Sculptra: The Secret to Natural-Looking Volume
Sculptra® could be the ultimate secret to achieving a youthful appearance while subtly enhancing all the right areas to boost your confidence. Plus, it’s so discreet that most people won’t even notice you’ve had anything done. In this post, we’ll explore why Sculptra is generating so much buzz..
Sculptra: A filler, but different
Sculptra is an injectable composed of poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA), designed to stimulate your body’s natural collagen production, gradually increasing collagen levels beneath the skin. This collagen growth is what adds volume, so unlike dermal fillers such as Juvederm and Restylane, you won’t see an immediate change. Instead, with Sculptra, the treated areas fill out naturally over time as more collagen develops in the weeks following your treatment. Since this process occurs gradually, your enhancement looks more natural, making it harder for others to tell that you’ve had any cosmetic work done.
Sculptra contains a biocompatible substance called poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA) that has been used for years in medical applications like dissolvable sutures.
Another benefit to Sculptra is how well it works with traditional fillers. At AW Med Spa, we often use both Sculptra and dermal fillers to achieve the ideal enhancement while still maintaining a beautifully natural appearance.
Why collagen is so important for skin health
Collagen is a key protein that keeps your skin firm, smooth, and youthful—it acts as the skin’s structural framework to provide support and elasticity. Unfortunately, collagen production decreases starting in your mid-20s. By the time you reach your 40s and 50s, your skin may have already lost a significant portion of its collagen reserves, and visible signs of aging like sagging, wrinkles, and an overall loss of volume take over.
That’s where Sculptra steps in, helping to restore what’s been lost over time.
As we age, our collagen stores deplete, giving way to wrinkles, fine lines, and sagging skin.
We mean it when we say Sculptra injections are versatile. At our AW medspa in Hoffman Estates, we use this collagen-stimulating injectable from nearly head to toe.
Sculptra for the face & chest
Increasing collagen beneath the skin effectively improves signs of aging across the face and chest including:
- Hollow areas like the cheeks or temples
- Smile lines
- Frown lines
- Forehead lines
- Chin wrinkles
- Décolletage lines (lines along the chest)
Sculptra for the body
Your face and chest aren’t the only areas that collagen loss affects, and Sculptra can also be used to improve the appearance of imperfections and add volume to refine contours in other areas:
- Hands (fill in spaces between bones and tendons)
- Stretch marks
- Cellulite
- Hip indentations (hip dips)
- Non-surgical butt lift
Sculptra’s effects last longer than dermal fillers
Your results from Sculptra can last up to two years or more. This is because Sculptra doesn’t just mask the signs of aging; it addresses the root cause by replenishing lost collagen. Most patients enjoy their naturally rejuvenated appearance for over two years without needing frequent touch-ups. For comparison, Juvéderm and other hyaluronic acid-based fillers can last anywhere from 6-18 months, sometimes longer depending on the formula.
Ready to experience Sculptra for yourself? Visit our Hoffman Estatesmedical spa!
If you’re seeking a treatment that boosts your skin’s own healing and volumizing abilities and provides long-term results, Sculptra could be the perfect fit. All injectable treatments at AW Medspa are performed by our experienced, highly trained injectors: under the supervision of Dr. Rachel George. We invite you to schedule a consultation with us by calling our Hoffman Estates office at 847.466.5933 or you can book your appointment online.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Retinol removes dead skin cells from the epidermis, leaving your skin more vulnerable to skin damage. By applying at night, you remove the sun damage and exterior factors that can negatively impact your skin from retinol.
Eye creams help prevent future wrinkles and dark spots around the eyes. Rather than wait for the signs of aging to appear, it’s better to focus on them at an earlier age to slow down the aging process.
Your skin doesn’t stop at your face. You want to treat all aspects of your body, but the neck is one of the first areas to show signs of aging. By applying products to your neck and chest, you are keeping your skin young and healthy.
Vitamin C helps fight against aging through reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and boosting collagen production, keeping your skin young and healthy.
SPF has a thicker consistency than any of your other products. By applying SPF before any other product, you don’t reap all of those products’ benefits.
Yes! Throughout the day, your face gets dirty from dirt, bacteria, makeup and other environmental toxins. By washing your face twice at night, you are more likely to unclog your pores and fight against blemishes.
Over the counter products are too harsh for your skin, often containing alcohol and/or fragrances that can irritate the skin. Medical grade products are potent and filled with active ingredients, making them clinically proven to give you the results you need.
Everyone has a different skin type, so you want to pick a moisturizer that will help regulate your conditions. If you use the wrong moisturizer, your skincare concerns may worsen.
