Gradually replace lost collagen, diminish facial wrinkles and restore facial volume for a more youthful looking appearance over time with Sculptra® Aesthetic, an injectable collagen stimulator.
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Sculptra®
To schedule your consultation online, fill out the form above with your preferred times and our office will contact you to confirm. Or call us at (843) 405-5906 to book by phone.
What is Sculptra®?
Facial aging begins in your late 20’s when skin’s firmness starts decreasing as a result of genetics, natural aging (collagen degradation), and environmental factors, such as sun exposure, smoking and stress. Sculptra® Aesthetic is an injectable collagen stimulator that addresses the loss of collagen, an underlying cause of facial aging, to result in a more youthful appearance.
Sculptra® Aesthetic is made with an FDA-approved biocompatible, biodegradable synthetic material called poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA) (i.e. the same material dissolvable sutures are made from). Unlike oral collagen powders and supplements which are minimally absorbed since they are broken down in the digestive tract before they are put to use, Sculptra® Aesthetic can be used as a targeted therapy to address specific areas of the face and body that lack structure and volume.
Sculptra® Aesthetic works deep within the dermis to gradually stimulate your body to produce more of its own collagen. More collagen enables the presence of more elastin, which maintains skin shape, and Hyaluronic acid (HA) which cushions and lubricates to keep skin hydrated. As a result, Sculptra® Aesthetic helps restore skin’s inner structure, correcting shallow to deep facial wrinkles and folds and restoring the look of fullness between the nose and mouth (nasolabial folds) or smile lines, marionette lines, and chin wrinkles. We even use it to smooth stubborn lines on the décolleté, and to give skin above the knees and buttocks a nice lift (e.g. ‘Sculptra Butt Lift’).
What to Expect
Before treatment, your practitioner will review the benefits and possible side effects and your skin will be cleansed. Numbing cream is not generally used for Sculptra® injections. You will feel a pinch upon initial injection and you will feel some pressure in the treatment area as Sculptra® Aesthetic is delivered into the deep dermis. Most patients find the treatment very tolerable. Your practitioner will massage the product as needed.
The entire treatment takes approximately 30 minutes and for the vast majority of patients, there is no downtime. As with all other facial injectables, some minor swelling and bruising can occur. However, since Sculptra® Aesthetic is placed so deep within the skin, where it is designed to mimic bone, most patients find this treatment results in less pain and bruising than other options.
Post treatment, you will be advised to massage the treatment area for five minutes, five times per day, for five days (think 5-5-5). Massaging is critical to helping the PLLA integrate properly into the tissue without leaving any lumps or bumps under the skin.
Treatment Guidelines
Schedule your Sculptra® appointment at least two weeks or more prior to a special event, such as a wedding or a vacation. Results from Sculptra® will take several weeks to appear.
Results
With Sculptra® Aesthetic, your body does the heavy lifting, working subtly and gradually over time to produce more collagen. It is not a treatment we typically recommend if you are getting ready for a high school reunion or wedding, since the results are not instant like dermal fillers. Improvement appears gradually over the treatment plan, with results in full effect by six months and lasting at least two years. Many patients report benefits in years three and four and beyond.
Sculptra® Aesthetic is sold as a series of treatment sessions and is viewed as more of a process than a quick fix. To achieve maximum results, we recommend at least three sessions spaced about 4-6 weeks apart. A good rule of thumb for optimal correction is that you should aim for a vial of product for each decade of life, though most see improvement after just three vials.
Many of our patients love this product so much that they opt to do one single vial each year following their initial series to maintain their results indefinitely without having to redo the full series again for several years.
Disclaimer: Every patient is different, and results may vary due to a number of factors. During your consultation, we will discuss with you the results you can expect and create a custom treatment plan that’s right for you.
Sculptra®: FAQs
How can I protect the collagen I have?
Be vigilant with sun protection, follow a nutritious diet, minimize stress, and enjoy adequate sleep every night to help preserve your body’s supply of this important support protein.
How else can Sculptra® Aesthetic be used?
Sculptra® Aesthetic can be used as a stand-alone treatment or in tandem with other foundational treatments like Ultherapy®. It can also be used in conjunction with dermal fillers for patients experiencing greater volume loss or those wanting a quicker result.
How much collagen do we lose as we age?
Collagen makes up 80% of our skin when we are young. After the age of 25, we lose it at an estimated rate of 1% per year. Smoking, sugar and ultraviolet rays impact the loss as well.
Be vigilant with sun protection, follow a nutritious diet, minimize stress, and enjoy adequate sleep every night to help preserve your body’s supply of this important support protein.
How else can Sculptra® Aesthetic be used?
Sculptra® Aesthetic can be used as a stand-alone treatment or in tandem with other foundational treatments like Ultherapy®. It can also be used in conjunction with dermal fillers for patients experiencing greater volume loss or those wanting a quicker result.
How much collagen do we lose as we age?
Collagen makes up 80% of our skin when we are young. After the age of 25, we lose it at an estimated rate of 1% per year. Smoking, sugar and ultraviolet rays impact the loss as well.
Sculptra®: FAQs
How can I protect the collagen I have?
Be vigilant with sun protection, follow a nutritious diet, minimize stress, and enjoy adequate sleep every night to help preserve your body’s supply of this important support protein.
How else can Sculptra® Aesthetic be used?
Sculptra® Aesthetic can be used as a stand-alone treatment or in tandem with other foundational treatments like Ultherapy®. It can also be used in conjunction with dermal fillers for patients experiencing greater volume loss or those wanting a quicker result.
How much collagen do we lose as we age?
Collagen makes up 80% of our skin when we are young. After the age of 25, we lose it at an estimated rate of 1% per year. Smoking, sugar and ultraviolet rays impact the loss as well.
Be vigilant with sun protection, follow a nutritious diet, minimize stress, and enjoy adequate sleep every night to help preserve your body’s supply of this important support protein.
How else can Sculptra® Aesthetic be used?
Sculptra® Aesthetic can be used as a stand-alone treatment or in tandem with other foundational treatments like Ultherapy®. It can also be used in conjunction with dermal fillers for patients experiencing greater volume loss or those wanting a quicker result.
How much collagen do we lose as we age?
Collagen makes up 80% of our skin when we are young. After the age of 25, we lose it at an estimated rate of 1% per year. Smoking, sugar and ultraviolet rays impact the loss as well.
