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Why Choose Sculptra Over a HA Filler

Sculptra is a stimulatory injectable filler composed of poly-L-lactic acid. It is biocompatible, meaning it is not harmful to the surrounding living tissue. It works by way of neocollagenesis, or stimulation of the body to produce its own collagen at the site of injection. Neocollagenesis triggers the targeted area to firm, tighten, lift and smooth the overlying skin. This is beneficial in areas of depressed skin caused by facial lipoatrophy (fat loss). This includes skin creases, wrinkles, folds, scars, and overall aging.

The injection itself is biodegradable and is absorbed by the body within one week. It is the response it creates that leads to the volume increase. The poly-L-lactic acid causes a localized inflammatory reaction, causing fibroblasts to infiltrate the area, encapsulating the injected implant with thin-walled collagen. The poly-L-lactic acid, itself, degrades into lactic acid leaving behind residual crystals. Over time, the crystals lead to collagen production causing the formation of fibrous connective tissue around the implant (fibroplasia) and thus a gradual thickening of the dermis.

This differs from other injectable fillers, such as hyaluronic acid, which cannot stimulate fibroblasts but instead stretches the existing collagen fibers through displacement of the area, leading to a short-term fix. Though the volume increase in Sculptra may take anywhere from three to six months to develop, the results persist upwards of two years. For this reason, Sculptra should be considered one of the first options for cosmetic rejuvenation.

Elizabeth Sippey PA-Resident
Essentials Medispa & Salon

How do I get rid of my wrinkles? – Contours of Youth

How do I get rid of my wrinkles?

When it comes to the cause of facial aging, the blame has usually rested with the old standby culprit- THE WRINKLE!  This is not the case! Especially when most people are asking, “How do I get rid of my wrinkles?” The greatest culprit in the appearance of an elderly face is the loss of facial volume. Just like a container holds volume, we need to think of our face as a container for the tissue (fat pads) that lifts our skin off of the bone and creates beautiful cheeks and jawlines. Hollow facial concavities give an aged and tired appearance.

Why does my face wrinkle? What has been done to treat wrinkles in the past?

Facial fat pads become atrophic (shrink) in our middle years as a normal part of the aging process. Early treatment by implants and collagen were less than satisfying, so alternatives were developed. Fat transfers were available but a part of the population did not want surgery. In the early 2000s, hyaluronics like Restylane were introduced. These were well received by the public and volume replacement became common. Collagen and implants became less utilized, although fat transfers are still used in surgery. Unfortunately, over time injection techniques became more superficial and less effective. Instead of volume replacement, superficial lines were being targeted. This is a poor substitute for volume replacement, due to the short duration and lack of contour creation. The average aesthetic patient was becoming a line chaser instead of a volume replacer. Facial contouring is not chasing lines, it is replacing lost volume, creating contour, and treating the cause – not the symptoms of facial aging. Lines are caused by volume loss and if nothing is done, the face will become emptier and more skeletal as time goes on.  

How can I have a longer lasting wrinkle correction result?


Fortunately, the answer to volume loss has been discovered and we have many options at Essentials Medispa and Salon to address this problem. Products such as Juvéderm, Restylane, Versa, and Lyft are well tolerated and effective volume replacements. The duration of these products varies, but when injected properly and with proper amounts they can last up to two years. Essentials Medispa’s Rejuvenation Director, Brian Whaley recommends one year as the time frame to come in for a touch up. It is not advisable to allow treatments to wear off completely.
 
Another long lasting treatment for volume loss is found within bioactive formulas. Unlike hyaluronic medications, bioactive medications cause significant collagen growth. Collagen is the longest lasting form of volume replacement. Sculptra is our bioactive medication of choice here at Essentials Medispa and Salon in Melbourne, Florida. Once injected, patients can expect up to five years of volume correction.  Together with your practitioner, a maintenance schedule is setup so that a ¾ full approach is maintained. Volume replacement for facial rejuvenation is like the gym is for our bodies. It is best to first get to the place we want, so that we can then focus on maintaining our new body!