Sculptra
Conveniently located to serve the areas of San Diego, CA
Sculptra is an injectable treatment that contours and eliminates signs of aging by gradually stimulating collagen in targeted areas of the face. It is made from poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA), a biodegradable substance that provides a more structured framework to the dermis of the skin, adding noticeable volume and smoothing out deep folds.
If you are ready to take back the natural beauty of your youth with dermal fillers, book your consultation today at Alexus Med Spa in San Diego, CA by calling (888) 463-9532 or inquiring with our contact form. Our team has vast knowledge and expertise to promote a positive experience for everyone who comes to our practice. Once you get in contact with us, a staff member will help answer any basic questions you may have and help you find a consultation time and date that works within your schedule.
Contents
About Skin Health and Sculptra
If you have experienced sunken cheeks due to the natural aging process, Sculptra can add a soft plumping effect. It can also reduce wrinkles and sagging around the temples, mouth, chin, and jawline, improving face shape overall. It is highly resistant to movement and gravity, making it the perfect choice of filler for enhancement of the buttocks and thighs and reducing the look of cellulite in these areas. With the skills of an experienced injector, Sculptra can transform your confidence with natural-looking results that can last up to 2 years. (1)
How Does Sculptra Work?
Sculptra takes action in the dermis of the skin, the thickest layer that contains connective fibers that maintain skin tautness and quality. It is considered a biostimulatory filler since it triggers the most abundant type of cell in the dermis, fibroblast cells, the cells that generate collagen and elastin. Over time, these fibers can degrade, and the skin produces less of it, contributing to lines and wrinkles characteristic of a more aged face. Lack of collagen, in particular, can cause lax skin development which increases deeper wrinkles and accentuates facial fat atrophy, problems that Sculptra can also correct.
When injectors administer Sculptra, it provokes controlled inflammation that increases the number of several kinds of cells, including mast cells, macrophages, lymphocytes, and other immune system cells. (2) As the skin begins to metabolize the PLLA of Sculptra and the inflammatory reaction subsides, it causes fibroblast cells to boost their production of collagen and elastin, remodeling the skin from deep within. Over the course of several weeks, it creates rejuvenating results and firmer, more refined contours. Injectors often apply Sculptra to both the face and body, making it a must-have filler for every medspa that stays up-to-date on the latest advancements in skin health. This unique dermal filler can:
- Reduce nasolabial folds
- Smooth out and/or provide even fullness to the cheeks
- Fill in the hollows of the temples
- Resolve wrinkles on the chin and jawline
- Provide more definition to the jawline
- Create even roundness in specific areas of the thighs and buttocks
- Hide the appearance of cellulite
- Reduce elbow and knee wrinkles
- Boost the appearance of mass to the upper arms
- Smooth a wrinkled, aged neck
Candidates
If you are over the age of 18 and wish to lessen aging issues and/or contour a more flattering facial shape, consider exploring the benefits of Sculptra. If you are allergic to any of Sculptra’s ingredients (an aspect that you can discuss with your injector) or are prone to keloid or hypertrophic scarring, you may want to choose an alternative treatment. You should also refrain from any dermal filler if you are currently breastfeeding or pregnant since researchers have not studied its effectiveness and safety for such individuals. Finally, you should have realistic expectations; dermal fillers, in general, can create transformative results, but they cannot provide the same dramatic enhancement that surgery can.
Personal Consultation
During your consultation, you will have a chance to discuss your specific skin goals and what your primary areas of concern are. After assessing your skin quality and the amount of fat atrophy present, your injector can tell you what Sculptra can accomplish for your facial features. They will ensure that you are knowledgeable on the pros and cons of this filler and all other alternative skin rejuvenation options, allowing you to make a well-informed decision. We will work with you to formulate a treatment plan, explaining our techniques to provide even, smooth contours that you can feel satisfied and happy with.
To reap the long-lasting benefits our treatments have to offer, we invite you to schedule a thorough, informative consultation at Alexus Meds Spa, a premium destination for non-surgical services like Sculptra. Call our San Diego office at (888) 463-9532 or fill out our online form, and we will get back to you as soon as possible.
Treatment Steps
Depending on your treatment area and your desired goals, your Sculptra session should take less than 1 hour. First, your injector will mark the injection locations and cleanse the areas with an antiseptic solution to prevent infection. Next, you will have the option of receiving topical anesthetic to numb the slight pricking sensations of the injections. Our injectors also add another numbing agent- lidocaine- to the Sculptra solution itself to further mitigate discomfort. With a combination of these numbing agents, you should find this minor procedure to be highly tolerable.
