Sculptra is one of the most popular, beneficial anti-aging treatments on the market. However, it is by no means the only popular, beneficial anti-aging treatment offered here at Metro Dermatology in Elmhurst, NY. To help you decide which treatment will be the most beneficial to you, today, we’d like to talk to you about the incredible benefits of this injectable.
The Benefits of Sculptra
It Restores Collagen
The most incredible benefit of Sculptra, arguably, is that it restores collagen. At first, the injectable improves your appearance by adding volume deep beneath the surface. This “replaces” the far and collagen lost through weight loss and advanced age. However, the benefits do not stop there.
Once the crystals in the formula settle into the deepest layers of your skin, your skin responds by creating more collagen. This is so exciting because most cosmetic concerns, including hollow temples, sunken cheeks, lines, wrinkles, and sagging jawlines, are caused by collagen loss. Therefore, when injected into strategic locations, this injectable can encourage your skin to fix nearly any problem it has.
It Isn’t Painful
Another incredible benefit is that this treatment is not painful at all. We use an incredibly fine-gauge needle so you would only feel a slight pressure if no anesthetic was administered. However, the great thing about this injectable is that a small amount of a local anesthetic is included in the formula. Therefore, you will not feel anything during your treatment. This makes it perfect for people who are not too fond of needles.
It’s Easy to Prepare for
Yet another incredible benefit of Sculptra injections is that there is very little preparation required. One of the most common uses of this injectable is non-invasive cheek augmentation. If you were to get a cheek augmentation with plastic implants, you would need to fast for a dozen hours before the procedure and abstain from even clear liquids during the two hours before your procedure.
All of this is necessary because the procedure requires general anesthesia and general anesthesia requires intubation. If you cheat and your stomach is not empty when you are intubated, you will have a bad experience. Luckily, since this treatment isn’t invasive, you don’t have to worry about general anesthesia or any of the potential complications of general anesthesia.
How to Prepare for Treatment
To prepare for your treatment session, you need to stop taking any drugs or nutritional supplements that are contraindicated with the injectable. For example, you should not take NSAIDs, such as aspirin, in the days leading up to your treatment. You should also avoid taking any nutritional supplements that can thin your blood, including vitamin E and fish oil. If you are taking an NSAID for a heart condition, ask your doctor if you can stop safely.
You should also drink plenty of water in advance of your treatment and eat plenty of nutritious foods. Drink enough water and other hydrating fluids, like tea, coffee and broth throughout the day that your urine is very pale consistently. If it darkens, you need to drink more. Foods you should include in your pre-treatment diet include lean protein, bright fruits, and dark vegetables. Also, you should:
- Abstain from alcohol
- Avoid tobacco consumption
- Get a good night’s rest
- Wash your face
- Wear sunscreen
- Take antivirals if you have a history of cold sores
- Use preventative acne medication if you have regular acne flare-ups
- Come in without cosmetics like makeup
It’s Convenient
This benefit of treatment is so great because it doesn’t matter how effective an anti-aging solution is if you do not have time to implement it. Treatment sessions usually only take between 15 and 60 minutes depending on the size of the areas being corrected and the number of areas being treated.
Another thing that makes this treatment incredibly convenient is that you may only need one session to see your ideal results. In fact, we are confident that you will only need one session to achieve your ideal results if you are only trying to erase moderate-to-severe lines, wrinkles, and folds, such as nasolabial folds and smile lines. You will probably only need one session if you are trying to fill in sunken temples but we won’t be able to tell for sure without an evaluation.
When Two Sessions Is Appropriate
Two treatment sessions may be required to achieve your ideal results if you are attempting to erase severe cosmetic concerns. For example, you may need two treatment sessions if you are trying to augment your cheeks non-invasively but the localized volume loss is severe due to a severe illness or advanced age. You may also need multiple sessions if you are trying to enhance the appearance of your chin.
It Can Be Used Virtually Anywhere
The versatility of this injectable is another great benefit. Other dermal fillers, like Juvederm or Restylane, can be used safely and effectively to erase wrinkles from the face and hands. However, this PLLA-based dermal filler is often used to enhance the appearance of the chest and is not just used as a non-invasive cheek augmentation.
