Is Sculptra okay for smile, loss of volume, and lips? (Photos)

Question

Can scultpra be used for all areas where I’ve lost volume or have fine lines? If not, what the risk of getting it in my smile line or lips? I’m concerned about using juvaderm in my cheeks again because I smile so much- it looked unnatural last time.Last of all, how would I find a facial sculpting expert in my area?

Aldo Guerra, MD · Answer

Thanks so much for this question. Sculptra is a great filler that leads to bio-stimulation and collage formation. It should not be used on your lips. For a great plan, you need a formal consultation.Best wishes, Dr. ALDO

Kimberly Butterwick, MD · Answer

Sculptra is a terrific filler that uses microspheres to stimulate the production of more collagen. It’s injected very deeply into the skin. It’s great to build up the cheekbones and add volume to the midface, temple and hollow lower cheeks. It would not work well on laugh lines and cannot be used in the lips. This is because in the lips, all the movement could result in clumping of the particles and lead to multiple tiny bumps in the lips. Even the product label advises against this. It is also not for fine lines because they are superficial. Sculptra must be placed more deeply to be smooth. Restylane Refyne and Defyne are often my choice for facial lines because they have flexible characteristics and move naturally in the face. For very fine lines, I like Restylane Silk, Belotero or Volbella because these fillers can be placed superficially without bumps and they won’t cause bulking of the area. Your lip filler depends on what results you want. Volbella is subtle, Juvederm Ultra Plus is dramatic. You can find board-certified dermatologists who are expert at facial sculpting by looking at the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery website: asds.net. Take your time to find a superior practitioner; the results are worth it.

Muhammad Mirza, MD (license suspended) · Answer

Thank you for your question. Sculptra Aesthetic can be used to restore volume by helping to replace lost collagen. It is great for restoring a look of fullness to shallow and deep facial wrinkles and folds.

Nelson Castillo, MD · Answer

Thank you for sharing your question and photograph. Sculptra is best used in a patient’s temples, cheeks, jawline and chin, and should be avoided in thinner skin areas such as the eyes or lips.  These latter two are more safely treated with any of the myriad of hyaluronic acid fillers like Vollure and Restylane.  Hope this helps.

Michael A. Persky, MD · Answer

Hi Cat,Sculptra is a great natural facial volume replenisher.  It can be used everywhere on the other except the lips.  Based on your photos, I would treat you with a combination of Sculptra, Voluma (for your cheeks), and Volbella (for your lips.)  The best way to find an expert injecting physician in your area is by word of mouth.  Visit multiple offices, look at their before and after photos, check out the appearance of the physician's staff, and ask to speak or meet with their past patients.  Choose your injecting physician based on their experience, skill, knowledge, and natural artistic vision.  Good luck and be well.  Dr. P

Jason Emer, MD · Answer

Sculptra can be used in areas of volume loss, except in the lips. Sculptra is a great product for improving facial volume and collagen building, but for best results, I recommend using it in a combination depending on desired results. I combine Sculptra with other fillers, lasers, toxins and skin care to give immediate results. See an expert. Best, Dr. Emer

David R. Stephens, MD · Answer

Hi catkandra, *Sculptra Aesthtetic* is FDA approved to treat deep and fine facial lines by gradually stimulating collagen production. Sculptra consists of the PLLA particles that stimulate collagen production as they are broken down by the body. While it is used as a deep dermal filler for naso-labial and other deep facial lines, it is also used as a facial volumizer of the cheek, temple, mid-face or global facial volume loss. It has become more popular to fill out the volume for buttock enhancement but this can be quite costly. Prior to approval for cosmetic use, it was used to restore loss of volume in severe congenital cases and in the facial wasting of people afflicted with the HIV virus. 
In my practice, I would not recommend using if in the lips nor for the specific treatment of fine lines. You have a thin face and it might be an option there if that bothered you. I like to use the hyaluronic acid fillers such as Voblella, Juviderm and Vollure in the lips and Voluma in the cheeks as they are natural and have a great safety record. Hyaluronic acid is naturally found in our tissue. We have so many great fillers that we can customize these for your specific areas. One thing that I like about Sculptra is that it seems to improve the quality of the skin by stimulating collagen in the dermis. 
We are very happy to discuss this with you in more detail in consultation at our Bellevue office. As a plastic surgeon I enjoy the versitility of treating facial concerns both non-surgically and with surgical correction. We also have a master aesthetician to address any skin concerns you may have. Skin is fifty percent of facial aging and prevention of aging skin is the key. Thank you for your interesting question. DS

Dean P. Kane, MD, FACS · Answer

Dear catkranda:

Your features are beautiful and should be maintained by tightening the skin and lifting the facial waves associated with aging. You may wish to use hyaluronic acid fillers for fine lines.