Your injector may utilize a needle-like instrument called a cannula to avoid any possibility of penetrating a blood vessel. The Sculptra only enters into the dermis, so these injections are superficial. After administering each small amount in each area, your injector will gently massage the area, allowing it to spread evenly throughout. Massage will also prevent the accumulation of lumps under the skin. One session of Sculptra may be part of a treatment series to get your skin to produce the collagen needed to create your desired volume and overall radiance.
Aftercare and Results
After your treatment session, you should be able to return to all daily activities, but you may experience some slight bruising, redness, discomfort, and itching. All of these are normal side effects that will subside within a couple of days. Your injector will provide you with an ice pack to use on the injection sites to keep the swelling to a minimum. They will also give you instructions on how to massage your treatment area to continue to prevent lump formation. Small lumps under the skin are common and will go away with these post-treatment massages. If you have any bruising, you will be able to easily conceal it with makeup without interfering with the fillers’s effects.
Unlike other dermal fillers, Sculptra takes some time to produce significant results. The collagen and elastin fibers will continue to generate over several weeks, and you will notice improvements settling in at around 3 months. Your final results will become apparent after about 4 to 6 months after your treatment plan, but it will last up to 2 years.
Corresponding & Complementary Procedures
Juvéderm and Restylane
Juvéderm and Restylane are two dermal fillers with the active ingredient hyaluronic acid (HA), a moisturizing compound that the skin and other areas of the body already naturally generate. When in injection form, the HA microspheres bind to water molecules in the skin, restoring radiance and hydration that complement the added volume. (3) HA fillers are extremely effective and popular for multiple areas of the face, and they are just as biocompatible as PLLA (Sculptra). Unlike Sculptra, however, they create immediate results, and injectors can dissolve HA with hyaluronidase if the patient does not like the outcome.
Cost of Sculptra in San Diego
The cost of your Sculptra treatment will depend on the area of use, your personalized plan that your injector recommends, and any follow-up or maintenance sessions. Your provider will give you a total cost estimate during your consultation meeting, ensuring that you have an accurate idea of the financial investment involved. If interested, you can speak with your injector about the possibility of applying for an Alexus Membership, giving you access to discounts on dermal fillers and other skin rejuvenation approaches.
To take the first step today, visit our office in San Diego in person, call us at (888) 463-9532, or use our contact form. We look forward to introducing you to the vast benefits that Sculptra can offer to prospective patients.
FAQ
How many sessions of Sculptra do I need?
The number of Sculptra treatment sessions required varies depending on individual needs and goals. Typically, patients undergo three to four sessions spaced several weeks apart.
Is Sculptra better than Juvéderm?
Sculptra and Juvéderm operate differently within the skin, so they are suitable for varying aesthetic issues. Juvéderm is best for smaller, more delicate areas, such as the lips and under the eyes, whereas Sculptra can sustain results in high-movement areas of the body and is more effective for the treatment of the cheeks, temples, chin, and jawline.
How is Sculptra different from Botox?
Sculptra is one of the best treatments to resolve tissue volume loss, and Botox is best for eliminating wrinkles related to repetitive muscle movements. Unlike Sculptra, Botox will not add any plumping effect to the area, and it will not affect the contraction of the facial muscles.
Is Sculptra safe?
Sculptra first earned FDA approval in 2009 and has a long history of safety and efficacy when administered by a skilled injector. The skin can easily metabolize and remove PLLA components over time, building collagen in the process.
References
- Lorenc ZP. Techniques for the Optimization of Facial and Nonfacial Volumization with Injectable Poly-l-lactic Acid. Aesthetic Plastic Surgery. 2012;36(5):1222-1229. doi:https://doi.org/10.1007/s00266-012-9920-3
- Ray S, Ta HT. Investigating the Effect of Biomaterials Such as Poly-(l-Lactic Acid) Particles on Collagen Synthesis In Vitro: Method Is Matter. Journal of Functional Biomaterials. 2020;11(3). doi:https://doi.org/10.3390/jfb11030051
- Cabral LRB, Teixeira LN, Gimenez RP, et al. Effect of Hyaluronic Acid and
Poly-L-Lactic Acid Dermal Fillers on Collagen Synthesis: An in vitro and in vivo Study.
Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol. 2020;13:701-710. doi: 10.2147/CCID.S266015