How long does Sculptra Last?

Want to tighten and rejuvenate your skin with a treatment option that provides results for longer than just a few months? Sculptra is a treatment that provides tightness and volume to your skin and lasts for years rather than months. The treatment is also safe and involves no invasive surgery. If you are ready to know more about this treatment, contact Chevy Chase Facial Plastic Surgery -We offer a host of safe and effective aesthetic treatments.

What Is Sculptra?

Sculptra is an injectable treatment developed by Galderma Laboratories that tightens the skin and gives you a healthy and youthful complexion. The treatment induces collagen through the use of poly-L lactic acid that smooths and repairs your skin. Collagen is a natural substance created by cells called fibroblasts. It rebuilds damaged skin and reduces skin laxity. After several injection sessions, your skin will slowly be renewed as it produces collagen, and you will enjoy long-lasting youthful, and smooth skin. The treatment also helps to increase volume in areas where you need it and makes sunken areas in the skin have a more plump appearance.

What Should I Expect From Treatment?

Your Sculptra journey begins with a consultation from our team. We will ensure that the treatment will give you the results you expect and be safe for you. We can help you understand your treatment plan and what outcome you can expect from the treatment. You can ask any questions you might have, and we can set an appointment for your first session. We inject the solution at various depths in a precise grid pattern to ensure thorough and even distribution. The solution will fill in folds, creases, wrinkles, and lines over several weeks as the collagen builds. The poly-L lactic acid solution is similar to the one used in dissolvable sutures and is absorbed into the skin and tissue. You will not see immediate results, but the tightness of your skin will slowly improve and provide lasting changes in your complexion. After the treatment, post-treatment care is minimal.

How Long Does Sculptra Last?

If you choose Sculptra for your skin tightening needs, you can see results lasting for more than 24 months. In clinical studies, as many as 80% of patients were still satisfied with their skin's appearance 25 months after treatment. You will notice the elasticity of your skin gradually improve as it reaches a more youthful texture in a natural timeframe. If your skin is healthy and you have a great skincare routine, the results can last even longer. Your skin's collagen production will make a noticeable impact on the tightness of your skin six to 12 weeks after your first session. The improvements in your skin will continue for four to six months, at which point your results should reach their peak. Because the results take time, there is no sudden, unnatural appearance like that associated with other treatments. The treatment also will not make your face appear stiff or reduce your ability to make natural facial expressions.

What Can It Treat?

Sculptra can be used to improve your facial complexion and skin conditions almost everywhere on the body. You can enjoy tighter skin and anti-aging benefits on your face and neck. If the skin on your body has lost its elasticity due to age and lifestyle, it can also be renewed with this treatment. Areas of the skin that become hollow or sunken after an illness can also be made smooth with increased volume from the treatment. We can address a variety of issues on the face, neck, chest, abdomen, legs, buttocks, and upper arms. This treatment can effectively: Fill nasolabial folds Eliminate moderate and fine lines Smooth wrinkles Eliminate cellulite Increase jawline definition Fill sunken cheeks and temples Plump the lips Reduce brow or frown lines Reduce marionette lines Relieve skin laxity Remove lines from the eyes and mouth  

Am I a Good Candidate?

If you are a healthy adult looking to address skin aging, lack of volume, or skin laxity, you are likely eligible for this treatment. Men and women of every skin tone and aged 18 and older can enjoy the benefits of the treatment. If you are hesitant to try face-lift surgery or laser therapy, this treatment can be a safe alternative for skin rejuvenation. The treatment is commonly used to address aging signs that appear in your 30s, but it can also be a proactive measure before you see lines and wrinkles. Sculptra may not be recommended if you have a history of hypertrophic scarring or keloid scars, as this can interfere with your desired results. We may not recommend the treatment if you are pregnant or nursing. You should also make us aware of any allergies you suffer from.

What Are the Benefits?

Sculptra provides a range of benefits by improving the skin's collagen production. As you age, your skin's collagen production is reduced. Collagen helps maintain the skin's elasticity, so wrinkles, lines, creases, and folds will form in the absence of collagen. We can improve your skin's tightness, elasticity, and volume with this treatment. The skin on the face, neck, and chest can be rejuvenated to give you a more youthful appearance. Loose skin on the body after a weight loss plan or pregnancy can also be tightened and renewed. We can enhance your lips by increasing their volume and making them look supple and plump. The face and neck can be lifted, much like a face or neck lift surgery. We can also relieve sunken cheeks or temples.

How Is the Treatment a Good Alternative to Surgery?

A face-lift surgery can provide you with permanent and effective skin tightening, but the downtime can prove to be a deterrent. A surgical option can be a problem if you are not ready to commit to extensive recovery time. Sculptra is an ideal solution if you can't afford several days of downtime. The treatment can provide firm and lifted skin on the face, neck, chest, or abdomen. Even loose skin on the buttocks can be lifted, providing results much like a butt-lift surgery using this powerful injectable treatment.

What Is Recovery Like?

Your recovery after the treatment comes with minimal downtime. After your treatment, you can return to work or your normal routine immediately. You will not be required to stay in our office overnight or be admitted to the hospital. If you have a busy work schedule, the treatment can fit into your lunch break, so you won't have to miss any work. You will not experience any pain or discomfort after the treatment. When you are done, there are just a few simple care instructions to improve your results and recovery. You can begin wearing makeup a few hours after your treatment as long as there is no irritation. For five days after your treatment, massage the area where the treatment was applied five times per day for five minutes. An ice pack wrapped in a clean cloth can also be helpful to improve your recovery. Avoid sun exposure for several days by not going to a tanning salon and covering your face and head with a hat or scarf.

How Safe Is It?

The treatment has been safely used in the United States since the FDA approved it for use in 2004. Internationally the treatment has been enjoyed by patients for over 20 years. Poly-L lactic acid has been widely used in dissolving sutures without showing any major health risks. The treatment is painless thanks to a local numbing agent included in the injectable solution.

Discover the Long-Term Benefits of Sculptra

If you are ready for a long-lasting solution to aging, lack of volume, and skin laxity, contact us at Chevy Chase Facial Plastic Surgery for your initial consultation today. Sculptra is the only way to build your skin's collagen for two years without maintenance or touch-up treatments. You can enjoy the benefits without invasive surgery.