Since I do not have the advantage to examine you, I hope you will be helped by the information below. My immediate recommendations are to obtain consultation with a talented, Board Certified Plastic Surgeon with extensive skills in:

1.       Sculptra injectables to stimulate firming and thickening resistance of the skin to fine wrinkles and folds

a.       Yes, in my hands, Sculptra has been sensational with chemical peels and retinoids for peri-oral fine lines and resistance to nasolabial, lateral commissure and marionette folds.

b.      A minute amount of Botox or Dysport to reduce the dynamic wrinkling of the orbicularis oris lip muscle

2.       non-surgical skin tightening using Obagi ZO Skin Health Retinoid regimen and chemical peels

3.       minimally invasive injectables including fillers and / or fat for cheek volume

4.       Silhouette InstaLift for repositioning facial soft tissues

The beginnings of facial skin laxity start when skin repair diminishes and passive skin aging relaxes downward. 
The web of fibrous compartments under the skin loses fat, stretches and elongates developing 5 growing “waves” of skin at points of attachment such as the:

1.       hooding along the eyes,

2.       lower eyelid / cheek junction or tear trough / nasojugal fold

3.       nasolabial fold,

4.       lateral mouth commissure and marionette folds,

5.       jowls and neck.

The skin itself is not dissimilar to crepe paper held together by collagen, elastin and other structural molecules which also passively diminish with aging.

Facial Aging are created from the 5 different layers of the skin, fat, muscle and bone. During the first 20 years or so of life, the body genetically determines how to develop and repair a constantly changing “face” including all these layers (as it does elsewhere in the body). Thereafter it remains robust in repairing itself from injury but the accumulation of environmental, health and nutritional exposure will add to the passive inability for the body to care for itself after 30. This is when physical changes such as skin laxity, irregular pigmentation, lines and wrinkles and skin diseases occur. We now have many options to rejuvenate the layer or layers of the face which need care or stimulation to reverse the aging trend.

Don't forget to protect your skin from the elements! UV blockers, anti-oxidants, pigmentation control and acne / oil reduction will maintain your skin rejuvenation efforts. Consult with a Certified ZO Skin Health Specialist!
Everyone needs one or more layered improvement and in personalized combinations to achieve their optimal result. All surgical, minimally invasive and non-invasive procedures and their combinations should be discussed following a proper examination with a well versed, Board Certified Plastic Surgeon who performs all of these options so you will not receive a biased approach because he limited in his skills. Sculptra and Silhouette InstaLift are very advanced procedures. Find the best qualified surgeon for these procedures!

I trust this is helpful.  
All the best!

Monika Soni, MD · Answer

Thank you for your question. As Sculptra is a polylactic acid it helps stimulate collagen production and is great for facial volume loss and typically last 5-7 years. However, Sculptra is not appropriate for the lips. Good fillers for lip augmentation are hyaluronic acid fillers such as Restylane and Juvederm. I recommend having a consultation with an expert injector to determine the best treatment plan for you. Best of Luck!

Lisa Airan, MD · Answer

Based on the photos provided, I would recommend using Sculptra in your temples and/or along your cheekbones for correction of volume loss, combined with an HA filler along the cheekbones to add volume to the cheekbones and soften the naso-labial folds.  Sculptra would not be the best option for the lip; the lip and peri-oral region is better shaped and plumped with an HA filler.  An in-person consultation with a board-certified cosmetic dermatologist or surgeon would help guide your treatment plan.  Best of luck in your search!

Is Sculptra okay for smile, loss of volume, and lips? (Photos)

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