If you are interested in restoring a youthful appearance without surgery, the natural results of Sculptra may be the perfect solution for you.

What is Sculptra Aesthetic?

Sculptra is not a filler.

Why start with what Sculptra is not? Many people think Sculptra is a filler, but it is more like Opposite Filler. If you google Sculptra, you will find prominent blog posts that refer to it as a filler. This is simply not accurate.

Sculptra is a powder that we dissolve in water for injection. It is made out of Poly-L Lactic Acid or PLLA. PLLA is absorbed and ultimately eliminated by the body over time. It has been used since the 1970’s, originally to make absorbable sutures for surgery. That’s 50 years of experience — more than any filler. During the 1990’s, Sculptra was introduced into facial aesthetics, originally to treat facial wasting associated with HIV lipodystrophy. It worked so incredibly well that it soon made its way to elective anti-aging treatments.

Sculptra works by stimulating the production of collagen in and under the skin, filling out areas of volume loss and tightening the tissues. The results are a very natural youthful appearance that slowly evolves over time. After injection we see a gradual improvement over 1-2 years. In contrast, when you place filler into the face, the body immediately starts to break it down, and it will be 100% gone in a year. That’s why Sculptra is the Opposite Filler. Sculptra is more of a long-term investment. Results are not immediate. If dermal filler is like renting a beachfront villa in Hawaii, Sculptra is like building a home there for the same price– it just takes a year to build.

What’s the treatment like?

Sculptra is dissolved in water first, usually a few days before it is used. Lidocaine is added to it to numb the areas being treated. We also use a topical anesthetic for the skin. There is minimal discomfort during the injections. The skin is then quite puffy from the water– which is absorbed over the next couple days after the treatment. Then the sculptra gets to work stimulating collagen. People often see a difference within a month or two– but the results keep happening over a 1-2 year time frame. Most people have 4-6 vials placed over 2-3 sessions about 1-2 months apart.

What areas can be treated with Sculptra?

Sculptra is my go-to treatment for temples. Hollowed out temples can really age your appearance. Sculptra is the safest solution for this area and is long lasting. Sculptra is great for augmenting the cheeks and lower face and works really well in softening the nasolabial folds and marionette lines. It can also be used to strengthen the jawline.

Who benefits most from Sculptra?

If you have volume loss in your face or temples, then Sculptra is a great option for restoring a youthful appearance to the skin. We often combine Sculptra with skin tightening treatments like Genius RF, since most of us have a combination of skin laxity and volume loss. These two treatments are the secret to our signature GlowLift. We love Genius and Sculptra because they both build your own collagen, yielding long-lasting results.

We have more information about Sculptra and Genius on our web site. If you have questions or would like to come in for a consultation, you can always call us or schedule online here.

Since many people are worried about what the end results will be, they put off having a facelift. Plus, some people don’t need a facelift in order to achieve their cosmetic goals. They may just have a few lines and wrinkles as well as sagging skin. This can be addressed through a non-surgical treatment at our office called a GlowLift. This amazing procedure uses non-surgical means to make a person look years younger. Thanks to the GlowLift, you no longer have to undergo invasive surgery and a long recovery in order to look and feel better.

Facelifts can be expensive and invasive. There are often individuals who say that they know how to perform a facelift, and they offer some other cosmetic procedures. However, when a person actually goes in for the facelift, the results are a disaster. For this reason, many people opt for a GlowLift at our office. This innovative procedure uses a combination approach to achieve its goals, typically utilizing dermal fillers, radio frequency and micro-needling techniques for amazing results.

If you opt to have a facelift, you will want to have a nurse or a medical professional with you for the first week or so after the procedure while you are healing from the surgery. In most cases, after a couple of weeks, you will be up and about. The GlowLift is different because the downtime is minimal. Patients can resume most of their normal activities quickly, if not immediately.

Your face is your most valuable asset. Take care of it by taking advantage of the latest and greatest in cosmetic procedures. Think twice before getting a facelift and consider the GlowLift, our non-surgical facelift treatment at Glow Medispa. Located in Seattle, we offer a variety of cosmetic procedures, including fat reduction treatments with innovative CoolSculpting® alternatives, PRP treatments, micro-needling and INFINI skin tightening. During a consultation at our office, you can get all the facts about the GlowLift and how it can benefit you. Contact us today to schedule an appointment!

As we head into the last few days of the year, I am struck by how much I have learned from all of you. This year has been one of transformation not just for Glow, but for so many of our clients. I have heard so many stories of love and grief, divorce and marriage, physical challenge and triumph. We are all looking to improve our lives, bodies and connections. I am thrilled to have been a part of so many transformations this year. When you feel good in your skin, it shows on your face and in your heart. All of us here at Glow Medispa are so happy to be a part of that transformation.

In 2016, we have gone from a one-room clinic to a full-size medical spa with a staff of 8. In a very short time, we have become a family and it has been a wonderful beginning. We moved into our new space in 4 days at the very end of June, and saw our first clients on Friday July 1. We were still in boxes and our remodel was not quite finished… But we opened with a blast of activity– with a full slate of services including the best body sculpting program available (thanks to Vanquish – Exilis Ultra – Cellutone) and our favorite- Infini RF– for skin tightening and acne scarring. For every treatment we offer, I personally have invested months of time and research to find the very best equipment in the industry. I will only offer treatments that are safe and effective and are reasonably priced. I will only offer treatments that I would want for myself!

In the New Year, you will see us expanding what we do best. We will also be adding a new treatment for feminine rejuvenation. And most exciting of all, we will introduce the Glow Lift– a protocol I have developed that combines Infini RF with Sculptra, to lift, tighten and rejuvenate the face– all with your own collagen! As I like to say, “It builds your own collagen– which you get to keep!”

Thank you to all who have become part of our lives this year. We wish you love and peace for the holidays and the best in the year to come.

Kate