Sculptra Aesthetic is an FDA-approved, dermal injection that helps stimulate the body’s natural process to produce collagen. Collagen can be lost due to aging or other factors. The materiel used to help replace the lost collagen is poly-L-lactic acid, which is a biocompatible substance that is also used in dissolvable stitches. The body gradually begins to create more collagen over the course of a few weeks. This results in a more youthful, voluminous face that begins to appear gradually over this period of time. There are many reasons to choose Sculptra over other dermal injections, such as Juvederm and Restylane. These other products work by injecting hyaluronic acid instead of poly-L-lactic acid.

Below you will find the top seven uses for Sculptra. This will help give you a good idea if this procedure is right for you.

• Corrects Unwanted Facial Lines and Wrinkles

One of the most apparent signs of aging are wrinkles and fine lines. These tend to first appear around the mouth and chin. Sculptra is a collagen stimulator that helps to repair the underlying structure of the skin. This adds fullness to the face and diminishes the appearance of any wrinkles and fine lines. Sculptra is most commonly injected to reduce the appearance of smile lines, marionette lines, and wrinkles around the chin.

• Softens Bony Areas of the Face

As skin ages, it becomes much thinner. This makes boney areas of your face, such as your cheekbones, more noticeable with age. Sculptra helps to soften the appearance of such features. The dermal fillers add more fullness to these areas of the face making them appear softer and less prominent. Sculptra can also help your skin to become thicker at the treatment sites. As the collagen builds in these areas the skin becomes stronger and more youthful.

• Plumps Shallow Areas of Face

Hollow areas of the face can give an older appearance. An often overlooked region that ages the face is the temples. As you age, the temples lose fat and can become very shallow. A natural, subtle, but impactful difference is often seen when volume is added to such areas. Sculptra allows you to add more fullness without the risk of an unnatural “over-filled” look that other procedures may result in. The results of Sculptra are subtle and natural looking because it is designed for your body to replace lost collagen gradually.

• Helps Your Body to Produce More Collagen

Sculptra works by injecting a synthetic material, poly-L-Lactic acid (PLLA), into the deep dermis. This material is seen many times in dissolvable sutures because it is easy to be broken down in the body so no residual material is left at the injection site. PLLA stimulates the body’s natural process for creating collagen in the dermis. Collagen is a fibrous protein that is responsible for helping to support the structure of the skin. Functions of hyaluronic acid and elastin are also supported by collagen. Elastin helps skin maintain its shape and hyaluronic acid keeps the skin hydrated. With continued injections, your body will replace the lost collagen naturally. Collagen production begins to slow down in your late twenties and by the age of forty many individuals have lost twenty percent of their natural collagen. Sculptra helps to stimulate this process again. Although some people believe using creams or nutritional supplements that contain collagen are enough to help restore their collagen production, these sources generally do not make a noticeable difference in the skin’s appearance.

• Gradual Process

Unlike other dermal injections like Juvederm, Sculptra is not an overnight fix. They smooth wrinkles by pushing up the area in between the dermis and the wrinkles. Due to the fact that your body is gradually producing more collagen, Sculptra is a slower process. Final results do not happen for a few weeks and often patients need multiple injections after initial treatment to achieve ideal results. This slower process does come with multiple benefits though. It is very appealing to many people because it is less drastic and therefore less noticeable that the patient has had any work done at all. A gradual, multiple injection process allows the patient to not be shocked by any results and does not have to give away any signs of having work done. It also gives the patient the option of how much volume they want in each area, without having to make a quick, rash decision.

• Natural Results

The results of Sculptra usually look much more natural when compared to dermal fillers. This is because of the ongoing process of collagen stimulation that the injection of Sculptra produces. It causes a softer fullness, which looks more natural and less over-filled. The slow reveal of results also gives you the option of how much Sculptra you and your doctor are comfortable with injecting. The gradual process aids in the subtle and natural results achieved by this procedure.

• Long Lasting Results

Sculptra has longer lasting results when compared to other injectable treatments. Unlike most hyaluronic acid treatments that only last a few months, Sculptra can last up to two years. Sculptra usually requires three injections throughout three to four months and then these results will last for up to two years. Sculptra treatments last longer because it stimulates your own cells to produce more collagen. This is great even if you do not decide to repeat the procedure because you will always be “ahead of the game” when it comes to ageing.

Sculptra is a smart option when looking at ways to try to reduce of the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, and shallow areas. This treatment has many advantages when compared to other dermal injections that are offered to smooth wrinkles and plump shallow portions of the face. Helping to stimulate collagen production, natural results, and how long the treatment lasts are all very appealing reasons to consider this treatment. Keep in mind, there are some desired treatment areas that Sculptra is not recommended though, such as the delicate under-eye area and the lips, so please consult your doctor. If this treatment is something you are interested in, please contact our office to schedule a consultation.