It is commonly used to augment the buttocks without the need for an invasive procedure and plastic implantation. In fact, this filler is used for buttock augmentation so commonly that the treatment is called the Sculptra butt lift. To give you an idea of how many places this treatment can be used, it would be easier to tell you where it cannot be used. According to the FDA, this treatment should not be used under the eyes, in the lips, or around the upper mouth.
There Is No Downtime Required Afterward
This treatment isn’t just convenient in that it can erase years of aging in just an hour. It is also convenient in that there is absolutely no downtime. With very few exceptions, you are free to go about your typical routine. The only things you should avoid that may usually be part of your routine are wearing makeup, tanning, and engaging in strenuous exercise.
If you can’t stand the thought of going to work without makeup, we strongly recommend that you schedule your appointment at the end of the day. You should not apply any cosmetics to your face in the first three hours following your session. You should avoid extended UV exposure for the first three days following your treatment. Do not tan and minimize the time you spend outside between 10 and 2 when the sun’s UV rays are the most damaging.
The Importance of Only Moderate Exercise
It is important to engage in only moderate exercise after your treatment session because vigorous exercise elevates your heart rate which elevates your blood pressure. It is ideal to keep your blood pressure within the healthy range for the first 24 hours following your injections. This also means that you should avoid consuming an excess of sodium or caffeine. Furthermore, do not drink alcohol or consume tobacco products for several days.
The other reason it is important to avoid vigorous exercise is vigorous exercise causes you to sweat. Sweating within the first 24 hours of your injections is not ideal and you should avoid any activities that can make you sweat, like swimming, running at an intense pace, indoor rowing, and intense weightlifting. This is not the time to go for a personal best on your favorite Olympic lift!
You Will Enjoy Wrinkle Relief Immediately
Other anti-aging injectables, like Juvederm and Botox, are great for certain types of wrinkles. Unfortunately, it can take days or even weeks to experience wrinkle relief with injectables that aren’t PLLA-based. With PLLA injections, you can expect immediate relief from wrinkles. If you are adding volume that was lost due to an illness, you can expect an immediate improvement and further improvements as the weeks progress.
The Results Are Incredibly Durable
Another one of the most incredible benefits of this injectable is that the results last for up to five years. Depending on your age, health and lifestyle, and the severity of your volume loss, it is possible your results may only last two or three years. However, most healthy adults who have a decent skincare routine can expect the results of their treatment to last five years.
Keep in mind that when you make an effort to protect the health of your collagen, your results will last longer and they fade slower when they finally start to fade after several years. To care for your skin, wear adequate sunscreen religiously. If you have pale skin, this must have at least an SPF of 55. You should also stay hydrated every day and eat foods that encourage natural collagen growth. For the best results, stop smoking and minimize your consumption of alcohol.
Nearly Everyone Is a Good Candidate
Another incredible benefit of this injectable is that nearly everyone is a good candidate for treatment. After all, what good is a treatment that is unsafe or ineffective for most of the population? Typically, if you have a healthy immune system and you want to smooth wrinkles or augment your face, you’ll be considered a good candidate. However, it is absolutely crucial that you come in for an initial consultation to find out if this treatment is right for you.
For example, you may have a healthy immune system and want to smooth away the deep lines that run from your nose to the corners of your mouth. If those deep lines are caused by muscle hyperactivity rather than volume loss, this injectable won’t help you. The cause of your cosmetic concerns has to be identified before a judgment can be made regarding the most appropriate course of treatment for your unique case.
Learn More About the Benefits of This Injectable Today
If we had to pick the most significant benefit of Sculptra, we’d have to say it is the injectable’s ability to restore collagen. Without adequate levels of collagen, your skin sags, wrinkles, and becomes dull in color. With this injectable, your skin is encouraged to make more collagen. Your skin can even make enough collagen that you look healthier and years younger for up to five years.
Our second favorite benefit of this treatment is that there is no pain. Since there is no pain involved with this non-invasive anti-aging technique, there is no need for a general anesthetic. If you’d like to learn more about this incredible collagen-regenerating treatment, we’d love to share more with you. Contact us today at Metro Dermatology in Elmhurst, NY to schedule an appointment. See you soon!
