Your face can reveal every year of your age. Over time, the natural aging process will deplete the volume of your skin, and fine lines, wrinkles, and skin laxity will become more difficult to treat. For many people, the inability to treat signs of aging can also lower self-confidence. At Biotech Cosmetic Surgery & Laser Center in Bay Harbor Islands, FL we offer many aesthetic treatments to help you look (and feel) your best, including Sculptra.
How Does Sculptra Work?
Sculptra is an injectable treatment made with poly-L-lactic acid, a biocompatible synthetic variation of lactic acid. This special formula is a little more durable than natural lactic acid and works with your body’s natural processes to reverse the signs of aging.
Your Body and Lactic Acid
Your body produces lactic acid naturally after a workout session. The lactic acid in the body helps the body recover more quickly. However, when you engage in vigorous exercise, your muscles starve for oxygen and a lot of lactic acid is diverted to your muscles to help them oxygenate. In the skin, the way your body responds to lactic acid is related to higher cellular turnover and the ability to produce natural collagen.
Synthetic Lactic Acid and Collagen
When this synthetic variation of lactic acid is injected into the foundational layers of aging skin, the body begins to produce higher amounts of collagen. Collagen is the most abundant protein in your body and is responsible for keeping your skin smooth, volumized, and elastic. Collagen is also one of the first victims of the natural aging process since collagen production begins to decrease by about 1% each year after the mid-20s.
When we produce less collagen in our skin, the youthful vitality of the skin begins to fade and wrinkles can start to form. It’s also worth noting that less collagen production is also associated with less elastin production and less hyaluronic acid in the skin, both of which help the skin remain supple and bouncy.
Poly-L-Lactic Acid and Your Skin
One of the most promising aspects of this injectable treatment is the way that poly-L-lactic acid interacts with the internal processes of your skin to restore a youthful appearance. This synthetic formula helps stimulate collagen production so your skin can build natural collagen that will volumize and support the structure of the skin. And because this synthetic form of lactic acid will remain in the skin for several months, your skin will benefit from continuous collagen production.
What Can You Expect From Treatment?
During your initial evaluation, we will discuss your cosmetic concerns with you. We will go over the benefits of this injectable with you and talk to you about how quickly you can expect to see the results of the treatment. Since this Sculptra treatment is not a surgery, you will not need to plan to have any time off work or other activities. However, you should reschedule your appointment if you have skin concerns like fever blisters, cold sores, or eczema within two weeks of your treatment date.
Pre-Treatment
Although you won’t need to make very many preparations for your treatment, you will still need to do some things to prepare for successful results. Patients can benefit from better results and a quicker recovery time when they discontinue any blood-thinning medications or supplements about one to three days before their appointment. It can also be helpful to start using Arnica Montana supplements one day before your treatment to expedite your healing.
Post-Treatment
Once the treatment is complete, there is no extensive recovery. You are free to return to school or work. You will not have any significant aftercare instructions to follow, although we do recommend that patients stay away from excessive heat, sweating, and sunlight for at least one week after treatment. We may also give you directions on how to wash your face or the best position to sleep in while the filler is settling.
How Many Treatments Will You Need?
The average client requires three injection sessions with roughly six weeks between sessions. In other words, it will take about 18 weeks or four months, from your first session to your last. Your facial structure and targeted results determine how many sessions you will need and how far apart the sessions need to be scheduled. We will recommend a treatment schedule for you during your initial consultation.
What to Expect From the Results of Treatment
You shouldn’t expect to see the results of your treatment immediately. Unlike traditional dermal fillers, the treated areas don’t fill immediately with hyaluronic acid or another substance. Poly-L-lactic acid is a bio activator, which encourages the skin to produce collagen to fill in the wrinkles, folds, and hollow areas.
Most patients start to see the results of the treatment within a couple of weeks of your treatment session. However, it will take between four and nine months to enjoy the final results of your treatment.
How Long Do Results Last?
One thing that sets Sculptra apart from other dermal fillers is you can expect the results of treatment to last for two years. This is a huge difference between some other dermal fillers, which may only last for 12 to 18 months. For Sculptra, you can expect results that last up to two years on virtually all areas of the face.
