Are you looking for a treatment to tighten your skin and improve your appearance? At Vibrant Dermatology & Skinbar MD in Dedham, MA, we offer Sculptra, an injectable treatment to rejuvenate your skin. You can have youthful and tight skin without invasive surgeries and downtime. The treatment provides long-lasting smooth skin, creates additional volume, and leaves you with a healthy appearance.
What Is Sculptra?
Sculptra is an injectable dermal filler containing poly-L lactic acid that can stimulate collagen production to provide you with tight and smooth skin on almost any part of the body. The treatment can lift the skin without surgery or downtime and provides some of the longest-lasting skin rejuvenation results. Clinical studies show 80% of patients were still satisfied with the treatment results after 25 months.
This powerful dermal filler gradually works to improve the skin’s elasticity and increases the skin’s natural volume. The treatment is safe and has been used to perform skin rejuvenation in the US since it was FDA approved in 2004.
How Does It Work?
Your dermal filler appointment begins with a consultation to determine if this treatment will safely provide you skincare benefits that reach your expectations. We will discuss your medical history and help you understand what kind of outcome you can expect from the treatment. If it is safe to proceed, we will set an appointment for your treatment. The injection is performed quickly, taking only 20 to 30 minutes to complete. There is no need for an anesthetic, as the injection itself includes a numbing agent for your comfort.
Injections
Sculptra is an injectable solution made from poly-L lactic acid, the same ingredient used in dissolving sutures. We apply the solution in a grid-like pattern at various depths, depending on your needs. The injection provides natural-looking benefits that you will not see immediately. The solution can fill in hollow areas, deep folds, and wrinkles gradually.
Going to Work
Over four to six months the tissue and skin will absorb the poly-L lactic acid and stimulate collagen production to fill in the spaces and creases where the solution was injected. The dermal filler takes slightly longer to work than some other fillers, but it also provides longer-lasting results. You can return to work or your normal routine after the treatment without downtime. You will be provided with a small list of care instructions after the treatment that will improve your experience.
Will It Tighten Your Skin?
Sculptra provides a range of benefits for your skin including long-lasting skin tightening. You will get smooth and firm skin from the induction of collagen, a component of the skin that rebuilds and heals the skin while increasing its elasticity. Low elasticity of the skin is what causes the skin to sag, wrinkle, and fold.
The injectable treatment smooths out the lines and adds volume that will fill in wrinkles and hollow areas of the skin that have lost their volume and elasticity. Age and lifestyle factors can cause skin laxity and aging signs as collagen production drops. Your skin will have its youthful elasticity and smoothness after the collagen production is stimulated from the treatment.
What It Can Treat
This dermal filler can be used to:
- Reduce moderate and fine lines
- Reduce wrinkles
- Eliminate nasolabial folds
- Reduce the appearance of cellulite
- Fill in sunken cheeks
- Enhance lip volume
- Remove frown lines from the brow
- Reduce lines around the eyes and mouth
- Eliminate marionette lines
- Relieve general skin laxity
We can also address laxity and sagging skin as the result of weight loss with the dermal filler. The skin on the neck or décolletage can be restored with a more firm and smooth appearance. You can think of the treatment as a non-surgical face or neck-lift alternative. We can add more definition to the chin and enhance sunken in cheeks and temples with the injectable filler. Even the lips can be made plump and enhanced with a lip spa treatment.
Where Is It Most Effective?
While a majority of our patients use Sculptra to address aging signs on their faces, the treatment can provide a range of benefits for almost every part of the body. In addition to aging signs, you can fill in sunken and hollow areas on the face and body or reduce the appearance of cellulite.
Lax skin on the buttocks after weight loss can be tightened and renewed with this treatment, and it provides similar results to a Brazilian butt-lift without any surgery. Loose skin on the abdomen, chest, legs, and upper arms can be reduced after several dermal filler sessions.
Who Is an Ideal Candidate?
You are likely an ideal candidate if you are a healthy man or woman over the age of 18. The treatment is meant for patients looking to address skin aging or laxity issues without surgery and in a natural timeframe. We can perform the treatment on all skin types and almost any part of the body. You can return to work immediately and can avoid missing work by scheduling your treatment during a lunch break if you are busy. The treatment is performed quickly and has no downtime.
We do not recommend the dermal filler for women who are pregnant or nursing. Talk to us about any allergies you have and if you have a history of keloid or hypertrophic scarring, as this may interfere in the treatment. The treatment is safe for patients with certain illnesses, like HIV, to address hollow and sunken areas in the skin.
