Sculptra

SCULPTRA

What Is Sculptra?

You know how most dermal fillers work — as their name implies, they simply “fill” in the space where injected, pushing the skin back upwards or adding volume to areas where volume has been lost.

Sculptra is different; its results are not immediate. Sculptra is made from poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA), which works within the skin to replace lost collagen. Sculptra is the first facial injectable that gives you subtle results over time as collagen is replaced. This makes for a natural-looking appearance that improves over time, not an instant change as with other fillers. Sculptra is injected in three sessions over three to four months for the best results. These results can then last for two years!

What Is Collagen?

Collagen is the key to younger-looking skin. Collagen is a fibrous protein that provides the structural framework for our skin. It exists primarily in the dermis layer, the skin’s second layer beneath the epidermis.

The problem is after our 20th birthday our body produces one additional percentage point less collagen every year moving forward. By the time we turn 50, our body is now producing almost one third less collagen. That’s why our older skin is prone to areas of volume loss and the development of wrinkles and lines.

At Always Beautiful Medspa, we now offer Sculptra, which provides a long-lasting boost in collagen production. Sculptra is a dermal filler that triggers the body to produce new collagen where it is injected, filling lines and wrinkles around the mouth area for up to two years.

Who Are The Candidates For Sculptra?

Sculptra 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. If you have a variety of allergies, we’ll help you check the full ingredient list in Sculptra to see if you have any conflicts.

What Areas On The Face Can Sculptra Treat?

Sculptra is effective for treating moderate to deeper lines. It is used for these typical lines and creases that develop around the mouth:

Cosmetic Fillers CO | Always Beautiful Medspa

• Marionette lines (extending downward from the corners of your mouth)
• Parentheses lines (framing both sides of your mouth)
• Nasolabial folds (running from your nose down to the corners of your mouth, also called smile lines)
• Chin wrinkles

How Does Sculptra Work?

At Always Beautiful Medspa, Ali McCoy Stengel, LME, RN, BSN, handles all of our injectables. She injects Sculptra into the deep dermal layer of the skin. This is the base of the skin’s second layer. Unlike typical dermal fillers, Sculptra requires more than a single session: it is injected in three sessions over the course of three to four months. Like typical fillers, Sculptra’s gel initially provides volume where injected and pushes the depressed area back upward, but this is only temporary. After a week or so, the wrinkle can re-form to a lesser degree, but this is when Sculptra really gets to work. Microparticles of PLLA work within the deep dermis to rebuild lost collagen and provide structural skin support. As the PLLA is absorbed a collagen framework is created. This reinforced collagen structure provides a foundation that gradually restores the look of fullness to shallow to deep wrinkles and folds.

WHAT OUR PATIENTS HAVE TO SAY

“The ladies at Always Beautiful are like Family (been going there so long). Always professional, yet know how to cut up. Always willing and able to explain each procedure thoroughly (and repeatedly when I forget), from expected results to recovery time. Very satisfied with the results of all the procedures I’ve had done.” – J. Mast

How Long Will My Results Last With Sculptra?

This new collagen framework described above provides results that last up to two years, about twice as long as most other fillers.

How Is Sculptra Different From Other Dermal Fillers?

Sculptra is categorized as a “synthetic” filler because of its poly-L-lactic acid microparticles. Fillers such as Juvederm 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 9-12 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.

What Are The Side Effects Of 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. Still, if you have numerous allergies, you should check with Ali McCoy Stengel and she’ll share with you Sculptra’s ingredient list.

To schedule a consultation or to learn more about our Sculptra treatments, contact us today at (720) 280-7016. Our practice serves Aurora, CO, and surrounding areas.

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