As we age, it’s not just wrinkles that make us look older. Like the fat on our bodies, facial fat starts to head south, and we also lose collagen and elastin.
Facial fat, collagen, and elastin all contribute to helping the skin look full, firm, plump, and youthful, so when they disappear, the result can be a tired, gaunt, hollow appearance, which essentially makes us look older. So how can you get your volume back? Gel-based facial fillers like Juvaderm, Radiesse, and Restalayne can help temporarily restore facial fullness, and help fill in wrinkles and lines, but the results usually last only a matter of months (Radiesse can last up to a year in some cases, but because everyone’s body reacts to fillers differently, it’s hard for doctors to predict exactly how long any of them will last).
Enter Sculptra.
Sculptra is not a new product. Dr. Robert Benson says it’s been used for years on AIDS patients to restore facial volume that’s lost due to side-effects from some of the medications used to treat the disease. It was FDA approved in 2009 for cosmetic purposes, and has become and a dermatologist favorite to help patients restore volume and fullness to the face, fill in deep wrinkles, lift sagging skin (when areas like the cheeks and temples are “inflated” they help give a lifting affect), and re-sculpt areas of the face like the chin and jawline.
Sculptra is injected much deeper into the skin that gel-like fillers, it usually lasts at least 2 years (Dr. Robert Benson says in some cases up to 4 years), and many dermatologists believe it is the safest, most natural way to restore fullness.
Sculptra is not a quick fix though. Dr. Mary Lupo says it usually takes 2 to 3 sessions over a period of several months to see full results, and each session typically takes 10 to 20 minutes. Sculptra is often used to re-volumize and re-shape the temple area, the cheeks, the jawline, and chin, but it’s recommended that the gel fillers be used for the lips and under the eyes.
And Sculptra doesn’t have to be used just to anti-age. For example, doctors say patients in their 20s looking for a more pronounced chin or a stronger jawline may be candidates for Sculptra, which could keep them from having having to go under the knife and get implants.
The typical cost for Sculptra is $1500 to $4500 for 3 sessions, depending on how much filler is needed and what type of results the patient is looking for. Side-effects can include lumps (if not injected, mixed, or massaged correctly), and temporary bruising, redness, and swelling at the injection site.
Board Certified Dermatologists Dr. Mary Lupo and Dr. Robert Benson say it’s important to remember that unlike some of the gel fillers, Sculptra can not be dissolved if it is over-injected or injected improperly, so they urge patients to use a board-certified dermatologist or plastic surgeon who is specially trained in Sculptra to inject this filler.
For more information on Sculptra:
Dr. Mary Lupo, Board Certified Dermatologist
504-288-2381
Dr. Robert Benson, Board Certified Dermatologist
985-370-0662