How Many Sessions Will I Need?
You can discuss your goal with us to get an accurate estimation of the number of sessions you should expect. Most patients will require approximately three to four sessions each spaced at least four weeks apart to reach their desired appearance. Each session is approximately 20 to 30 minutes, and you will not need any downtime to recover after a session.
When Will I See Results?
After your treatment is completed, results will gradually appear one month after your first treatment session. Your results will become most noticeable between weeks six and 12 and continue to improve for four to six months as collagen is produced and fills in your wrinkles and lines. The skin becomes smooth and elastic in a natural timeframe, so the treatment results will not seem sudden or unnatural.
How Long Will Results Last?
This dermal filler treatment is one of the longest-lasting injectable treatments for anti-aging, providing at least 24 months of smooth and youthful skin. When you notice the treatment results are no longer at their best, you can return to our Dedham office for a quick maintenance session. Our patients with the best and longest-lasting results take good care of their skin by avoiding prolonged sun exposure and keeping their skin hydrated.
How Safe Is This Treatment?
For your safety and the best results, it is important to find an experienced and trained doctor to perform your dermal filler treatment. Dr. Ip has numerous awards and industry recognitions and has contributed as a medical expert to various publications. She leads us in the application of cutting-edge aesthetic treatments at Vibrant Dermatology & Skinbar MD. The treatment is performed in our Dedham office without any overnight care or hospitalization needed.
Sculptra is FDA approved for the face and body and uses poly-L lactic acid that has been safely used in dissolvable sutures. The injection is not painful because of a numbing agent used in the solution and will not result in prolonged discomfort. For most healthy patients, the treatment is a good alternative to invasive surgical procedures designed to lift and rejuvenate the skin. You can return to your normal routine without interruption after the treatment. Some patients encounter mild swelling that can be reduced with ice and acetaminophen pain relievers like Tylenol.
What Should I Do After the Treatment?
After the treatment, we will provide you with simple instructions that should not interfere with your work or daily life. Regular gentle facial massages in 5-minute sessions for the week following the treatment can help the solution distribute evenly. You must also avoid prolonged sun exposure and practice wearing sun protection and sunscreen whenever you leave home to avoid damaging sensitive skin. If you are considering another aesthetic treatment after your injection, speak to Dr. Ip about any interactions between the two treatments.
Sculptra vs Other Skin Tightening Treatments
Botulinum Toxin Injections
BOTOX and Dysport are injectable solutions containing botulinum toxin. These solutions reduce the movement of muscles that cause lines, wrinkles, and creases. They are most effective at preventing aging signs before they appear, and the results may only last a few months. Poly-L lactic acid increases volume in the skin to fill in hollow areas and reduce aging signs. It also increases collagen production, leaving your skin smooth and healthy. The treatment takes several weeks to see results but provides results that last 24 months.
Hyaluronic Acid Injections
Juvederm is an injectable filler containing hyaluronic acid: a compound found in the skin, tissue, and joints. The treatment enhances the skin by providing hydration and volume that soothes the skin and eliminates lines and wrinkles. The treatment is mostly used to increase volume and lasts up to 24 months. Both treatments provide similar results and last a similar amount of time.
IPL or Laser Therapy Treatment
IPL and laser therapy can provide your skin with a more even texture and tone. The treatment also induces collagen to reverse wrinkles and fine lines. Laser therapy may not be safe and effective for every skin type, and the results typically do not last more than a year. Most treatments require regular touch-up or maintenance sessions to maintain the skin’s appearance. While the results of laser and IPL treatments can be impressive, you will not see an increase in volume and you will not have the long-lasting results you get from the dermal filler.
How Much Does It Cost?
Your skin tightening treatment can range in price depending on the number of sessions needed. The injection is not covered by most health insurance providers, because it is a voluntary cosmetic treatment. Dermal fillers can be more affordable than surgery and involve less downtime, so you won’t need to miss work. For an accurate price estimate, contact Vibrant Dermatology & Skinbar MD for your customized treatment plan.
Experience Long-Lasting Skin Tightening
Sculptra is the only injectable treatment that can provide a natural-looking volume increase and age reduction that lasts for 24 months. You can improve your skin health on any part of your body and have results comparable to a face-lift with no surgery and no downtime. If you think this treatment might be right for you, visit Vibrant Dermatology & Skinbar MD in Dedham, MA for an initial consultation today.