Can Results Last Longer?
Yes, sometimes your results can last longer than two years. For some, your results won’t disappear after 24 months. In fact, 80% of clients continue to be satisfied with their results after 25 months have passed. Depending on the dosage used and the treatment area, the results can last for 60 months.
Although the synthetic lactic acid is metabolized by your skin in around 24 months, the extra collagen produced will help you maintain your ideal results for years. Additionally, there are other things you can do to help your results last longer, including:
Sun Protection
The sun is the biggest culprit behind your age-related concerns. Unprotected sun exposure can create free radicals in the skin cells that damage the skin and cause proteins like collagen to break down more quickly, as well as dark spots and other signs of aging. Moreover, research suggests that UV ray exposure can also cause filler formulas to break down faster.
If you want the results of your treatment to last for as long as possible, then you should always wear SPF during the daytime, even if you are indoors or it’s overcast weather. For most people, SPF 30 is a good strength; however, if you have particularly fair skin, skin that burns easily, or skin that freckles easily, then you may want to use a higher strength, such as SPF 50.
Lifestyle Factors
Several lifestyle factors are involved in how long you can expect to enjoy the results of your treatment. Most of the lifestyle factors are concerned with the regular function of your body and the way your internal processes will interact with this filler. For example, exercising too much or too often can speed up your metabolism and cause your filler to break down more quickly.
Collagen in the skin does not last as long if the skin is dehydrated, so drinking plenty of water is key. It’s also important to manage your stress levels since high or consistent stress can cause the stress hormones in your body to break down new collagen.
Good Skincare
Having a good skincare routine is another important factor to consider if you want your results to last for as long as possible. Ideally, you want to use skincare products that will support the results you are trying to achieve with your filler. Since your filler is increasing collagen production, you can enhance and potentially extend the results of your treatment by using products that actively encourage collagen production, including retinoids and hyaluronic acid.
How Frequently Should You Have This Treatment?
The ideal treatment frequency for you will be determined by how long the results of your treatment last. Many patients schedule annual treatments every two years to maintain results. However, if you notice that your results are lasting longer than 24 months, then you may want to postpone your next treatment until the results of your current treatment start to fade. We can provide more guidance for your maintenance appointment at our clinic.
What Can This Filler Treat?
When this injectable was first approved by the FDA, it was only intended to restore cheek volume. However, this treatment is now known as a safe and effective option for adults who have lost facial volume in other areas of the face, including around the nose and the mouth. This injectable is most often used to augment and lift sunken, sagging cheeks. However, there are other applications for this injectable. Some additional areas of treatment include:
- Pointed chin
- Sharp jawline
- Nasolabial folds
- Smile lines
- Chin wrinkles
What Are the Benefits of This Filler?
There are many benefits worth noticing for Sculptra. For example, virtually anyone can be a candidate, especially those who have severe age-related concerns. This volumizing treatment can be used on the mid-face and other areas where there are troublesome wrinkles, which makes this a highly versatile product. Additionally, the long-lasting results of this filler are second to none compared to other dermal fillers.
Are You a Good Candidate?
If you are self-conscious about the appearance of your skin, then it’s likely you are a good candidate for a dermal filler like Sculptra. Because this injectable is biocompatible and does not have a high risk of an allergic reaction, it is considered a universal treatment for women and men of any age, skin tone, or skin condition. Both moderate and severe signs of aging can be treated with this filler.
The only people who are not candidates are those who are currently pregnant or breastfeeding, as well as those who do not have a history of severe allergic reaction. Your consultation appointment will be able to better assess whether this treatment is a good option for you.
Revitalize Your Youth Today!
If you want to change your aesthetics for the better and recapture the vitality in your face, then you need the right aesthetic treatment to make it happen. Sculptra is an ideal treatment to address common aging concerns and help you increase your overall self-confidence every time you look in the mirror. If you think this treatment is a good fit for your aesthetic goals, please contact Biotech Cosmetic Surgery & Laser Center in Bay Harbor Islands, Coral Gabels, and Sunny Isles, FL to schedule your initial consultation today.