HOW SCULPTRA WORKS?
As the skin begins to age, it loses the ability to snap back into place or heal itself due to the lack of collagen. Ridges and folds that were once temporary now become permanent wrinkles and fine lines. Sculptra is a product that helps to restore youthfulness to the face, renewing the production of collagen in the skin. This is essential for the skin to begin the healing process, and helps to reduce wrinkles, fine lines and other signs of aging.
During the initial consultation, your doctor will outline a specific treatment area. Sculptra is an injectable substance and will be administered to the specific area as outlined. The number of wrinkles will be reduced as Sculptra will fill and contour areas where fatty tissue and underlying collagen has diminished over the years, in addition to stimulating the production of fresh collagen.
The substance will be injected into the deeper layers of the skin, and the procedure only takes a few minutes to complete. Most patients undergo two sessions of treatment but this may vary depending on your skin condition. The treatment is mixed with a numbing medicine called licodaine to ensure that the procedure does not cause any discomfort.
Sculptra is not a suitable treatment for individuals suffering from autoimmune diseases such as arthritis or lupus.
SCULPTRA POST-TREATMENT
Results are not apparently immediately and usually require approximately 4-6 weeks before it becomes apparent. Skin will increase in thickness while you will notice a gradual improvement in the reduction of wrinkles; this is due to the increase in collagen produced over several weeks. A second touch-up treatment is recommended, while results tend to last for up to 3 years.
Sessions are usually spaced 1 month apart, and individuals above 50 years of age may opt for 3 sessions in order to obtain more favourable results.
Sculptra is a safe treatment, with no known long-term side effects. There are only two short-term side effects – mild redness and bruising of the skin. The redness should subside within a few hours of treatment, while the bruising should disappear within 7 days or less. Ice can be applied on the treatment area 2-3 times daily for 5 minutes at a time to reduce the recovery time.
