How is it possible that your niece, who you swear was just a baby yesterday, is graduating from high school? How can you have already received an invitation to your 30 Year High School reunion? Has it really been that long?

There is proof everywhere that time is flying at a rapid pace. The clock is always ticking and it can be difficult to gauge the aging process on our own face. There are also countless anti-aging treatments on the market that all claim to turn back the hands of time.

Dermal fillers yield quick results

Some of these treatments yield a quick result, such as hyaluronic acid dermal fillers, which immediately plump up and add volume to sunken areas of the face. These quick, pick-me-up treatments are ideal for giving you a refreshed look on the fly. However, there are treatments that you can consider as a long-term investment to address the subtler signs of aging that might not stick out to you at first.

Sculptra is a perfect example of a treatment that you can expect to see a steady improvement in fine lines, wrinkles and facial volume over an extended period.

Unlike traditional cosmetic dermal fillers that specifically address wrinkles, lines and folds, Sculptra stimulates the growth of your own collagen to replenish lost volume.

To understand how Sculptra is different from other dermal fillers, a short lesson on facial aging process is helpful. The loss of facial volume is the number one sign of aging. This volume loss can be compared to a balloon that loses air or volume, in that as air or volume is lost, the balloon becomes lax, droops, and wrinkles. Unfortunately, a similar process occurs in our face as we get older; this is illustrated below.

The loss of volume is occurring deep in the skin, depleting our facial fatty tissue, collagen, and bone density. This is profound in that facial volume gives support and structure to the skin, keeping the skin firm around the cheeks, eyes, jawline and mouth.

For example, the loss of volume in our temples can cause the eyebrows to drop and can result in a hollowed appearance in our upper face.

Popular dermal fillers such as Restylane and Juvederm are excellent products that address superficial lines and folds.

In contrast, Sculptra is placed deep in the tissues, providing optimal volume correction, while slowing down the aging process in the face. Sculptra falls into its own class of facial filler, known as bio-stimulators.

The key difference is that Sculptra works by stimulating your own tissues to produce collagen, providing long lasting results of up to two years.

The typical protocol includes a series of three treatments, spaced every six to eight weeks apart.

The advantages of Sculptra include no downtime and little to no discomfort, while the gradual and natural results safeguard against an overdone appearance.

With that said, Sculptra can be also be used in combination with hyaluronic acid (HA) fillers such as Restylane for a more refined appearance.

Think of Sculptra as your 401K, investing to ensure your anti-aging needs are met long-term, while hyaluronic dermal fillers are your money market funds that allows you to draw from immediately for instant results.

About Dr. Jenny Weyler

Dr. Jenny Weyler owns and operates Aponi Aesthetics, a cosmetic dermatology and medical aesthetics practice. Dr Jenny specializes in non-invasive advanced aesthetic procedures including Botox / Dysport, dermal fillers, laser hair removal, fractional skin resurfacing, sclerotherapy, photofacials, body contouring and medical skincare treatments.

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