If you’ve been thinking about freshening up your looks with a facelift but don’t want to undergo extensive surgery, injectable fillers may be a more viable solution. Injectable fillers such as Sculptra are becoming increasingly popular for those looking for an anti aging solution with surgery; the compounds are made with a synthetic poly-L-lactic acid material that is easily manipulated and attached to the skin tissue. 

In addition to filling out facial lines and wrinkles, Sculptra helps trigger collagen production so that the skin appears thicker, firmer and more resilient within a short period of time. 

Key Benefits of Sculptra

Sculptra injections are a proven anti aging treatment that can offer dramatic results after a short period of time. Sculptra can be administered to key facial compartments, and is injected directly beneath the skin to create a thicker and more supportive skin tissue structure. In addition to filling out facial lines and plumping up the skin’s surface, Sculptra is helps increase collagen production so that the skin looks naturally youthful. 

Key benefits of Sculptra include:

• Natural-looking results
• A dramatic improvement in the treatment area
• Results that last up to 2 years once the series of treatments is complete
• Easily adheres to the skin
• A natural compound that is already present in the body – the body will not consider it to be a ‘foreign’ substance
• Affordable cost; the average price of the Sculptra syringe is $450 - $550+
• Can be combined with other anti-aging treatments; use Sculptra to enhance the results of other procedures such as chemical peels, laser skin resurfacing and skin tightening treatments

Drawbacks of Sculptra

Sculptra is one of the few dermal fillers that gets absorbed by the body, so frequent treatments may be necessary to achieve long-lasting results. Sculptra may also make the skin more sensitive to sun damage, so most people are advised to stay out of the sun immediately after treatment. 

Other drawbacks of Sculptra include:

• Discomfort at the injection point – Sculptra injections can cause temporary pain and redness in the treatment area and may require compression with ice and cooling gel
• Tenderness and inflammation – skin tissues can become fairly tender and inflamed after the injection, so returning to normal activities immediately after treatment may not be an option
• Touchup treatments required – most people will need touchup treatments every six weeks to maintain results, but after a cycle of 6-8 sessions are complete, results can last up to 2 years
• Progressive pain – some people don’t experience pain immediately after treatment, but do develop pain and discomfort after a few weeks of the initial treatment. 

In these cases, checking in with the doctor can help improve the healing time in the post-treatment phase. Sculptra offers several benefits for aging skin, and may be a valuable alternative to other dermal fillers such as Restylane, Radiesse and collagen. 

Learn more about injectable fillers and Sculptra in our information guide, or consult with an anti aging specialist in your area for treatment options available.