Some people say that lines and wrinkles are necessary because they tell a story, that every line or wrinkle speaks of your life experience, your joys, and your history. However, some people don’t want that story written on their face; they’d rather tell it on their terms. If the aging process has negatively affected your appearance, we can help. At Advanced Dermatology Center in Wolcott, CT, we offer Sculptra, a collagen-stimulating injectable that will restore your youth.
Does Sculptra Look Natural?
Sculptra qualifies as a dermal filler but it is unique in that not only does it provide some immediate results, it delivers long-lasting results that look completely natural. Its main job is to stimulate collagen production in the body, and then it relies on the body to deliver some powerful results. The results are completely natural and come straight from your body, which is as natural as you can get when it comes to anti-aging solutions.
Because of the way it works, there’s no risk of looking overdone or fake because the body delivers your final results, not an injector. With this particular injectable, your body is in control of your final results, not your injector. You won’t look over-filled but will achieve a soft and subtle fullness in your problem areas that will add volume to hollow areas and smooth out fine lines and wrinkles.
What Is Sculptra?
Sculptra Aesthetic is an FDA-approved dermal filler in an injectable form that contains the main ingredient that helps the body produce more collagen in your face and your body. It can fill hollow areas, smooth wrinkles, and make you look younger and well-rested. The most common treatment area includes the lower half of the face including marionette lines, smile lines, chin wrinkles, hollow temples, volume loss in the cheeks, fine lines and wrinkles, and jowls.
Additionally, this Sculptra cosmetic injectable is used to help restore volume in different areas of the body that have begun to experience sagging or drooping due to aging. Other more recent uses include replicating a version of the Brazilian Butt Lift with Sculptra injections to add volume, increase the size, and perfect the shape of the buttocks.
The Two Types of Dermal Fillers
There are two primary types of dermal fillers available in the beauty world: hyaluronic acid-based dermal fillers and collagen-stimulating dermal fillers. Each of these treats the signs of aging by adding volume below the surface of the skin, but they do so in different ways. They both are effective but provide different kinds of results at different rates.
Hyaluronic Acid-Based Dermal Fillers
The majority of dermal fillers on the beauty market qualify as hyaluronic acid-based dermal fillers because they use a synthetic form of hyaluronic acid to plump the skin. They target and treat areas that have suffered due to an overall loss of hyaluronic acid in the body. Hyaluronic acid is an acid produced by the body naturally to keep the tissues hydrated, the skin soft, and the face youthful.
The body begins to produce less of this essential acid over time as you age, and wrinkles form from the lack of necessary hydration to keep the skin voluminous. HA fillers use a synthetic form of this substance to replace what the aging process has taken. When injected between the surface of the skin and deeper levels, you will experience an immediate volumizing effect that continues to improve within two weeks.
Collagen-Stimulating Dermal Fillers
Sculptra falls into the category of collagen-stimulating fillers. It doesn’t improve the skin with hyaluronic acid but instead uses poly-L-lactic acid, the primary ingredient that stimulates the body’s natural collagen-building processes.
Just as the body slows hyaluronic acid production over time, so too does collagen and elastin production decrease with the aging process. That’s where Sculptra comes in. After you’re injected with this dermal filler, your body will react to the main ingredient by stimulating collagen production and your body will get right to work creating this essential protein. You’ll get beautiful, natural results that appear gradually over time.
What About Collagen Creams?
There are plenty of over-the-counter beauty products available for purchase that promise to deliver skin-changing results. While collagen is a nutrient-rich ingredient, it can’t restore volume when applied to the surface of the skin. These products can hydrate your epidermis but they won’t stimulate your body’s natural collagen production abilities.
The only real effective form of collagen that can treat the signs of aging, diminish wrinkles, and restore volume comes from your body. That’s why this dermal filler is so effective because it addresses aging at the root cause and forces the body to heal itself from the inside out.
What Happens During Treatment?
