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Sculptra® Aesthetic

Sculptra Aesthetic from Dr. Ishoo on Vimeo.

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Sculptra® aesthetic is a bio-stimulant dermal filler indicated for the treatment of facial lines and wrinkles. Sculptra® is also indicated for treatment of the loss of fat beneath the skin that sometimes causes sunken cheeks, indentations and hollow eyes (facial lipoatrophy). Sculptra®’s is composed of poly-L-lactic acid, a substance that has been used for more than 20 years in surgical products such as dissolvable stitches and sustained-release injectable medications. Poly-L-lactic acid is a biocompatible substance, which means that it is not harmful to the surrounding tissue.

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This characteristic makes Sculptra® suitable for a wide variety of surgical and cosmetic uses Several hundred thousand individuals in over 30 countries worldwide have been treated with Sculptra®. Internationally, it is known as New-Fill. It was approved in Europe in 1999 for the correction of skin depressions such as nasolabial folds, and again in 2004 for the treatment of facial lipoatrophy. Sculptra®  gained approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the United States in 2004 for the correction of lipoatrophy. In 2009, the FDA approved Sculptra® aesthetic for use in treating facial wrinkles.

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Sculptra® is different from other dermal fillers in that it works exclusively by stimulating the body to create collagen. So unlike other dermal fillers, Sculptra® does not yield immediate results. Although the body begins to respond to Sculptra® immediately, it takes a few months before the skin starts to feel thicker, hollows begin to diminish and wrinkles begin to disappear. The optimal effect is usually reached after a few months. Most patients will need 2-5 treatments to achieve optimal contouring that will often last up to 2 years or more. The results can be so gradual that some patients will not perceive them; however, comparing ‘before’ pictures with ‘after’ pictures often reveals significant improvement.

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The healthcare professional’s technique and experience can affect the life of the treatment, as Sculptra® aesthetic requires a unique injection technique in relation to other dermal fillers. Other factors such as the patient’s age and amount of long-term exposure to the sun might also alter the effectiveness and life of Sculptra® aesthetic treatment. To sustain results of Sculptra treatments after 2 years and for up to a lifetime, patients should return to their doctor for touch up treatments periodically. It is advisable to return for touch up treatments before Sculptra® has been completely dissolved and absorbed by the body.  Some medical practitioners advise touch up treatment every 6 months.

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Sculptra® aesthetic is typically used to correct wrinkles, by buttressing wrinkles (rather than filling them), as well as helping fill concave facial areas and thickening skin with collagen production.  Most commonly reported side effects may include temporary injection-related events at the site of injection, such as tenderness or discomfort, redness, bruising, or swelling. Side effects of Sculptra® may also include the delayed appearance of small bumps under the skin in the treated area. Generally these bumps are not visible and may only be noticed when pressing on the treated area. This side effect is usually minimized or alleviated by a thorough massaging of the treated area immediately following administration. Consult your physician for a complete list of potential side effects.

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Sculptra® is a long-lasting injectable that treats lines and wrinkles. It works by triggering the body to produce its own collagen which not only fills lines and smooths wrinkles but restores facial volume. As we age, our skin thins, and we lose fat and bone volume in our faces. Our face becomes depleted of youthful volume, our cheekbones and jawlines become less prominent, with eventual hollowing beneath our eyes. Sculptra® is a synthetic substance, used commonly in dissolvable stitches, and has been used safely for soft tissue injection in Europe and the U.S. in thousands of patients.

Sculptra® injections look natural because it stimulates your own natural collagen building activity. It has been shown to last between 2-3 years. A typical treatment plan consists of three sessions over several months, and are excellent for younger patients who feel they are looking hollow, or older patients who want to regain the voluptuousness of youth.

Sculptra® injections are very dependant on technique, so they require an experienced physician who can determine what injections are required to attain the desired volume changes to the face. Commonly treated areas include the cheeks and cheekbones, along the jawline, beneath the eyes, the nasolabial folds, and around the mouth.

What is It?

Sculptra®, one of the newest and longest-lasting dermal fillers on the market, is made from poly-L-lactic acid, a synthetic but biocompatible (not harmful to the body) material that has a decades-long history of being used safely for a variety of medical purposes, including threads for surgical stitches.
In 2009, the Food and Drug Administration approved Sculptra for cosmetic purposes, although the filler had been approved earlier (2004) to add volume to the cheeks of H.I.V.-positive patients with facial fat loss (lipoatrophy). The filler has been used cosmetically in Europe since 1999, where it’s called New-Fill.

Sculptra – The Long Lasting Filler(1) from Dr. Ishoo on Vimeo.

What Does Sculptra Treat?

Sculptra® is increasingly being used instead of fat injections and fat grafts to treat large depressed areas of the face for an overall “lifting” effect. The aging face often shows certain common patterns, one important aspect of which is loss of volume in the cheeks, temples, jawline and under eyes. This volume loss not only changes the shape of the face from a more oval to a more rectangular one, but also loosens the cheek skin, accentuates the skin folds around the mouth and nose, and may exaggerate the jowling effect. Sculptra is the best injectable volume enhancer that is particularly suited for re-contouring the face by augmenting the critically important areas of the cheek, temple and jawline. Additionally, Sculptra can also be used for correction or softening of other skin folds between the nose and the mouth (nasolabial fold), the lines framing the mouth (marionette lines), and hollowness in the pre-jowl area. It should be pointed out that Sculptra should not be injected into the red area of the lip or into superficial wrinkles of the skin.

