What is facial aging?

A youthful appearance depends upon facial fat pads in the cheeks, temples, forehead, under eyes and brows. These fat pads provide volume and fullness. The result is soft rounded contours and a well-defined jawline. Collagen gives structure to the skin and supports the function of elastin and hyaluronic acid to restore skin thickness. Elastin gives the skin shape and elasticity. Hyaluronic acid keeps the skin hydrated.

In our twenties, facial aging begins. In fact, we lose about 1% of collagen per year after age 18! By age 50, studies show that we lose up to 30% of collagen. Our skin loses its firmness and due to genetics and time, sun, smoking and stress, we lose the volume and fullness of youth. Aging hands are the result of the same forces at work in facial aging

The fat pads atrophy and descend in response to gravity, collagen and elastin degrade, and the collagen production slows yielding wrinkles and lines. The result is a slow hollowing out of the temples, cheeks, under eye area, brows and forehead, which makes us look old and tired; and deep facial tissues fold creating deep grooves and fall to the jawline creating jowls.

What is Sculptra?

Sculptra is an FDA-approved dermal filler that offers a solution to lost facial fat and degraded collagen and elastin. It simulates the body to produce new collagen to restore the support for facial structure.  It is made of poly-L lactic acid, a biocompatible and biodegradable substance. 

How does Sculptra work?

Many fillers temporarily reduce the appearance of wrinkles by filling the space below the wrinkles to smooth them out, but do not rebuild the underlying structure.  Initially these fillers smooth out wrinkles and grooves. However, as the filler deteriorates the wrinkles return.

Sculptra works in two ways: First, it temorarily adds back lost volume softening grooves and folds and improving appearance; and secondly it stimulates collagen production to restore lost volume and inner structure. This creates a lift and provides subtle, natural results over time. By restoring volume, Sculptra offers the fullness and youthfulness not obtainable by a face lift or dermal fillers alone. Sculptra treatments can also restore lost volume and skin thickness to rejuvenate hands too.

However, the production of new collagen takes time.  A complete treatment is typically three injections spread over the course of several months to correct shallow to deep wrinkles and folds for more than two years. Touch up treatments are important to maintain the benefits.

Sculptra applications

• Smile lines also called nasolabial folds (lines from the nose to the outside corners of the mouth)
• Marionette lines (lines from the corners of the mouth to the chin)
• Chin wrinkles
• Undereye hollows
• Temple hollows
• Back of the hands
• Pan-facial volumizing- Sculptra is great for adding overall volume that is lost from the aging process throughout the face.
• Cellulite- Sculptra can be used on the back of the legs and the thighs to help stimulate new collagen reducing the appearance of cellulite.

Sculptra is more difficult to inject than other fillers, so it is vital to have a skilled and experienced dermatologist like Dr. Ritu Saini who has an artistic eye because Sculptra is sculpted by hand to create natural contours and a natural, youthful appearance.

The Procedure

Your skin will be cleaned and mapped to focus on your areas of concern. Dr. Saini will inject the filler and massage the area to distribute the product, smooth any lumps and bumps and recontour the area. Side effects from injection may include temporary tenderness, swelling, bruising, and redness that will resolve quickly.

When you desire to restore the three-dimensional fullness of youth, contact Dr. Saini to schedule a consultation.