Your Consultation
Your treatment will begin with a consultation. This is an important step in the process because it allows us to get to know you better, learn more about your health history, and discuss your goals to find out if this treatment is right for your body and will meet your needs. We will make sure that you don’t have any allergies to the ingredients in this injectable, and then we will analyze your problem areas to determine where to inject this filler so that you get the best results.
A consultation is also an important time for you to ask questions. We want you to feel completely confident when you walk into your appointment and know exactly what to expect during and after your treatment. We will review the treatment with you and discuss any aftercare instructions so that you can properly care for your skin in the days following your initial treatment.
Preparing For Your Appointment
There are some ways to prepare for your appointment so that your treatment areas are ready for the injections and that you get the best results possible. Drinking plenty of water before your appointment will help your skin stay hydrated and maintain high water content. You should also avoid any products or treatments that could irritate your skin, like chemical peels or exfoliating treatments in the days leading up to your appointment.
You want to maintain a healthy pH balance in your skin so that it’s not inflamed or irritated before your treatment. Avoid excess sun exposure before your appointment to make sure that you don’t get a sunburn. Also, avoid alcohol consumption for 24 hours before your treatment begins.
Your Appointment
Once we confirm that you are a candidate for this treatment, we will schedule your appointment. This is an exciting day for our patients because they know that when they walk out of our office, they’ll be one step closer to increased collagen production and all of the anti-aging benefits that come with it. Your injector will clean your skin and then administer the injections in the areas pre-discussed during your initial consultation.
This injectable has a very fine needle which will help you remain comfortable during the treatment. We can also apply a topical numbing cream to your skin pre-treatment to make sure that you remain comfortable the entire time.
Your Aftercare
Once your appointment is complete we will provide you with all of the aftercare instructions you need so that you can take care of your skin post-treatment. One way to ensure the best results is to avoid excess sun exposure in the days immediately following your treatment. You should also avoid excessive heat, like hot tubs, saunas, and steam rooms, as well as strenuous workouts for 24 hours following your treatment.
Another way to protect your skin post-treatment is to avoid touching your face. Not touching your face is a good habit to form regardless of whether you undergo injections or not because constantly touching your skin can put you at risk of exposure to germs and bacteria.
Sculptra FAQs
How Long Will It Take To See Results?
Collagen production takes time, so your results will appear gradually in the weeks following your initial treatment. You will notice some immediate improvements in the appearance of your problem areas after your initial treatment. You may notice that your fine lines and wrinkles look softer, and hollow areas have more volume. Most patients notice the best and most dramatic results within two to three months of their first injection.
During your consultation, we will discuss the factors involved in determining how soon you’ll see results, including your age, your skin health, and the rate at which your body produces collagen.
How Long Will My Results Last?
By the time that the body metabolizes the primary ingredient in this injectable, you will already have begun to experience many of this injectable’s long-lasting results. The benefit of Sculptra is that a lot is happening beneath your skin after your initial injection that you won’t notice right away, but when you do, you’ll be amazed at your results and how long they last. Most patients enjoy results that last up to two years.
Once you notice that your problem areas aren’t looking as voluminous as they did, you can schedule follow-up treatment so that you can maintain your results for as long as possible.
How Many Treatments Will I Need?
Most patients only need one treatment to experience the best results. However, results do vary based on your age, the severity of your problem areas, and how your body responds to the treatment. We will let you know exactly how many treatments you will need during your initial consultation once we learn more about you and your skin, your health history, and your goals.
Am I a Candidate?
If you want to stimulate your body’s natural anti-aging abilities, you are most likely a candidate for this treatment. We’ll confirm your candidacy during an initial consultation and then get right to work on developing a customized treatment plan that will help you look and feel your best.
Schedule Your Initial Consultation Today
This dermal filler delivers results. It activates the healing properties within your body and gives you the kind of results that you can’t get from collagen creams or supplements. When you choose this injectable, you choose a treatment that will give you long-lasting and naturally-derived results. Contact us today at Advanced Dermatology Center in Wolcott, CT, and schedule your initial consultation to find out if this treatment can help meet all of your anti-aging needs.