Sculptra is not recommended for lip enhancement (although it can help “lift” the corners of the mouth) or for use near the eyes. People with active skin infections or who scar easily should also not use it.

How Does It Work?

Sculptra stimulates the production of collagen, a protein that contributes to your skin’s volume and structure. Age and repeated exposure to the sun cause collagen to break down — a major factor in the formation of wrinkles and folds. Sculptra restores that collagen, thus giving your skin a more youthful-looking fullness and firmness. Some people get the rejuvenating results they want with only one Sculptra treatment, but most skin issues respond best to two to three treatments, spaced four to six weeks apart.

How does Sculptra Aesthetic Work? from Dr. Ishoo on Vimeo.

What is the Treatment Like?

Sculptra comes in powdered form. It’s mixed with sterile water and then injected deep into skin folds, sunken cheeks, or other areas of the face that need smoothing and recontouring. You’ll be given a topical anesthetic before the injections, which are done with ultra-thin needles. The entire procedure usually takes less than an hour. Depending on the amount of fat loss in the facial skin, a patient may need between 3 and 6 treatments to be satisfied with the results. Consult with your doctor to discuss how many treatments will be right for you.

How many treatments of Sculptra Aesthetic are needed and how long does the result last?

For most patients who are considered good candidates for Sculptra injections, total volume restoration is not meant to be achieved in a single treatment session for one simple reason; injecting too much of the material at one time in one area would increase the likelihood of formation of lumps and bumps—an easily avoidable adverse outcome. Accordingly, most patients require 2-4 treatment sessions, in monthly intervals, depending on each patient’s unique facial features and particular expectations. It should be noted that the incremental nature of the volume correction with Sculptra has the added advantage of giving the face a more natural appearance, while minimizing the chances of over-correction. The results should last for at least 18-24 months, much longer than that obtained with dermal fillers like Juvederm.

Who can administer Sculptra the best?

Unlike other more commonly used dermal fillers, like Restylane, Perland, Juvederm or Radiesse, the privilege of administrating of Sculptra is granted to a select group of cosmetic surgeons and cosmetic dermatologists, who have met the training and experience requirements of this product. Dr. Dishakjian has been one of the earliest physicians in the San Fernando Valley to appreciate, adopt, and actively use this unique product.

What are the possible side effects of Sculptra?

After the treatment, you may experience some redness, swelling, itching, and bruising at the injection site. You’ll be advised to massage the treated area regularly for up to a week to diminish the risk of developing small nodules, or lumps, under the skin. Some research suggests that almost 9 percent of people treated with Sculptra develop these lumps, which can take months to dissolve and disappear. Injecting the lumps with a drug called hyaluronidase can sometimes help speed up their dissolution, so be sure to call your doctor if any lumps develop as a result of treatment. It is not intended for use in the lips and not recommended for use in periorbital area.

When are the results final?

At first, on the day of Sculptra injections and the following day, you see a dramatic improvement which diminishes over the following few days. This improvement is actually due to the fluid of injection, which gives you and your doctor an idea of what the final result will be. Over the next few weeks your body will produce new collagen that gradually and subtly restores the underlying structure of the skin by replacing the lost collagen. Given the delayed nature of the effects, results may not be noticeable until four weeks after a treatment, at which point another treatment may be performed. When having three to four Sculptra sessions at a once a month interval, the added volume is at its maximum two to three months after the last treatment.

Are there any contraindications or complications?

Allergy testing is not required prior to Sculptra injections. Sculptra Aesthetic should not be injected while you have an active skin infection or inflammation in the treatment area. Side effects of Sculptra Aesthetic may include injection site discomfort, redness, bruising, bleeding, itching, and swelling. Other side effects may include the occasional formation of small lumps under the skin, some with delayed onset. Generally these bumps are not visible and may only be noticed when pressing on the treated area. Although these lumps eventually and slowly resolve over time without treatment, the best strategy is to prevent them in the first place. This can largely be achieved by a proper injecting technique that avoids putting too much material at a time in one area, avoids injecting highly concentrated suspensions, and allows a waiting period of at least 3 weeks between consecutive injections.

How Much Does Sculptra Cost?

To determine the average cost of a Sculptra treatment and to see how that cost compares with that of other dermal filler treatments, see Costs and Pricing.

How Long do Treatments Last?

You’ll notice immediately after the treatment that your skin has more volume. This effect, however, will be temporary, for it’s a direct result of the water in the Sculptra solution. The real changes begin after the water is absorbed and the active ingredient in Sculptra (the poly-L-lactic acid) starts to stimulate the new growth of collagen. This process takes weeks. You’ll need to be patient. Once Sculptra’s effects take hold, however, they’ll last a long time — up to two years, according to some studies. Eventually, however, your body will absorb the poly-L-lactic acid in Sculptra. A second, touch-up treatment will then be needed to maintain the filler’s effects. Because Sculptra’s effects are so long-lasting, it’s essential that the procedure be done correctly. Be sure to seek treatment from a physician who is thoroughly trained and experienced in using this particular dermal filler.

Call Boston Cosmetic Specialists today at 888.875.1845 or submit our consultation form to schedule a free consultation.

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