As we age, the appearance of our faces change significantly. What were once voluminous cheeks become gaunt and hollow. Temples become hollow as well. Skin that was once taut and smooth sags and wrinkles. If you feel self-conscious about the changes to your face as you age, you may be considered a good candidate for Sculptra injections at The Institute of Aesthetic Surgery in Orlando, FL.
How Long Does Sculptra Last?
You can generally expect your Sculptra results to last between two and five years after your final results become apparent. It is hard to give a good estimate before an initial evaluation because so many factors affect how long the results last, including one’s skin health, lifestyle choices, the dosage required, and injection locations.
To be considered a good candidate for Sculptra injections, it is important that you have realistic expectations about the results. For instance, you should understand that you will look years younger for many years. However, you should also understand that only four out of five people who receive this treatment are satisfied with their results after 25 months. In other words, you should know that you may need a follow-up treatment
How Soon Will the Results Become Apparent?
You can expect to see your ideal results approximately six weeks after your final treatment session. While Juvederm provides an instant volume increase, this poly-L -lactic acid-based injectable is different. It’s known as a bioactivator. To see your final results, you need to wait for your skin to break down the ingredients in the injectable and use them to produce extra collagen in response to your fibroblasts being penetrated.
To get a better idea of how quickly you can expect to see your final results, you need to come in for an initial consultation. During this initial consultation, we will evaluate your areas of concern, advise you on how many treatment sessions you will need, and schedule your first injection session. Generally, three treatment sessions spaced six weeks apart are required for people to achieve satisfactory results. In other words, in about six months, you’ll look younger.
What Lifestyle Choices Can I Make To Extend the Longevity of My Results?
Make Sunscreen Your New Best Friend
If your goal is to go as long as possible with ideal results, you need to make sunscreen your new best friend. This poly-L -lactic acid-based injectable works by encouraging your skin to produce extra collagen. Unfortunately, UV rays damage your existing collagen and make it harder for your skin to produce more collagen. For these two reasons, protecting your skin from UV ray damage is one of the best things you can do for it.
One effective way to protect yourself from harmful UV rays is to do your best to avoid sunlight between the hours of 10 AM and 4 PM. During this six-hour window, the suns rays are the strongest. If you have to go outside during this time, or you work in an office with windows, make sure you wear sunscreen. Also, don’t forget to reapply your sunscreen regularly. Generally, you’ll need to reapply every four hours, but read the recommendation on the label.
Drink Lots of Water
There are lots of things your body needs to produce collagen. One of those ingredients is water, and lots of it. Most Americans are dehydrated, and when the body is dehydrated, processes start to falter. One of the most commonly reported symptoms of dehydration is brain fog. However, other systems operate inefficiently when you’re not hydrating enough throughout the day.
For instance, it is not uncommon for fat metabolism to slow to a crawl due to dehydration. Even worse, when you don’t consume enough water and other hydrating fluids throughout the day, your existing collagen starts to weaken and your skin can’t produce new collagen as quickly. To ensure this isn’t an issue, drink enough every day that your urine is pale and does not smell like salt. Just make sure you don’t drink so much that it’s clear.
Make Exercise a Priority
Some people like Juvederm injections to boost the volume under their skin. The initial results are immediately realized, rather than appearing after a couple of weeks. Also, the final results are usually realized after just 10 to 14 days rather than 1.5 to six months. However, when you get Juvederm injections, the higher your metabolism is, the faster the hyaluronic acid will be metabolized by your body. In other words, your results won’t last as long.
On the other hand, regular exercise is a great way to maintain the longevity of your results if you get Sculptra injections. Exercise supports the health and strength of your cardiovascular system. Your cardiovascular system transports vitamins, minerals, and growth factors to your skin, so it has the ingredients it needs to produce new collagen and keep it healthy. Aim to get 2.5 hours of moderate exercise or half that time of intense exercise weekly.
Eat Your Fruits and Veggies
It is crucial for the health of your skin and the longevity of your results that you eat your fruits and vegetables. Your circulatory system can’t deliver enough nutrients to your skin if you don’t eat enough nutrients. Make an effort to get your RDA of both minerals and vitamins from your diet. If you are deficient in a particular nutrient, you may benefit from taking a nutritional supplement. However, whole foods are far more bioavailable.
In other words, if you eat whole foods, your body will be able to absorb and use the nutrients better. To be clear, by whole foods, we mean foods that are not processed. It is better to eat red meat for B vitamins than fortified cereal, for example. Also, keep in mind that you also need to eat plenty of protein to extend the longevity of your results. Aim to consume half a gram of protein for every pound of lean mass you have.
How to Calculate Your Lean Mass
The most accurate way to determine lean mass is to get a DEXA scan at a hospital. However, this isn’t practical. To get a good idea of how much lean mass you have, multiply your height in feet by 20. Then, multiply your height in inches by five and sum the numbers.
Am I a Good Candidate for This Treatment?
One factor that sets this treatment apart from similar treatments is its safety. We only offer treatments that are FDA-approved, but some treatments have stricter health requirements. On the other hand, this injectable was first used to volumize the cheeks of AIDS sufferers. There are not many health requirements to qualify for this injectable.
Note, this injectable was originally designed to augment the cheeks of individuals who lost a massive amount of weight due to an extreme illness. However, it is just as effective at volumizing cheeks that are gaunt or hollow due to age-related volume loss. Also, it can be used to increase the volume and health of other areas of your body, like your chin, the backs of your hands, your jawline, your chest, and your temples.
Who Isn’t This Treatment Appropriate for?
This injectable anti-aging treatment is not appropriate for women who are pregnant or breastfeeding. Also, it is not recommended for children. Furthermore, you may be considered a poor candidate for this treatment if you suffer from certain medical conditions, like a history of keloid scarring or a bleeding disorder. Moreover, you will not qualify for this treatment if you cannot follow all preparation instructions and recovery guidelines.
What Preparation Steps Will I Need To Follow?
We will let you know what preparation steps you need to take before treatment during your initial consultation. If your blood pressure is usually pretty high, you will need to decrease your sodium and caffeine consumption or increase your potassium consumption to lower your blood pressure. If you are taking any drugs or supplements that are known to cause blood thinning, you will need to stop taking those medications.
Book an Appointment Now
By far, Sculptra is the longest-lasting anti-aging injectable on the market. Individual results vary, but you can expect your ideal results to last between two and five years. The better care you take of your skin, the longer you will enjoy a healthy, youthful visage. To learn more about this powerful volumizing injectable, reach out to us now at The Institute of Aesthetic Surgery in Orlando, FL to schedule your initial consultation.