Dermal filler or Sculptra – which treatment is right for you?
Are you unhappy with what you see in the mirror? Do you look tired and haggard, even after a good night’s sleep?
The gradual loss of fat in your face, something experts refer to as a loss of facial volume, can age your appearance just as much as lines and wrinkles do. Treatments such as dermal filler and Sculptra restore plump, youthful contours to your face – however they are two very different treatments and work in very different ways.
Both dermal filler and Sculptra treatments work by restoring lost facial volume, giving you a younger, rested fresh appearance. However they are completely different products and work in very different ways.
Dermal fillers made of hyaluronic acid, a gel-like substance that is injected into areas of the face. This substance replaces the volume that the face has lost over time, giving a young, full, lifted, smooth look.
Sculptra works in a more complicated way – by stimulating the body to create new collagen, replacing the volume with the body’s natural product. As we age, our body stops producing collagen, a substance that is vital to a youthful looking face. When Sculptra is injected into an area, the body reacts by producing collagen around the injection – replacing what has been lost. This collagen production leads to a restoration of facial volume over time and a dramatic improvement of skin texture and the appearance of facial volume.
How does Sculptra injection differ from dermal filler injection?
Sculptra is a liquid substance rather than a gel. It is injected into the deep facial area and under the skin with a needle or cannula.
While dermal filler treatment is complete in one appointment, most patients will require about 3 Sculptra treatment sessions to achieve desired results. These treatment sessions are typically spaced 2 to 4 weeks apart, meaning the total time to complete your treatment sessions usually rounds off between 6 to 12 weeks.
Dermal filler treatment results are completely apparent within 2 or so weeks, while Sculptra results have a gradual and subtle build-up over time.
How will I feel after treatment?
With both treatments, during the first 24–48 hours after treatment you may experience redness, swelling and tenderness in the treated areas. These reactions are normal and resolve quickly and spontaneously over the next 2-4 days. Bruising at the site of injection is also possible and clears completely in 1-10 days. Swelling and bruising can give the appearance of ‘unevenness’ in the area treated. This will settle once the swelling and bruising has subsided.
How long will Sculptra last compared to dermal fillers?
Dermal filler treatment lasts between 6 and 12 months, then is absorbed by the body and retreatment is necessary. Sculptra has the longest-lasting results of all injectable fillers, with results that can last for as long as 2 to 3 years.
What other differences should I know about?
Dermal filler results will be noticeable within 2 weeks and last a shorter amount of time, while Sculptra will take some time to be noticeable but last much longer. Determining which treatment is right for you requires a consultation with your cosmetic provider.
At BeautoxEtc, consultations are always complimentary. Book yours today!
