Do people mention that you look sick due to the amount of cheek volume you have lost? Do you feel that you look older than your chronological age due to bony hands with very visible veins? If so, Sculptra Virginia at Mountain State Cosmetic Surgery in Beckley, WV may be right for you.
What Is Sculptra Used for?
Sculptra Virginia is used to restore volume to areas that have experienced fat or collagen loss. This injectable dermal filler volumizes your skin thanks to its active ingredient, poly-L -lactic acid, otherwise known as PLLA. What’s great about this dermal filler is it induces extra collagen production. Collagen is, by far, the most abundant protein in your body. It is responsible for keeping your skin healthy, plump, moisturized, tight, and smooth.
How Quickly Do the Results of This Treatment Become Apparent?
You will notice an improvement in the treatment regions as soon as your injections are complete. Nonetheless, your skin needs time to produce extra collagen in response to the PLLA injections before you can enjoy the final results of your treatment. Depending on your age, lifestyle, and genetics, this can take anywhere from one to six months. However, most people can enjoy their final results just three months after their injections.
If you’re anxious to see your results quickly, there are several things you can do to induce faster collagen production. For instance, massaging the treated regions will encourage faster collagen production. You can also speed up your final results by drinking plenty of water and other hydrating fluids. Individual fluid requirements vary but most people can maintain hydration by drinking between half of a gallon and a full gallon of tea, water, and coffee every day.
How Else You Can See the Final Results of Your Injections Quicker
To see your final results as quickly as possible, your nutrition should be your primary focus. To facilitate efficient collagen production, it is important to eat plenty of protein and vitamin C. If you don’t get enough protein in your diet, your skin won’t have enough amino acids to produce an adequate amount of collagen.
It is important to eat fruits and veggies that are high in vitamin C because they contain the micronutrients your skin needs to turn the amino acids you get from protein into collagen. You should also minimize your consumption of processed foods because they weaken your existing collagen and impede your skin’s ability to produce more collagen. Some examples of processed foods you should try to avoid include:
- Canned soups
- Refined grains, like pasta and cereal
- Very processed bread
- Low-fat or skim dairy products
- Protein shakes
- Breakfast bars
- Protein bars
- Frozen foods
- Candy
How Many Appointments Will I Need to Get My Desired Look?
Anywhere from one to six appointments will be required for you to achieve your desired aesthetic. However, most people only need between two and three injection sessions for each region targeted for treatment. Typically, only people in their 50s or 60s need five or six sessions to restore their healthy, youthful appearance. However, it is also possible you will need five or six sessions if you have lost a lot of fat in your cheeks due to a severe illness.
How Long This Will Take
We’ll evaluate the severity of your aesthetic concerns and discuss your cosmetical goals thoroughly during your initial consultation. With this information, we can give you a better idea about how many sessions you may need to achieve your goals.
If your concerns are only mild or moderate in nature, we can effectively and quickly treat numerous areas in the same appointment. If your concerns are more severe and require several doses of PLLA, treating each area of concern will take longer, and you may need to come in for a couple of appointments to treat all of your areas of concern.
What Can’t This Injectable Do?
You should understand this injectable dermal filler isn’t right for all cosmetic concerns caused by volume loss. For instance, the FDA has not approved this treatment for improving the appearance of the upper eyelids. It should also not be used to augment the lips.
How Should I Prepare for This Injectable?
Since these injections are non-invasive, there is very little you need to do in way of preparation. In part, this is thanks to the lack of sedation or general anesthesia. For instance, you will not be asked to fast for 12 hours before your injections. Nevertheless, you need to do a few things to prepare for your injections. For example, it is very important to come in for your appointment well-nourished and hydrated.
The more nourished and hydrated you are, the sooner your final results will become apparent. It is highly advisable to eat a nutritious snack or small meal and drink at least two cups of water within a couple of hours of your Sculptra Virginia session. Also, you must not take any pharmaceuticals that can prevent clotting or otherwise thin your blood.
What Should I Expect During the Recovery Process?
Like the mandatory preparation process, there is little recovery required after these non-invasive injections. There is no downtime required, so you can go home and relax or return to work. However, it is very important to not apply any cosmetics to the treatment area for the first three hours after your treatment.
You are free to take OTC analgesics if you get a headache or experience any other discomfort during the first 72 hours following your session, but you may not take any NSAIDs. Also, you should keep the rule of five in mind after your session. To see your final results as quickly as possible, during the first five days following your treatment, gently massage the treatment area for five minutes at a time. This should be done five times daily.
How Long Do Sculptra Virginia Results Last?
You can expect your final results to last for 60 months before fading away very slowly. To enjoy results that last as long as possible, make your collagen health a priority. Do not smoke or sunbathe, and drink alcohol in moderation. The AHA and CDC recommend women drink no more than seven units of alcohol weekly; men should drink no more than 14 units of alcohol weekly.
Also, you should be aware that if you only received a small dose of PLLA or you’re in your 60s, you should expect your final results to fade a little faster. If you’re older or unwilling to give up nicotine or sunbathing, you may want to come in for a follow-up appointment every 24 months to see if a complementary anti-aging treatment or small maintenance dose may benefit you.
The Effects of the Sun On Your Skin
We cannot overstate how important sun protection is for maintaining your results for as long as possible. Both UVA and UVC rays penetrate the deepest layers of your skin, damaging existing collagen and slowing the collagen production process.
Am I a Good Candidate for This Treatment?
To qualify for this treatment, you should be in decent health and have a moderate-to-severe amount of fat or collagen loss. Nevertheless, this anti-aging method is not ideal for everyone. For instance, you will not qualify for this treatment if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or trying to become pregnant regardless of how healthy you are.
To ensure you’re healthy enough for Sculptra Virginia treatments, we will thoroughly review your medical history and discuss your current health. We will also evaluate your cosmetic concerns. However, you don’t have to worry too much about being healthy enough for this treatment. It was originally designed to reverse the effects of fat loss in people with HIV. To summarize succinctly, we look for people who:
- Have smile lines
- Have hollow temples
- Want to look five to 15 years younger
- Want results that last for five years
- Aren’t interested in invasive procedures
- Have venous or bony hands
- Have chest wrinkles
- Have sagging cheek skin
- Have crow’s feet
- Have excessively prominent cheekbones
- Have marionette lines
Learn Today if You Qualify for this Treatment
Sculptra Virginia is a highly effective anti-aging treatment if your cosmetic concerns are caused by collagen or fat loss. This safe, convenient injectable can be administered into the upper face, midface, lower face, chest, and hands to lift sagging skin, restore volume, and tighten loose skin. Come visit us at Mountain State Cosmetic Surgery in Beckley, WV for an initial evaluation to learn more about what this injectable can do.