When we sleep, we press our faces into pillows for hours at a time, flattening our skin and leaving our skin more susceptible to wrinkles. If you have more wrinkles on one side, you’re most likely sleeping more on that side. Using a silk pillowcase can help, but sleeping in a supine position will help best.
Yes. When we sleep, we press our faces into pillows for hours at a time, flattening our skin and leaving our skin more susceptible to wrinkles. To prevent this, it’s best to sleep in a supine position.
Absolutely! Not only does bacteria build up on your skin overnight, enviromental factors can collect on your pillow case throughout the day. Washing your face in the morning helps wash it all off, leaving you feeling refreshed for the day!
Medical grade vitamin C to protect the skin from harmful pollutants and helps repair skin. Medical grade from a medical spa is important because of the stability factor in C. Non-medical stabilized faster which causes its potency to diminish.
The underlying causes of rosacea are assumed to be genetic, and or environmental factors.
Dietary habits such as drinking coffee or alcohol, or eating hot or spicy foods can aggravate rosacea. Changes in weather too hot or too cold may cause a flare up, as well as stress.
Yes, laser hair removal is safe for all skin types. Our laser technicians are trained to be able to adjust the settings of the machine based on skin types. The only time we will not do your laser treatment is if you have a sunburn. We ask you wait until the sunburn heals or two weeks post burn.
For optimal results, we recommend doing a Microneedle every 4-6 weeks.
It’s best to start using Retinol when you are in your mid-twenties. By incorporating Retinol into your nightly skin regime, you are helping slow the skin’s aging process, keeping your skin looking great!
Once a month is ideal. The usual rate depending on age of cellular turnover is 28 days so it’s important to keep it with your facials during that time frame. Some benefits include improved texture/tone, exfoliation of dead skin cells, and anti-aging. Call us about our memberships that passes significant savings to your monthly facials!
The skin around the eyes age faster than the rest of the skin on the face. It is thinner and have less oil glands and therefore does not stay as hydrated. Eye cream is more concentrated with ingredients that the fragile skin around your eyes need. It can help reduce the signs of aging, lessen fine lines and wrinkles, help with puffiness and dark circles.
Yes, HQ Can be used year round if you are following the proper precautions and your lifestyle works with it. When using HQ, the skin becomes more photosensitive; so if someone is spending a lot of time outside, boating, or enjoying the sun more than usual, we recommend waiting until the fall or winter. However, if you are using HQ in the summer, we recommend that you wear sunscreen and a hat to prevent any damage to the skin.
Generally, 6-8 sessions. However, hormonal complications, some medications and other factors may contribute to more procedures. We will go over your health history during your consultation.
Some of the best treatments we offer for oily skin are the Pore Clarifying DiamondGlow, the Fire & Ice Facial, and the micropeel. The Pore Clarifying DiamondGlow cleans out your pores; the Fire & Ice Facial resurfaces the skin to help with acne and acne scarring; and the micropeel exfoliates your skin and leaves
When it comes to oily skin, we offer many services that can help. One of our popular treatments is a Diamond Glow facial. It contains of a pore clarifying serum that has salicylic acid to help remove any acne or oil in your skin and prevent future breakouts from occurring.
Another popular treatment is a Micropeel. A Micropeel consists of microderbrasion, which gently exfoliates your skin, leaving it brighter and smoother. After, you’ll receive a chemical peel that is customized to achieve optimal results!
There certainly is! With a Diamond Glow treatment, our estheticians will infuse the serum into the smooth tip around your eyes to hydrate and plump your skin.
Yes, it is a permanent hair reduction. What that means is that 70-90% of your hair will be permanently removed. Any hair that is still left in the area of choice will be fine peach fuzz hair that the laser can no longer pick up on.
There are higher levels of Titanium Dioxide and Zinc in medical grade SPF. The two ingredients are what protects your skin from harmful UVA/UVB rays.
It may vary by the type of exfoliator you are using but a general rule of thumb is one to two times a week.
Yes, the skin around the eyes is thinner and needs more support than other skin parts of your face. Eye creams are made for that specific area of the skin.
Laser hair removal is a light source which destroys the hair in the active hair growth cycle. You have 3 different hair growth cycles. A growing phase, a resting phase and a transition phase. We set you up on a treatment plan in which you are coming back in for your subsequent treatments when you are in fact in the active hair growth phase.
Yes. The sun can irritate your skin, so it is important that you apply sunscreen after your treatment. While you should wear SPF every day, those few days after your treatment are vital for skin protection. So be sure to apply as needed.
