the deep dermal layer of the skin. This is the base of the skin’s second layer, and this is where collagen is created and provides the skin’s underlying structural support. Unlike other dermal fillers, Sculptra is injected in a series of three sessions over the course of three to four months. This fully allows each session to build upon the last, with Sculptra’s poly-l-lactic microparticles triggering new collagen production.
CAN SCULPTRA BE INJECTED AT THE SAME TIME AS OTHER INJECTABLES?
Because Sculptra’s results are not immediate, you can opt to use an immediate filler, such as Restylane, to instantly fill the lines that Sculptra will then build new collagen beneath. This would give both an immediate, and then a long-term solution.
You can also combine Sculptra with BOTOX. BOTOX only works on the expressive upper third of the face — on crow’s feet, the 11s between the brows, and forehead lines — so there isn’t any overlap between the products. Plus, they work in completely different fashions.
CAN I COMBINE SCULPTRA WITH OTHER TREATMENTS?
Sculptra can be combined with just about any of the myriad treatments we offer at The Med Spa. The only exception would be treatments targeting the same area, such as deep nasolabial folds. But you could combine a Sculptra session with something like laser hair removal or a body contouring treatment such as Emsculpt and that would save you some time.
ARE SCULPTRA INJECTIONS SAFE?
As mentioned above, Sculptra is FDA approved and has been used worldwide for over 20 years. The poly-L-lactic acid that is absorbed naturally by the body has been used for years in dissolvable stitches. Sculptra does not contain any human or animal components, and allergy testing is not needed prior to treatments. These are safe, effective treatments at The Med Spa’s two locations in Westlake and Northwest Hills.
WHAT ARE THE POTENTIAL SIDE EFFECTS WITH SCULPTRA?
The most common side effects with Sculptra are similar to those with any dermal filler:
- Redness
- Swelling
- Tenderness
- Bruising
- Slight Bleeding
- Itching
- Formation of small lumps
All of these issues pass quickly. PLLA is a biocompatible, biodegradable substance that the body accepts; it has been used in dissolvable sutures for decades. Still, if you have numerous allergies, you should check with our nurse practitioner, Karen Zizzo, and she will share Sculptra’s ingredient list with you.
