You smiled at prom, you laughed at your wedding and you cried at your firstborn's birth, so it’s safe to say you’ve had an emotional life. But don’t worry about breaking out the photo albums upon being asked about all these joyous moments because there’s an easier, less arduous way for your friends to see your rollercoaster of a life: your face. Frowns furrows and smile lines come with having a life, so while it’s impossible to live a pokerfaced life, it is possible to fix the damage that showing emotions have done.
Orange County Plastic Surgery introduces Sculptra Aesthetic—the answer to all your wrinkle woes! Sculptra Aesthetic adds volume to the face and plumps up facial folds. But if you’re hesitant to inject, fear not because Orange County’s very own Dr. Bunkis has answered all of your potential questions.
Q: What is SculptraAesthetic? A: The main ingredient in SculptraAesthetic is poly-L-lactic acid, or PLLA. PLLA has been used safely for decades in dissolvable stitches, and as a facial injectable in Europe since 1999. It’s been in use in the United States since 2004. The body gradually and naturally absorbs poly-L-lactic acid as it works to replace lost collagen.
Q: Is SculptraAesthetic FDA approved? A: Yes. The FDA has approved SculptraAesthetic for the correction of shallow to deep nasolabial fold (smile lines) and other facial wrinkles, which are treated with the appropriate injection technique in healthy people.
Q:Is SculptraAesthetic natural? Will getting the injections harm my body? A: The main ingredient in SculptraAesthetic is poly-L-lactic acid, or PLLA, a synthetic material. It’s not made from human or animal sources. It is biocompatible, which means it will not harm your body. It’s also biodegradable, meaning the body can easily break it down. PLLA has been used in dissolvable stitches and medical implants for more than 25 years.
Q: Do I need an allergy or skin test? A: No skin testing is required prior to using SculptraAesthetic.
Q: How does SculptraAesthetic work? A: SculptraAesthetic targets the underlying causes of the signs of facial aging. It can give you noticeable results that emerge subtly and can last for up to 2 years. It begins to work within the deep dermis, where your skin’s structure is reinforced as SculptraAesthetic helps to replace lost collagen. This reinforced collagen structure provides a foundation that gradually restores the look of fullness of your shallow to deep facial wrinkles and folds that have depleted over time. The result? SculptraAesthetic is different because it gradually and subtly corrects these facial wrinkles and folds. This can provide a refined, more youthful-looking appearance that can last up to two years. Of course, individual results may vary.
Q: What’s the difference between SculptraAesthetic and Botox® Cosmetic? A: SculptraAesthetic and Botox Cosmetic are different from one another and are not interchangeable. The main ingredient in SculptraAesthetic is poly-L-lactic acid, which is both biocompatible and biodegradable. SculptraAesthetic gradually replaces lost collagen to correct facial wrinkles and folds. Botox temporarily weakens and paralyzes facial muscles, thereby smoothing frown lines.
As Medical Director of Orange County Plastic Surgery, Juris Bunkis, M.D., F. A.C.S. brings 30 years of surgical expertise to our communities. Dr. Bunkis is a Harvard trained, Board Certified Plastic Surgeon and Member of numerous prestigious organizations including the American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons, The International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, the American Society of Plastic Surgeons and the California Society of Plastic Surgeons. Dr. Bunkis, a former faculty member at the University of California, San Francisco, has published more than 40 scientific publications, abstracts and book reviews, and 17 book chapters in plastic surgery text books.
For questions or advice, please contact Dr. Bunkis directly at Bunkis@ocps.com