Whether we like it or not, our faces change as we age. The loss of collagen causes our skin to lose elasticity over the years, which results in more lines, wrinkles, and even the loss of volume in the face.

What is facial volume?

When we’re younger, collagen in the skin and fatty patches under it provide shape, or volume, to our faces. Over time, we lose the fat pads, and our skin produces less collagen. Volume loss can reveal itself through a few common features: hollow temples, flatter cheeks, sunken eye sockets, and loose, sagging skin along the jawline – often described as jowls.

Fortunately for those of us who refuse to accept such changes sitting down, scientists have developed products, called dermal fillers, that can temporarily smooth lines and wrinkles in the face.

What Are Dermal Fillers?

FDA-approved and administered by providers via injections, dermal fillers are considered affordable and non-invasive ways of treating and smoothing lines and wrinkles while adding volume to select areas of the face.

Here at Amani MedSpa, we provide dermal fillers made from a pure, natural substance called hyaluronic acid. When injected in portions of the face, hyaluronic acid fills in the volume and is thought to have some stimulation of natural collagen production in that area of the skin, bringing back some of that tightness and smoothness we recall from years past.

Promoted and distributed under several brand names, we provide injectable dermal fillers under the brands Restylane and Revanesse – the various types and potencies are generally created and applied to specific areas of the face, such as around the mouth, cheeks, chin, eyes, and lips.

The youthful effects of these products are often immediately noticeable and can last several months – even up to a year.

What Makes Sculptra Different?

Seemingly like a dermal filler, Sculptra works differently than hyaluronic acid-based products. And, while the ultimate goal remains to add volume to the face while reducing lines and wrinkles, it accomplishes this in a slightly different, longer-lasting way.

Injected deeply in strategic areas, Sculptra treats the underlying cause of facial volume loss such as bone loss, collagen, and fat loss rather than simply affecting specific areas where lines and wrinkles are prevalent.

Sculptra is made from polylactic acid, which has been discovered to stimulate the growth of collagen. While it often takes a few weeks, the collagen production following injections helps restore facial volume by naturally “tightening” the face, creating a more youthful appearance.

Some have even referred to Sculptra as a “liquid facelift” – though it’s much less invasive, of course. And, best of all, the results last up to two years!

What’s the Catch?

Is there a downside to getting a Sculptra treatment? Well, mainly, it’s just that you have to be patient.

As it works by stimulating the body to produce more collagen naturally, the process takes some time. Those who receive treatments notice an immediate effect, just as they would with a dermal filler, but that quickly wears off in two or three days.

But, as collagen production is stimulated in the skin, clients start to see a natural, long-lasting change in about eight weeks’ time. The process is gradual, and Sculptra requires several treatments. Once complete, though, the results are typically longer-lasting than dermal fillers on the market.

Of course, no treatment or injection is a one-size-fits-all solution for people interested in acquiring a more youthful appearance. If you’re growing concerned with new lines and wrinkles on your face, or you feel you’re losing facial volume, we at Amani MedSpa recommend coming in for a consultation.

Call us at (813) 685-6111 to schedule an appointment. Based on your conditions and your short- and long-term goals, we will help you choose a treatment path that’s individualized for your custom needs and skin conditions.