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From Dr. Gross

The thinning of skin happens as we age. When we lose this tissue our skin will appear to have sunken areas and folds. Sculptra® [poly-L-lactic acid] is a safe, synthetic and biocompatible material related to alpha hydroxyl acids [fruit acids]. I inject this biocompatible material below the surface of the skin in areas that have suffered fat loss. Usually this happens in the cheeks and temples.

I usually see a significant increase in skin thickness because your body is stimulated to produce collagen after an injection. This will improve sunken areas and folds in the skin.

My results can last up to 2 years. This is a very safe procedure and has been used by more thank 150,000 patients in over 30 countries worldwide. It was approved in 2004 for use within the United States for the treatment of skin wrinkling.

I invite you to visit my orlando florida plastic surgery office to see if you are a Sculptra® candidate.

Commonly Asked Questions

What are possible effects of Sculptra?
The main side effect of Sculptra is the development of small bumps in the skin. These bumps are generally not visible but can be felt as small pea sized bumps when the skin is pressed. Much less frequent is the development of visual bumps at injection sites. Other side effects related to injections such as swelling, infection and tenderness can occur.

How is Sculptra different from other products I have heard of?
Traditional injectable fillers typically contain hyaluronic acid or collagen. They fill in lines and fill spaces. Sculptra thickens the skin by stimulating the growth of the body's own collagen.

How many treatments are needed? When will the improvement begin?
Most patients require 3 or more treatments. After each treatment there is immediate improvement that is related to swelling. This goes down after a few days. There is then a gradual improvement seen as your system is stimulated to produce collagen Each additional treatment will result in further, gradual improvement.

How long do the results last?
The results vary from patient to patient but many report improvement lasting 2 years or longer.

Are the treatments with Sculptra painful? Will I need to be frozen with needles prior to treatment?
There is some minor discomfort with the injections. However, there is anaesthetic mixed in with the Sculptra that numbs the areas that are being treated. Most patients tolerate the procedure well.

What will happen after the treatment? Will I need time off work? What do I need to do?
There will be some redness and swelling after the treatment. This will require some treatment with ice packs and will last a few days. As with any procedure where there are multiple injections there is a risk of bruising. This may last for several days and may require a few days off work. We would therefore recommend that, if possible, the treatments be done with this in mind [ie-no treatment on Friday if you have a wedding to attend on Saturday!]. The patient should apply an ice pack wrapped in a cloth several times per day and must thoroughly massage the treated areas for 5 minutes, five times per day for 5 days. This is done to spread the injected medication evenly. Make up can be applied a few hours after treatment.

Before & After's

Patient Testimonials

I just wanted to say thank you very much to Dr. Gross and all his staff for the excellent treatment that I received from the very first time I visited the clinic to the surgery day. Dr. Gross was really patient and really clear in the manner he explained the rhinoplasty procedure and its steps. It made me really happy and confident to receive a phone call from Dr. Gross the night after surgery to check how I was doing and if I needed anything. This shows that (thank God) there are still excellent doctors that really worry and take care of their patients from beginning to end. Thank you to everybody at Primera Plastic Surgery, you are the best! I am really happy with my procedure, can't wait to see the final results!
Izabella

Thank you for taking such good care of us, especially for making us look relaxed, happy, and like Movie Stars.
M. & S.