By: Karen Lederman

The huge draw of injectable fillers for many clients is that the outcomes they supply are immediately visible. While surgical treatment needs recuperation and downtime and BOTOX® requires some time to work, injections fill the area immediately, making wrinkles less visible or providing immediate volume to the area.

But not every injectable filler works the same way or offers immediate outcomes. One example is Sculptra Aesthetic®, an injection that offers results throughout a few months. While the treatment isn’t ideal for everyone, it can be precisely what some patients are searching for.

Ingredients

Sculptra Aesthetic® is made from poly-L lactic acid, an active ingredient that is different from the compounds discovered in other fillers. While hyaluronic acid and calcium hydroxylapatite are both made by the body, poly-L lactic acid is an artificial material. The objective of hyaluronic and in some ways, calcium hydroxylapatite is to fill the areas that need treatment. But the goal of poly-L lactic acid is to stimulate the collagen.

Collagen is a kind of protein that your body produces normally. As you get older, production slows and may stop. Without collagen, your skin does not have an enough underlying support structure. It begins to droop and become wrinkly. You lose volume around the cheeks and in the lips.

Although poly-L lactic acid is a synthetic ingredient, it’s an artificial variation of a substance produced by the body. The ingredient is biocompatible, suggesting your body will naturally absorb it in time. You won’t need allergy testing prior to the treatment.

At the moment, Sculptra Aesthetic® is the only injectable made from poly-L lactic acid that has FDA approval. Although it had not been accepted for cosmetic use up until 2009, the injection had long been used on clients to treat facial volume loss. Before that, poly-L lactic acid was used as the cornerstone in dissolvable stitches.

What It Does

Sculptra Aesthetic® is injected a bit much deeper than other fillers, down into the dermis. Then it starts to promote collagen that’s been lost. The collagen then provides support to the skin above it, pushing out deeper lines and wrinkles and adding volume to the face. Many people need at least 3 treatments, spaced a couple of weeks apart.

The injection is most typically used to deal with deep lines and wrinkles by the nose and mouth, such as chin wrinkles, nasolabial folds, and the marionette lines that establish at the corners of the mouth.

Exactly what to Expect After Treatment

Some swelling prevails after an injection of Sculptra Aesthetic®. Putting a cold compress or ice pack on the treated location will certainly help reduce swelling and alleviate pain.

Adverse effects from the treatment are usually unusual and light. In some cases, Sculptra Aesthetic® can cause bumps or lumps to form below the skin. To dissipate the bumps, your practitioner will most likely suggest that you massage the location a number of times a day, for about five minutes, for about five days after your treatment.

You’ll need to be extra cautious about sun exposure after your Sculptra Aesthetic® injections. The sun’s UV rays can make your skin more delicate, resulting in even more inflammation and swelling. Stay out of the sun for a few days and ensure you wear sunscreen after that.

Choosing If Sculptra Aesthetic® Right for You

One major benefit of Sculptra Aesthetic® is that once the outcomes do appear, they can last for as much as 2 years. It can be a suitable alternative for you if you do not wish to have to go back for touch-ups occasionally.

Since it does take more than one treatment for numerous clients to get the outcomes they desire from Sculptra Aesthetic®, the injection might not be for you if you cannot dedicate to a number of appointments over the course of 3 months or if you need quick outcomes.

At Laser Skin & Wellness, we can assist you weigh the benefits and drawbacks of Sculptra Aesthetic® or decide if another filler is a better pick. To arrange an appointment, call (561) 641-9490 today.