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| Details Procedure Risk/Side Effects Recovery Results FAQ |
Sculptra™ Injections
There are many options when it comes to reducing the visible signs of aging, but nothing quite like Sculptra™. Referred to by some physicians as "Face lift in a bottle", Sculptra represents a new and unique non-invasive option that helps facial skin naturally regain a more youthful and natural appearance.
Details
Derived from fruit acids, Sculptra™ is a biocompatible and biodegradable injectable material known as poly-L-lactic acid. It stimulates the body to produce its own collagen… naturally.* The result is a fuller, smoother, more youthful and natural-looking face with less pronounced lines, creases, wrinkles and folds. Unlike traditional treatments, Sculptra results can last up to 2 years!1
* Demonstrated in animal model. 1 Vleggaar D. Facial Volumetric Correction with Injectible Poly-L-lactic acid. Dermatol Surg 2005; 31:1511-18.
Procedure
Pre-treatment
Dr. Patterson will perform an assessment to see if you are a good candidate for Sculptra™ and determine
appropriate injection sites for results that best meet your expectations. No skin pre-testing is required.
Treatment
The number of treatment sessions you require will depend on various factors
such as your age, how deep your wrinkles are and the areas you wish to treat. At your initial treatment,
Dr. Patterson will also determine with you, if and how many follow-up treatments may be required.
Generally, Sculptra™ is injected in 3 treatment sessions over a 2 to 3 month period (at 4 to 6 week
intervals). During this time, unwanted deep lines and wrinkles gradually diminish as the skin firms-up
from the production of your own collagen. Each treatment will involve multiple small needle injections
on each side of your face.
Length: About 20 to 30 minutes per treatment.
Anesthesia: Dr. Patterson may choose to use a local anesthetic to reduce any discomfort.
Side-Effects / Risks
You may experience mild soreness and swelling in the treatment areas for a few hours up to a few days after treatment. Applying make-up is permissible for most patients within a few hours of treatment. Any type of injection involves the risk of infection. When injections are performed by a qualified and experienced physician, side effects are usually temporary and minimal, but can range from redness to slight bruising, bleeding, small bumps, tenderness, pain or swelling. These generally last 1 to 15 days. In addition, palpable but non-visible micro papules may develop under the skin of the treated area. These will occasionally disappear on their own. Visible bumps, sometimes with redness to the treated area, have also been reported.
Recovery
You should know that much of the initial injected volume will disappear after the first week as Sculptra™ is absorbed and your swelling subsides. This can make original skin depressions reappear, but the depressions should gradually improve within several weeks as the treatment effect of Sculptra™ occurs. You will be told to thoroughly massage treated areas for 5 minutes, 5 times daily, for 5 days after each treatment to allow for the even distribution of the product and to ensure natural-looking results. Because the production of new collagen formation is gradual, each treatment will yield results that are more noticeable. Individual results may vary and you may need touch-up treatments to maintain best results.
Results
Sculptra™ offers the broadest range of treatment areas when compared to all other injectable treatments currently available in Canada. You will notice treated areas regain their natural contours with wrinkles, creases and folds smoothed out.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. What is Sculptra™?
A. Sculptra™ is a new and unique non-invasive cosmetic dermatology option designed to restore volume
of depressed areas such as skin creases, wrinkles and folds resulting from natural aging. It produces
a fuller, smoother natural-looking face with minimal touch-up treatments. Chemically, Sculptra™ is a
synthetic injectable material known as poly-L-lactic acid. This synthetic polymer is derived from the
alpha-hydroxy family (fruits acids) and is biocompatible and biodegradable.
Q. How does Sculptra™ work?
A. Unlike other products that use fillers to temporarily correct skin imperfections,
Sculptra™ naturally stimulates the body to produce its own collagen, resulting in a more natural-looking,
youthful appearance that can last up to 2 years.1 It is injected into the dermis of the skin in
the area of fat and volume loss, where it helps lift, smooth and firm-up skin gradually, stimulating
the production of your own collagen*. Visible results appear naturally and progressively after
each treatment session. While Sculptra will not correct the underlying cause of facial fat loss,
it will help improve the appearance by increasing skin firmness in treated areas.
Q. Are the results of Sculptra™ seen immediately?
A. No, Sculptra™ works progressively by naturally stimulating the body to produce
its own collagen*, thereby firming-up the skin and creating long-lasting results. An assessment must
be made after 4 to 6 weeks to determine if more treatments are needed.
Q. How many treatments are required?
A. Generally, 3 treatments over a 2 to 3 month period are necessary to obtain desired
results.
Q. How long will the effects of Sculptra™ last?
A. Treatment effects differ from person to person. In many cases, treatment results
can last for up to 2 years. Touch-up treatments may be needed to maintain the desired effect.1
Q. Will my Sculptra™ injections hurt?
A. When performed by a qualified and experienced physician, Sculptra™ injections
should only cause slight discomfort. Though Sculptra™ is injected into the skin, it is injected
in tiny amounts using an ultra-fine needle. To optimize your comfort, a local anesthetic may be used.
Q. How long will my treatment session take?
A. Each Sculptra™ treatment session generally takes about 20 to 30 minutes, depending
on the number of areas treated and the effects you want to achieve.
Q. Is Sculptra™ safe?
A. Yes. Sculptra™ is a safe, non-invasive procedure that has been used in the cosmetic
dermatology field since 1999 in 30 countries. The product is highly biocompatible and biodegradable.
Sculptra™ is made from a material called poly-L-lactic acid, which has been widely used for over
30 years in dissolvable sutures, soft tissue implants and other types of implants.2
* Demonstrated in animal model. 1 Vleggaar D. Facial Volumetric Correction with Injectible Poly-L-lactic acid. Dermatol Surg 2005; 31:1511-18. 2 Thioly-Bensoussan D. A
