Sculptra®
- What is Sculptra®?
- Is Sculptra® Safe?
- Where Can Sculptra® Be Used?
- How Long Does Sculptra® Last?
- Your Sculptra® Treatment
- Precautions
- Post Treatment Instructions
- Questions You May Have
What is Sculptra®?
Sculptra® is a non-surgical, cosmetic treatment for reducing facial lines and wrinkles and creating a fuller, more youthful appearance to your face. Also known as the "liquid facelift," Sculptra® works by both filling in lines and wrinkles and by stimulating your body to produce new collagen and underlying tissue. Sculptra® achieves excellent results in treating all parts of the face including the areas around the eyes and lips, between the mouth and nose, and throughout the cheeks and neck. It adds volume to the cheeks, to folds around the chin, and to hollow areas around the eyes.
Sculptra® is a safe, Federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved synthetic material that is injected below the surface of the skin directly into the areas of the face that appear sunken or hollow. Unlike many of the injectable facial fillers, the results achieved with Sculptra® can last two years or more because it causes the body to stimulate its own collagen. Of course, results may vary among individuals.
Sculptra® has been used by more than 150,000 people in over 30 countries to treat a variety of facial volume and contour deficiencies. It is only available through a licensed practitioner, such as the doctors at The Metropolitan Institute for Plastic Surgery, who have helped hundreds of men and woman restore the fullness and youthful appearance of their facial features.
Is Sculptra Safe?
The material used in Sculptra®, poly-L-lactic acid, is a synthetic version of the substance that is naturally produced by muscles during exercise. This material has been used in plastic and reconstructive surgery for more than 20 years. Sculptra® treatment has been used by over 150,000 people worldwide to improve the appearance of folds and sunken areas of the face and neck.
Approved outside the United States for many years, Sculptra® was recently approved by the U.S. Federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as the only product for the restoration of areas of the face and neck that have become hollow or sunken due to age or illness. While there are some possible minor side effects, medical research shows that Sculptra® injections are safe for most people. However, Sculptra® treatments should only be performed by a Board certified plastic surgeon who has experience with all aspects of the procedure. During your initial consultation, the staff and doctors of The Metropolitan Institute for Plastic Surgery will address any safety concerns you have regarding the use of Sculptra®.
Where Can Sculptra® Be Used?
Facial fat loss is the loss of fat beneath the skin, which can result in sunken cheeks, indentations, and hollow eyes. This condition can occur due to the effects of aging or certain illnesses. Sculptra® is a safe, synthetic, and biocompatible material that is injected below the surface of the skin in the area of fat loss. It achieves excellent results in all parts of the face including the areas around the eyes and lips, between the mouth and nose, and throughout the cheeks and neck. It adds volume to the cheeks, to folds around the chin, and to hollow areas around the eyes.
How Long Does Sculptra® Last?
Sculptra® treatment provides a gradual and significant increase in skin thickness, improving the appearance of folds, indentations, and sunken areas in the face and neck. The results achieved by Sculptra® are natural looking and appear gradually over a few weeks' time. Because Sculptra® stimulates the body to produce its own collagen, the results can last up to two years or longer in some cases. Some minor touch-up treatments may be needed to maintain the desired effect. Of course, results may vary and it is best to discuss your individual case with the doctors and staff of The Metropolitan Institute for Plastic Surgery during your initial consultation.
Your Sculptra® Treatment
Sculptra®, a crystal clear gel, is injected directly into the skin in tiny amounts using an ultra fine needle. The gel fills the skin's wrinkles and depressions by plumping the skin with water-binding, naturally occurring hyaluronic acid. The doctor may numb the area to be treated; however, there is minimal discomfort during or after the procedure. The procedure is simple and convenient and results are practically instantaneous.
Sculptra® treatments produce a low occurrence of side effects. The most commonly reported side effects are temporary redness and mild swelling at the injection site. Both the redness and the swelling generally disappear within seven days of your treatment.
Precautions
While no pre-treatment allergy tests are required, there are a few precautions you should take prior to your Sculptra® treatment.
- Avoid using aspirin, non-steroid anti-inflammatory medicines, St. John's Wort, or high does of Vitamin E supplements for one week prior to your treatment because they may increase bruising or bleeding at the site of your injections.
- Do not consume alcohol leading up to and after your Sculptra® treatment because alcohol can effect the circulation and blood flow in your body, which could impact the effectiveness of your treatment.
- You should avoid receiving Sculptra® injections if you have an infection in the site where the infection will be placed.
- The safety of Sculptra® for use during pregnancy or while breastfeeding has not been established.
- The safety of Sculptra® for patients under 18 years of age has not been determined.
- You should NOT receive Sculptra® injections if you have a hypersensitivity to any of the ingredients in the drug formula.
The doctors and staff of The Metropolitan Institute for Plastic Surgery will discuss these precautions and answer any specific questions you may have during your initial consultation.
Post Treatment Instructions
While there are limited side effects from the use of Sculptra®, there are a few post-treatment instructions you should be aware of. The doctors and staff of The Metropolitan Institute for Plastic Surgery will discuss these instructions and answer any questions you may have prior to your treatment.
Immediately after your treatment, you may notice temporary redness and swelling at the injection site. These effects are minor and typically disappear in about two weeks. Cold compresses may be used immediately after your treatment to reduce swelling. If the inconvenience continues beyond two to three days or if other reactions occur, call The Metropolitan Institute for Plastic Surgery.
- Until any initial redness and swelling have disappeared, avoid exposure of the treated area to intense heat (sunlamp or sunbathing).
- Avoid touching the treated area within six hours of your treatment. After that, the area can be gently washed with soap and water.
- Avoid exercise and alcohol for six hours after your treatment.
Questions You May Have
Are there other procedures that could be done along with Sculptra® injections to restore the full and youthful appearance of my face?
Facial implants can be used to enhance the fullness and contour of your face and neck. Alternative procedures will be discussed with you during your initial consultation with the doctors and staff of The Metropolitan Institute for Plastic Surgery.
Will my insurance coverage pay for my Sculptra® injections?
Sculptra® injections are considered a cosmetic treatment and, therefore, are not covered by your insurance. You are responsible for the full payment for your procedure. Cost and payment information will be discussed in detail with you during your initial consultation.
