After how many months does sculptra stop building collagen?

Question

I had 4 vials of Sculptra my last 2 a week ago. After reading reviews I'm now worried I will have a fat face. Worried

Mitchel Goldman, MD · Answer

The results can last up to 2 years. Some patients need periodic touch up treatments to maintain the desired youthful effects. After receiving the treatment plan outlined by your dermatologist, the skins appearance after Sculptra injections will continue to improve for several months as the new collagen grows.

Raffy Karamanoukian, MD, FACS · Answer

Sculptra is an excellent stimulatory filler and it is hard to assess how much your face will improve without photographs. Maintain a positive approach and continue to massage the Sculptra. Best, Dr. KaramanoukianLos Angeles

Stephen Prendiville, MD · Answer

The biostimulant effect of Sculptra is most robust for  4-6 weeks after injection.  I generally will limit the number of vials I inject to 2 vials per session, and the interval between treatment sessions is 4 weeks.  I recommend that you return to your treating Physician for reassurance.

Bruce E. Katz, MD · Answer

Sculptra is a great product to restore a more
youthful, natural look. Sculptra will last up to two years; it will replenish
lost volume by stimulating growth of your own natural collagen. Consult with
your doctor about Sculptra, it may be time to get more volume.

Michele S. Green, MD · Answer

Sculptra is an amazing product that builds up slowly after several
weeks. Over the course of several weeks your body's natural collagen
begins to form. It is a process that will last about two years. Generally I inject 1 or 2 vials of Sculptra at a time. Most patients need between 6 to 8 vials of sculptra to get the desired look, typically waiting between 4 to 6 weeks in between treatments.Thank you,Dr. Newen

Mary P. Lupo, MD · Answer

I have been doing Sculptra since 2003, when I trained in Geneva prior to FDA approval here in the US. Most patients need 3-6 vials over 3-4 sessions, each spaced with 6 weeks in between. Placement is crucial to results, and it is always easier to add than to subtract when injecting a semi-permanent filler like Sculptra. Four vials in an expert's hands will never make your face look fat. I have had patients who initially thought they had no result after 12 weeks, only to be thrilled at 6 months. Sculptra requires skill from the injector and patience form the patient.

Ramona Behshad, MD · Answer

12 weeks is a reasonable amount of time to assess any collagen formation, including new collagen stimulated by Sculptra injection. Incidentally, this also explains why laser results can take months to appear.

Dean P. Kane, MD, FACS · Answer

Dear Cathy M:

We all want our faces to look our best now, and at
the same time wish we could stop the aging process for the future so we don’t
have to keep up the constant vigilance of seeing those signs of aging keep
getting worse and worse.

The
reason why we show our age on our face is mainly due to loss of collagen,
elastin, fat and bone. The shrinking, drooping and loss of these crucial
internal structures cause loss of volume in the face which in turn causes the
appearances of folds, wrinkles, hollowness and even a shrunken appearance in
and around the lower cheeks and mouth. Wrinkles and folds and uneven skin color
are the foundations of an aging skin. Reversing these features rejuvenate our
appearance. Fortunately, in today’s hi tech cosmetic world, we have
non-surgical procedures that help to counter and provide both a short term
(immediate) and long term reversals of these aging effects.

The
“Short Term” approach uses those fillers like Restylane, Perlane, Juvederm
Ultra and Radiesse and the muscle relaxers, like Botox and Dysport that give
you immediate plumping of the face and relaxing of your wrinkles. The fillers
are used to plump very specific folds and wrinkles on the face. These fillers
will give you up to a year of looking refreshed before you will need to repeat
the process. In this time period, however, by just using these products alone,
your face continues to lose collagen, fat and bone loss from the aging process
and you will need to return and repeat the same procedures.

But
what if there was a “Long Term” approach that is incorporated at the same time
that we use the fillers and muscle relaxers that would work simultaneously to
keep up your collagen production and give you a continual refreshed glow on
your face? This long term strategy would help prevent the aging process by
continually stimulating your own collagen when normally you would be losing it
over time.

The
“Long Term” strategy incorporates the use of Sculptra. While Sculptra is
classified under the filler category, it acts more to arouse dynamic cellular
activity and not act as a more static filler or a muscle relaxer. Sculptra is a
collagen stimulator that is seeded into many areas of the face as well as in
very specific deficits, folds and hollows to increase your own production of
collagen and stop the loss of collagen year after year. Sculptra not only fills
in the hollows and deficits of the face, but thickens the skin’s dermis
creating greater elasticity to the skin, thus providing more firmness to the
face.

Sculptra
will last over 2 years, but the process of injections is quite unique and
results are not seen for many months later. When you first start using Sculptra
you will need several sessions scheduled 4-6 weeks apart. Depending on your age
and skin issues being addressed, the range of treatments needed can vary from
2-5 sessions. The collagen production takes months before you see the plumping
and volumizing effects. Hence, why it is suggested that if you are looking for
an immediate result, you begin with the traditional fillers like Restylane,
Perlane and Juvederm and by the time these wear off, Sculptra will have made a
significant impact in re-volumizing your face.

It is
the thin, athletic and sun-aged patients who really enjoy the results from Sculptra.
Since it has little volumizing effect, you don't appear fatter. Because of its
stimulatory effects on the fibroblasts forming collagen, elastin and other
dermal structural molecules, the appears to shrink and firm. It seems to have a
stimulatory effect on the epidermis too with cell turnover and improved skin
texture and evening of color. For those who are too thin or hollow, volumizing
fillers provide long lasting satisfaction too.

The
truly cool aspect of Sculptra is that since it is your own tissue that is being
stimulated. There is a beautiful natural glow and refreshed aspect about your face
and skin quality. People will comment that you look really great but they will
not be able to figure out why.

It is
best to "stimulate the stimulator". I recommend retinoids, dermal
peels and dermal lasers to provide non-surgical regenerate the skins ability to
rejuvenate every 3 months.

I
hope this has been helpful!

All
the best!

Steven F. Weiner, MD · Answer

It will take about 6 weeks to get the effects of collagen building.  There are some subtle changes over the next 7 mos or so, but not much volumizing effect.  If you are too full, you just have to wait it out and let the effects gradually diminish over then next couple years.  It is extremely important to choose the right doctor for these long lasting fillers.

Peter Newen, MD - Account Suspended · Answer

Sculptra is an amazing product that builds up slowly after several 
weeks.  Over the course of several weeks your body's natural collagen 
begins to form.  It is a process that will last about two years. Generally I inject 1 or 2 vials of Sculptra at a time.  Most patients need between 6 to 8 vials of sculptra to get the desired look,  typically waiting between 4 to 6 weeks in between treatments.Thank you,Dr. Newen

After how many months does sculptra stop building collagen?

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