How Long Does Sculptra Last?

Poly-L lactic acid-based dermal filler Sculptra was approved by the FDA in August 2004. Originally designed to augment cheeks after severe weight loss, it has a variety of applications. We offer this injectable at Biotech Cosmetic Surgery & Medical Spa in Bay Harbor Islands, FL to treat wrinkles and severely sagging skin for patients in the Bay Harbor, Miami, Coral Gables, and Sunny Isles areas. Today, we’re answering questions about this effective treatment, and particularly how long the results will last.

Your final results will vary depending on your individual circumstances, but it is reasonable to expect them to last for two years or more. The final results, however, can easily last five years if you take good care of your skin and your overall health. Results have lasted as long as seven years for some clients.

Your age, the dose you received, where you received the injections, the cosmetic concerns you are addressing, the severity of the conditions you are treating, and the health of your skin are factors that will influence how long the final results of your treatment will last. Consider different areas of the body:

Treating the Cheeks

Noninvasive cheek augmentation was the original purpose of this procedure. It was designed specifically to restore cheek volume in individuals who had rapidly lost weight following a severe illness. These injections, performed into and around the cheeks, can last up to seven years but usually last five to five-and-a-half years.

The exciting thing is that these injections don’t just fill in hollow cheeks. They can also lift sagging cheeks since they stimulate collagen production. A good candidate for this treatment is someone who has a concern about the appearance of their cheeks, cheekbones, and the skin around their cheeks.

Treating the Temples

You can expect that the final results of your treatment will last approximately two years if you are using this injectable to lift and restore volume to sunken temples. Despite the results not being quite as durable as for non-invasive cheek augmentation, they still last much longer than hyaluronic acid-based facial fillers. Sunken temples cannot be effectively filled with dermal fillers, and such treatments only last six to 18 months.

Treating the Décolleté

As we age, we notice changes in our chests as well as our faces. When you are in your 30s, you can begin to wrinkle because your skin is so thin in this area. This problem is especially common in people who repeatedly use tanning beds or sunbathe with suntan lotion for years instead of wearing sunscreen and limiting their exposure to the sun.

Generally, the results of injections in your décolleté region will last between two and five years. The results of your treatment will last longer if you take good care of your skin health.

Treating the Jawline

The jawline is another area common for poly-L lactic acid treatment injections. It can enhance your appearance for approximately five years, regardless of whether you wish to raise sagging skin to increase the prominence of your jawline or to remove wrinkles forming around your chin.

Depending on whether you also treat your cheeks, your results may last up to seven years. The skin around your jaw naturally lifts when volume is added to your cheeks.

Extending Your Results

In order for your treatment to last as long as possible, you need to keep your skin healthy. The aging process cannot be stopped, but there are several things you can do to drastically slow it down. Basically, this treatment increases collagen production in the skin to improve its appearance. Take steps to maintain your collagen’s health to improve the durability of your results:

Wear Sunscreen Faithfully

When you’re out in the sun, wearing a broad-spectrum sunscreen is one of the best ways to maintain your collagen health. Wearing a broad-spectrum sunscreen is important because some sunscreens don’t protect against UV-C rays, which damage collagen in the skin. You should choose a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF (sun protection factor) of at least 35, but more protection is always better.

Make sure that the sunscreen you are using is not expired for the best results. Older sunscreens lose their effectiveness. Keeping sunscreen in a cool, dry place is also crucial. Store sunscreen in a cool, dry place. Avoid storing sunscreen in the bathroom where moisture and heat are an issue.

Minimize Alcohol

Drink responsibly to achieve long-lasting Sculptra results. Alcohol should not be consumed by women over one unit daily, and by men over two units daily. Drink eight ounces of water between each unit of alcohol if you consume more than one per day. Make sure to drink a cup of water before and after drinking.

The body recognizes alcohol as a toxin, and it reacts accordingly. Excessive urination occurs to eliminate the toxin quickly. Dehydration is the first complication. Approximately 64% of the skin is made up of water, and dehydration reduces collagen synthesis. Furthermore, excessive urination depletes the body of essential micronutrients it needs to build more collagen.

Avoid Tobacco Entirely

The consumption of tobacco products is one of the worst things you can do to your skin’s health and appearance. Chewing tobacco and smoking cigarettes are the two worst things you can do to yourself because they contain so many harmful chemicals. Nevertheless, consuming nicotine of any kind, including nicotine gum, nicotine patches, or e-liquid, is bad for your skin.

Smoking negatively impacts your skin on several levels. Collagen production is affected in the first place. Collagen deficiency is a main cause of wrinkles, sagging skin, and volume loss. Your skin’s collagen production also plays a significant role in the texture of your skin. The body cannot produce adequate amounts of collagen while it’s trying to flush out chemicals like nicotine.

Eat Plenty of Protein

Consuming plenty of protein can also extend the durability of your treatment results. Collagen is a protein, which means your skin cannot produce strong collagen without plenty of collagen in your diet. To support collagen production in your skin, you should include bone broth, eggs, fish, seafood, free-range chicken, and grass-fed beef in your diet regularly.

How Long Does Treatment Take?

Depending on how large the treatment area is, a treatment session can last anywhere from 15 to 60 minutes. Your treatment session will only last around a quarter of an hour if you are only attempting to restore volume to hollow temples. However, if you are treating a larger area, such as your cheeks or chest, you can expect your treatment to last closer to 45 minutes.

Does Treatment Hurt?

Not at all. There is no pain associated with this treatment. In fact, the needles we use are so fine that there would only be a slight pressure even if no anesthetic was used. To ensure you are completely comfortable throughout your treatment, this injectable is mixed with lidocaine. By using lidocaine as part of the injectable, you will not be subject to the unpleasant side effects common with stronger anesthetics.

Is Lidocaine Dangerous?

You will also be asked to provide your medical history in your initial consultation. Additionally, we will discuss your current health to determine if you are a candidate for lidocaine injections. Local anesthetics are extremely safe, but they work by inhibiting nerve signal transmission. Patients who have severe heart rhythm issues, a heart block, heart disease, fatty liver diseases, or renal failure should not undergo the treatment.

Am I a Good Candidate for Treatment?

If you have concerns about facial volume loss, have a strong immune system, are at least 18 years old, and aren’t pregnant or nursing, then this injectable may be right for you. The active ingredient in this medication is poly-L lactic acid, so the chances of you being allergic to it are nearly nil. If you are allergic to lidocaine, let us know during your initial consultation.

During the initial consultation, we will discuss your cosmetic concerns and determine what the cause is. Sculptra can improve your appearance if your skin problems are the result of volume loss. A healthy immune system is the primary prerequisite. Multiple sclerosis, Type I diabetes, and Graves’ disease are examples of autoimmune conditions that can hinder the effectiveness of this treatment.

Find Out if This Treatment Is Right for You

Sculptra is used for a variety of purposes, including reducing facial wrinkles and enhancing cheeks. After the treatment, the final results may last up to two years, but the final results of this treatment may last for up to five years for some people. To learn more and find out if this is the right treatment for you, contact us at Biotech Cosmetic Surgery & Medical Spa in the Bay Harbor Islands, Miami, Coral Gables, and Sunny Isles, FL area today!