Sculptra® Aesthetic & Radiesse®

Unlike hyaluronic acid (HA) fillers, Sculptra Aesthetic stands out in the “collagen stimulator” category. At the Piazza Center we use Sculptra Aesthetic and Radiesse from Merz Aesthetics in Austin, TX, to help women and men diminish facial wrinkles by restoring the deep, underlying structure of the skin. Results appear gradually over the treatment regimen (typically 3 treatments performed over the course of 3 to 4 months) and can last up to 2 years. If you live in or around Austin and collagen stimulators like Sculptra Aesthetic or Radiesse interest you, request an in-person or virtual consultation online or call our office.

Facial Rejuvenation with Injectables

In this video, Dr. Rocco Piazza talks about the aesthetics of the face and how  skin loses radiance and light reflectivity over time, and the different procedures that bring back these factors. 

Two women looking in the mirror

What Is a Collagen Stimulator?

We don’t age overnight, so why anti-age overnight? Your body slows collagen production throughout your adult life. By age 40, most people have experienced up to 20% collagen loss. Collagen stimulators like Sculptra Aesthetic enable you to naturally and gradually improve the appearance of your skin, allowing you to appear refreshed by replacing and regenerating lost collagen.

A poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA) collagen stimulator, Sculptra Aesthetic is different from injectable fillers, such as JUVÉDERM®. Sculptra Aesthetic works within the deep dermis of your skin, rather than topically, to help restore your skin’s inner structure and volume. As the Sculptra Aesthetic PLLA microparticles are absorbed, they help stimulate collagen production. Newly formed collagen strands begin gradually helping to restore facial volume and restore the look of fullness to wrinkles and folds.

Radiesse is the first and only FDA-approved CaHA collagen stimulator made with calcium hydroxylapatite (CaHA). It is a bio-stimulant that increases your body’s own collagen and elastin to help firm, tighten, and tone the treated area. It is designed to achieve immediate and long-term improvement with natural-looking results, lasting 15 – 18 months, to improve skin laxity, texture, and overall skin quality. It works to immediately improve the appearance of skin’s contours then naturally stimulates production of collagen and elastin over time.

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Sculptra Before & After

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Your Collagen Stimulator Procedure

Before your treatment, our board-certified plastic surgeon, Dr. Rocco Piazza, or our advanced nurse injectors Hayley Peña, RN, and Alison Kothmann, RN, BSN, will consult with you to determine your cosmetic goals and desires. Once a treatment plan has been set in place, they will begin your injectable procedure.

Before your treatment begins, you will have the option of having a topical anesthetic applied or Pro-Nox™ treatment (laughing gas) to help control any discomfort you may experience. 

Traditionally, a topical numbing anesthetic provides the majority of our patients with a comfortable treatment. Additionally, Sculptra Aesthetic and Radiesse come pre-mixed with anesthetic, so discomfort is minimized. Your provider will inject Sculptra Aesthetic or Radiesse carefully into the targeted areas to provide a variety of benefits, including:

  • Smoothing lines and wrinkles
  • Providing support
  • Adding natural-looking volume
  • Naturally enhancing the appearance of your face

Your Collagen Stimulator Results

Once your series of Sculptra Aesthetic or Radiesse treatments has been performed, you will be given post-injection care instructions. Generally, you will be free to resume your normal activities immediately. After the treatment, you may experience some slight redness, swelling, or bruising, but this will subside within a day or 2.

Collagen stimulators like Sculptra Aesthetic and Radiesse are administered in a series of injections for best results. On average, 3 injection sessions over a few months are necessary to achieve the desired fullness. Typically, each treatment session of your initial series is scheduled 4 to 6 weeks apart. After your initial series of treatments, you can expect to see results in 3 months. Most patients don’t need additional treatments for 2 years! To continue collagen stimulation, we recommend retreatment every 2 years.

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Sculptra Aesthetics & Radiesse FAQ

Am I a good candidate for an injectable collagen stimulator like Sculptra Aesthetic?

Will the results make me look like I’ve had work done?

How long will my injectable filler treatment last?

What are the alternatives to using collagen stimulators to restore volume and address facial aging?

Can I combine a Sculptra Aesthetic or Radiesse treatment with other treatments?

Am I a good candidate for an injectable collagen stimulator like Sculptra Aesthetic?

Patients who are looking for natural and long-term results are best for Sculptra Aesthetic and Radiesse. Although Sculptra does require patience as it gradually produces results over the weeks and months following a series of treatments, it is the most natural, longest-lasting treatment available. Radiesse, by comparison, produces immediate results with long-term improvements over time.

Traditionally, clients with global facial volume loss are great candidates for Sculptra Aesthetic and Radiesse. They work naturally with your own collagen to restore the facial volume that you had in your younger years. Everyone from men, women, athletes, and weight loss patients are good candidates for Sculptra Aesthetic and Radiesse because it provides natural results for global volume and collagen restoration. If you are noticing hollowing of your temples and/or your midface, you are likely a candidate for Sculptra Aesthetic or Radiesse.

Notify your provider if you are immunocompromised or have been diagnosed with an autoimmune condition, have an open wound or skin irritation, are pregnant or breastfeeding, or have a history of keloid scarring. Sculptra Aesthetic and Radiesse may not be the right solution for you in some cases. If you are taking blood thinners, aspirin other anti-inflammatories and medications, it is important to discuss these with your provider prior to having any injections to ensure you are cleared to proceed with your treatment.

Will the results make me look like I’ve had work done?

What is so appealing and unique about collagen stimulators like Sculptra Aesthetic and Radiesse are their ability to reinforce your own collagen structure, providing you a foundation that gradually restores the look of fullness that has been depleted over time. Collagen stimulators like Sculptra Aesthetic and Radiesse induce your own collagen to reproduce, regenerating and restoring your own volume, giving you a natural appearance.

How long will my injectable filler treatment last?

After an initial series of treatments, patients typically see results in 3 months that last for about 2 years. We often see patients that maintain some degree of volume correction beyond 2 years.

What are the alternatives to using collagen stimulators to restore volume and address facial aging?

Dermal fillers such as the JUVÉDERM and Restylane® families of products are HA fillers that can be used as a temporary result to address targeted areas of concern. Depending on which filler is used, results can last an average of 6 to 18 months.

Additionally, the body’s own fat can be used instead of a synthetic filler. During fat transfer or fat grafting, fat harvested from a specific area of the body using liposuction is used in the face. This method of facial correction differs from injectable fillers because it uses cells from your own body, and may provide longer lasting results.

We also offer SkinTyte™, a skin tightening treatment that uses light and heat energy to stimulate the production of new collagen and elastin.

Can I combine a Sculptra Aesthetic or Radiesse treatment with other treatments?

Sculptra Aesthetic and Radiesse can absolutely be (and often are) combined with other surgical and nonsurgical procedures to help produce a more comprehensive rejuvenation of the skin. Collagen stimulators can be combined with HA fillers such as JUVÉDERM and Restylane and with BOTOX® Cosmetic, Dysport®, or XEOMIN® to help improve the overall appearance of your face. Nonsurgical injectable treatments are one of the best ways to protect, preserve, and correct signs of facial aging with minimal downtime.

Nonsurgical facial rejuvenation can also be combined with surgical procedures including a facelift, neck lift, neck liposuction, eyelid surgery, or a brow lift.

Hayley, Alison, and Dr. Piazza are happy to address any questions you may have about your collagen stimulator treatments at The Piazza Center.

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Non-Surgical Team

Our experienced providers are trained in a wide range of aesthetic treatments, ranging from lasers and injectables to the fine details of skin care. They are your specialized team at The Piazza Center.

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