Treatments

Sculptra
Sculptra is Poly-L-Lactic Acid.  Sculptra is biocompatible (something that is easily broken down by the body).  Because Sculptra is biocompatible and contains the same material used in dissolvable stitches and soft tissue implants for many years, Sculptra Injections do not require a skin test prior to the treatment.   

Sculptra can be injected into areas where loss of facial fat (lipodystrophy) has caused depressions, irregularities and folds.  Sculptra replaces the volume from the fatty tissue loss that can occur with weight loss, medication use or as a result of various disease states.   Sculptra can also be used to fill in the nasolabial folds (folds from the corners of the nose to the mouth) for a more youthful appearance.

It important to know, however, that Sculptra works a little differently than other types of soft-tissue fillers. When most other fillers are injected, there is an immediate filling and plumping effect, which decreases over time. The plumping effects of the Sculptra take several weeks to see the final effect.  Once the initial liquid is gone, you may believe that the Sculptra didn’t work and seek further correction to the area.  The Sculptra is working.  It just takes several weeks for the Sculptra crystals to reach their full plumping effects. 

Therefore, It is important not to use Sculptra to over-correct the fold or depression.  It’s better to repeat the Sculptra Injection in 6-8 weeks if further plumping is desired. The use of Sculptra will vary on the complexity of the designed injected area.  Sculptra has been shown to last 2 years in reported company studies.

Sculptra has minimal discomfort and can be done as an office visit.  It is fast and safe, and has excellent rejuvenating and plumping effects.

Restylane
What is Restylane
Restylane is a natural substance (hyaluronic acid) that already exists in the body and is free of animal products.  Restylane is injected into the skin in tiny amounts using an ultra fine needle.  There is minimal discomfort. The procedure is totally safe, simple and convenient, and results are practically instantaneous. To optimize your comfort during the short procedure, your physician may anesthetize the treatment area. When Restylane is injected into the skin, it causes a filling; a plumping effect that restores a softer, more youthful appearance to the face, including lips and nasolabial folds (folds between the corner of the nose and the mouth) and the Jowls (folds from the corner of the mouth down to the chin).

Restylane treatments are done as an office visit with no recovery time. Restylane can last up to six months after which time a follow up Injection of Restylane will be required to maintain the plumping effects.

Juvederm
Juvederm is a gel implant that includes hyaluronic acid, a natural complex sugar that bolsters skin elasticity, providing a smooth and supple appearance. It is biocompatible, supplementing the body's natural hyaluronic acid, which age has depleted.

The transparent Juvederm gel is injected with a syringe into the mid- to deep dermis of your face. The dermis is the subsurface skin layer that contains connective tissue, nerve endings, sweat and oil glands, and blood vessels.

Juvederm improves your appearance by lifting and adding volume to the wrinkles and folds in the treatment area. After six to nine months, the biocompatible compound is naturally absorbed into the body.
The injectable gel filler is available in three formulas:

• Juvederm 18: a fluid gel targeting the superficial (upper) dermis for fine lines such as crow's feet.
• Juvederm 24: a denser gel targeting the mid-dermis for moderate lines such as forehead winkles.
• Juvederm 30: the densest gel, targeting the deep dermis for deep nasogenian grooves (the folds between your cheeks and nose) and nasolabial folds, for enhancing lip volume, and for reshaping cheek contours.

A Juvederm advantage is its pliant gel consistency, which may provide a smoother, more natural-looking appearance than some of its more rigid predecessors. Another advantage is that Juvederm may last longer, maintain the improved appearance for six to nine months. The benefits may last even longer if you have a follow-up treatment a few weeks after the first treatment.

The choice of treatment with any of the above injectable fillers Sculptra, Restylane, or Juvederm will be determined by your doctor, depending on your realistic expectations and needs, the state of your skin and signs of aging.