If you’re here on Dr. Beaty’s blog, you probably already know a thing or two about collagen. This protein has the job of keeping your skin firm and young looking. It provides the structural support for the skin to do that. But, for some dumb reason, the body produces less collagen every year after you turn 20, the decrease being one additional percentage point each year. No wonder our skin sags more and more the older we get.
Dermal fillers were created to fight that loss of collagen and the effects of sun and environmental damage on the skin. At Dr. Beaty’s practice, we’re particularly impressed with Sculptra. It’s one of the longest lasting fillers, and it triggers the body to replace lost collage to correct shallow to deep facial wrinkles and folds.
What’s different about Sculptra?
Most fillers are true to their name; they fill in the space created by a wrinkle or by volume loss, pushing the skin back up as soon as they are injected. Sculptra is different. Sure, after it is injected you’ll see improvement. But unlike other fillers, whose results begin to diminish as soon as they are injected, with Sculptra your real improvement will come over time. This is because Sculptra is made from poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA), which works in the dermis layer of the skin to replace lost collagen. It builds collagen over time, so the results with Sculptra are subtle. With some fillers, co-workers will notice a big difference the next day. But with Sculptra, you won’t return to work and look markedly different the next day. Dr. Beaty typically recommends three injection sessions over a few months for the best results. These results can then last for over two years!
How does Sculptra work?
Most fillers operate just under the surface of the skin. They are injected at a relatively shallow depth into the dermis, the skin layer beneath the epidermis. Sculptra is injected more deeply, into the deep dermal layer of the skin. There, microparticles of PLLA work within the deep dermis to rebuild lost collagen and provide structural skin support. As the PLLA is absorbed a collagen framework is created, replacing the collagen and structure that has been lost with natural aging or sun damage, restoring the look of fullness to shallow to deep wrinkles and folds.
What is Sculptra best at?
Sculptra is effective for these deeper wrinkles and creases:
- Deep folds between the nose and mouth (nasolabial folds), also called smile lines
- The lines framing your mouth (marionette lines)
- Chin wrinkles
Want to do something about those smile lines for up to two years? Uh, yes!! Call Dr. Beaty at 770-753-0053 and ask about Sculptra.
