SCULPTRA

Sculptra Frequently Asked Questions

At AMAE Med Spa in Birmingham, MI Dr. Ali and our nurse injectors offer the latest and most advanced options for reducing wrinkles, lines and other visible signs of aging – including a wide array of facial fillers.

However, Sculptra is an injectable treatment that is truly different from other facial filler products. In addition to providing an immediate boost in plumpness in areas of volume loss, Sculptra treatments also long-lasting outcomes that look quite natural and build over time.

What is Sculptra?

Sculptra is used to correct depressions in the skin such as creases, folds, scars, wrinkles and signs of aging. It’s an aesthetic treatment that increases the volume of depressed areas, including larger areas of the face to correct lipoatrophy, or facial fat loss.

How does Sculptra work?

Sculptra immediately adds volume when injected into wrinkles, lines, creases and areas of volume loss. However, while other fillers dissolve and have to be replaced with new injections, Sculptra stimulates the production of collagen over time.

Sculptra is made of poly-L-lactic acid, a synthetic polymer that the body absorbs naturally over time. But this substance also stimulates production of the body’s own collagen cells.  Loss of collagen is a the primary underlying cause of facial aging. But Sculptra treatments naturally replace the body’s collagen and restore facial volume over time, smoothing folds and wrinkles in the process.

How long will Sculptra injections last?

Patients can expect areas treated with Sculptra to retain effects for at least two or three years, and in many patients the production of collagen can be evident for over seven years. To counter aging and maintain the best results, patients are encouraged to have touch-up treatments every few years at our Birmingham, MI Med Spa.

Does Sculptra replace using Botox?

Sculptra and Botox are really “apples and oranges”. Botox blocks nerve signals, in order to “freeze” facial muscles and prevent them from contracting – eliminating expressions that cause lines and furrows above, around and between the eyes. However, Sculptra  “fills in” lines and wrinkles by stimulating collagen production in the injected area.

While Sculptra and Botox work very differently, adding Sculptra to a treatment plan can often significantly reduce the amount of Botox needed to achieve full facial correction. Many patients use a combination of injectable treatments to achieve optimal antiaging results and take years off their appearance.

How much does Sculptra cost?

Every patient’s needs are different and treatment prices will vary depending on the number of Sculptra vials required to achieve full correction in a specific area.  Our Birmingham, MI Med Spa staff will provide a cost estimate once a patient’s needs have been evaluated.

While Sculptra is more expensive per unit than Botox or other fillers such as Juvéderm, it’s long lasting results often make Sculptra a more cost effective treatment in the long-run. Imagine the savings if you only had to treat an area every 3 to 7 years?

What are the most popular areas of the face treated with Sculptra?

Cheeks are the most common treatment area for Sculptra. However, Sculptra can be used by an experienced doctor in many areas of the face and neck to restore a more youthful appearance. It’s commonly referred to as a “Liquid Lift” because it can be used on the forehead to lift the brow and temples and to tighten the eye area, or applied along the jawline to lift the neck and face.

Are there any side effects to Sculptra?

When Sculptra is administered by a nurse injector or doctor, it’s incredibly safe. Sculptra is biocompatible, which means it doesn’t cause any recognized allergic reactions within the body.

However, because Sculptra is injection-based  it should always be given by an experienced, licensed nurse injector or doctor in a medical office, such as our Birmingham, MI Med Spa.

Any post-treatment side effects are typically very mild and can include minor puffiness and bruising around the injection area for a day or so. These minor side effects can often be minimized or avoided by following pre-treatment and post-care instructions – such as taking arnica or icing the treatment area. Mild bruising occasionally occurs, but this can be easily covered with makeup.

Is there downtime after Sculptra?

Patients can typically return to their day-to-day routine right after their Sculptra treatment. Swelling and/or bruising by applying a wrapped ice pack every so often to the injection site. (Be careful the ice does not make direct contact with the skin.)

Redness surrounding the injection site will dissipate within a few hours after treatment. Excessive sunlight should be minimized, and exposure to ultraviolet lamps should be completely avoided until all redness and swelling are gone.

When will I See Sculptra results?

Patient will begin to see more subtle improvements in their face immediately, followed by more visible results in a few weeks. Since the Sculptra treatment stimulates the body’s production of collagen results will continue to improve over the next several months, further gradually reducing wrinkles, lines, creases and folds in the skin. This means noticeable results will appear gradually and last longer.

Our patients universally agree it is “worth the wait” for these natural results to develop – as the effects of Sculptra last far longer than other injectables dermal fillers. Sculptra has lasting effects that will help restore a youthful appearance for years to come.

Birmingham, MI Sculptra Facial Fillers

Board Certified Plastic Surgeon Dr. Ali offers the best and most advanced technologies in facial fillers, including state-of-the-art Sculptra injections. Schedule a consultation to see which type of facial filler or injection is best for your skin issues and beauty goals. Then relax in our Birmingham MedSpa, while we make you look and feel younger and even more beautiful!

Sculptra Facial Fillers | Birmingham, MI MedSpa: 248.335.7200