Louis P. Bucky, MD, FACS
Award-Winning, World-Renowned Plastic Surgeon
Premiere Destination for Finest Injectables & Skin Care
Biostimulators: Sculptra and Radiesse
At Bucky Plastic Surgery, we offer advanced facial injectable treatments known as biostimulators. This unique category of dermal fillers works by stimulating our body’s own natural collagen production mechanism, resulting in a more refined and gradual build of volume over time. Utilizing biostimulating products like Sculptra and Radiesse, we can help you achieve a more natural, youthful, and refreshed appearance. Patients often seek these non-surgical treatments to address mild to moderate volume loss on the face, as well as various body areas. Whether you’re looking to restore your skin’s natural elasticity and radiance or simply add volume and definition, our tailored approach ensures you receive the most effective and personalized treatment for your aesthetic goals.
Biostimulators (Collagen Stimulators)
Sculptra and Radiesse stand out from traditional hyaluronic acid fillers (HA) like Restylane® and Juvéderm® because they utilize unique ingredients to stimulate our body’s own collagen production and provide longer-lasting results of up to 12 to 24 months. Unlike HA-based fillers, which primarily add volume by hydrating the skin, these fillers work to restore and support the skin’s underlying structure. Restoring our skin’s collagen matrix offers a more gradual, natural-looking enhancement that can last significantly longer. Utilizing advanced injection techniques, board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Louis Bucky and our team of highly experienced injectable providers can help rejuvenate your skin and boost skin radiance while enhancing volume in key areas of your face and body with beautiful, natural-looking results.
What is Sculptra?
Designed to improve facial volume loss, build our natural collagen, and provide a renewed radiance to the skin, Sculptra’s biostimulating properties can refresh your appearance gradually over time. Sculptra is an FDA-approved injectable treatment that can be used to improve visible volume loss or a hollow appearance in the temple, cheek, lower face, and certain body areas.1 With this popular dermal filler, our experienced team of injectors can help you restore a more youthful and subtly blended facial aesthetic.
How Does Sculptra Work?
Sculptra stimulates your skin’s natural collagen production to restore volume and improve skin texture over time. It contains poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA-SCA), which is gradually absorbed by the body, encouraging the growth of new collagen. The new collagen growth supports our skin’s structure and, over time, gradually corrects shadows or hollows in the skin. New collagen production will in time, replace the fat that has been lost.2 This process results in subtle, natural-looking improvements that develop gradually, with results that can last up to two years or more.
What Can Sculptra Treat?
While Sculptra is particularly effective for addressing hollow temples, sunken cheeks, and deep nasolabial folds, it is also known to support our skin’s collagen matrix, making it an excellent choice for younger patients looking to proactively support preventative aging. Sculptra is typically administered over 2-3 sessions spaced 4-6 weeks apart for optimal correction, with results visible at the 4-6 month timeframe post-treatment. Sculptra results often last up to 18-24 months. By stimulating natural collagen production, Sculptra provides gradual, long-lasting results that enhance the skin’s structure and resilience, making it ideal for those seeking a subtle yet enduring rejuvenation. Additionally, skin radiance is positively affected with the use of Sculptra treatments.
What Is Radiesse?
Radiesse is a minimally invasive dermal filler made up of calcium hydroxy appetite particles (similar to naturally occurring calcium found in our body). Radiesse can be used to replenish lost volume, restore structure, and stimulate our body’s natural process of collagen production in both the face and body. Some of our favorite areas to address with Radiesse include temples, cheeks, piriform, nasolabial folds, and chin and jawline in the facial region. Additionally, we choose hyper-dilute Radiesse for areas that include the neck, chest, upper arms, hands, abdomen, knees, and buttocks. Utilizing advanced facial and body rejuvenation techniques, Dr. Louis Bucky and our injectable providers can help smooth and enhance key areas with beautiful, natural-looking results.
How Does Radiesse Work?
Radiesse immediately adds volume to the skin and stimulates collagen production for long-term benefits. Composed of calcium hydroxylapatite (CaHA) microspheres suspended in a gel, Radiesse provides instant lift and contour while the CaHA microspheres gradually integrate into the skin, encouraging natural collagen growth.3 Over time, as the gel is absorbed, your collagen replaces it, delivering results lasting up to a year or more.
Hyper-Dilute Radiesse
Radiesse is often used in a more dilute form to achieve optimal results in specific facial areas like the submalar hollows.4 Additionally, hyper-dilute Radiesse is the preferred mixture for body treatments like the neck, chest, upper arms, hands, abdomen, upper knees, and buttocks. Hyper-dilute Radiesse is most typically administered over 2 to 3 treatments spaced 4 to 6 weeks apart, with optimal correction noticeable between 4 to 6 months post-procedure.
Preparing For Injections with Biostimulators
Preparing for injections with biostimulators (collagen stimulators) like Sculptra and Radiesse involves key steps to ensure the best possible results. It’s important to avoid blood-thinning medications (such as aspirin, Advil, Motrin, Aleve, and ibuprofen) for about a week before your treatment to minimize bruising. You should also refrain from alcohol consumption 24-48 hours before your appointment and avoid certain supplements (like vitamin E, fish oil, Omega 3’s, and herbal remedies) that can increase bleeding risks. Additionally, inform your provider about any medical conditions or allergies, and arrive with a clean, makeup-free face on the day of your appointment to ensure a smooth procedure.
What to Expect During Treatment with Sculptra or Radiesse
During treatment with Sculptra or Radiesse, you can expect a relatively quick and comfortable procedure, typically lasting 30 to 45 minutes. After cleansing the treatment area, your provider will use fine needles or a blunted cannula to inject the filler beneath the skin. A topical or local anesthetic may be applied to minimize discomfort. You may feel slight pressure or a mild pinch during the injections. Following the procedure, you might experience some redness, swelling, or bruising, which usually subsides within a few days. The results will appear gradually, with improvements continuing over the following weeks and months as collagen production is stimulated.
Recovery After Collagen Stimulating Injections
Recovery after treatment with collagen stimulators like Sculptra or Radiesse is typically quick and straightforward. Most patients can resume normal activities immediately, although mild swelling, redness, or bruising at the injection sites may occur and usually resolve within a few days. To optimize results, it’s advisable to avoid strenuous exercise, excessive sun exposure, and alcohol for the first 24-48 hours. You may be advised to gently massage the treated areas to help evenly distribute the filler, particularly with Sculptra. Full results will develop gradually as collagen production increases, with minimal downtime required.
Schedule A Consultation
Ready to enhance your look with collagen-stimulating dermal fillers? We invite patients from Philadelphia, Ardmore, and the surrounding areas to contact us to schedule a consultation with our expert injectors, conveniently located on Pennsylvania’s Main Line, to create a personalized treatment plan tailored just for you.
1 FDA. Summary of Safety & Effectiveness Data. https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/cdrh_docs/pdf3/P030050S002b.pdf. Accessed September 7, 2024.
2 Cleveland Clinic. Sculptra. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/24676-sculptra. Accessed September 3, 2024.
3 Aesthetic Surgery Journal. The Role of Calcium Hydroxylapatite (Radiesse) as a Regenerative Aesthetic Treatment: A Narrative Review. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11025388/. Accessed September 3, 2024.
4 Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery. Consensus Recommendations for the Use of Hyperdiluted Calcium Hydroxyapatite (Radiesse) as a Face and Body Biostimulatory Agent. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6467620/. Accessed October 7, 2024.
Dr. Bucky has either authored or reviewed and approved this content.
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