Last week, the CosBeauty team was invited to hear US dermatologist – and iconic Sculptra representative – Dr Rebecca Fitzgerald talk on the latest techniques in Sculptra treatment. Over breakfast at Doltone House in Sydney’s city, Dr Fitzgerald shared her experiences using Sculptra and presented a stunning portfolio of before and after images.
‘Sculptra is a volumiser, not a “filler”, as it stimulates the production of the body’s own collagen, which creates the filler effect,’ Dr Fitzgerald explained. ‘Only a small amount of product is needed to achieve subtle changes in the curves and proportions of the face. This can make an enormous difference in the overall perception of the age, health and beauty of a face’
One of the most important factors in undergoing Sculptra treatment is the site of injection. And, according to Dr Fitzgerald, determining the best treatment area is not as simple as it seems.
‘The face is a 3D platform, and ageing affects all areas interdependently,’ Dr Fitzgerald said. ‘In the past, fixing only the most obvious signs of ageing was the norm, but this often left incongruous and sometimes unnatural looking results. Now we look at more than just one contributing factor – sometimes bony support is needed, rather than adding extra volume, or the empty fat compartments need filling instead of the actual wrinkle or fold.’
The way to understand universal ageing – not just the obvious signposts – is to examine the face in terms of proportions. Dr Fitzgerald uses the “five eye principle”, where the facial width should be equivalent to five eye-widths across. By using this benchmark, Dr Fitzgerald can pin-point any facial asymmetry and establish the best areas for treatment; for example, if the temples need filling, or if the mid-face is lacking volume. She also considers the reflection of light upon facial contours.
‘An older face will have more shadows, while a younger face reflects light,’ Dr Fitzgerald says. ‘By replacing lost volume, treatment with Sculptra can fill the shadows and restore the reflection of light, returning youth, energy and vibrancy to the face’.
During her presentation, Dr Fitzgerald compared Sculptra treatment to “layering sheets of snow”, where a small amount of product is used to achieve subtle, but very effective, anti-ageing results.
‘Treatment with Sculptra is best performed as a gradual process – over a series of treatments,’ Dr Fitzgerald said. ‘One layer of Sculptra is applied, and the body slowly forms collagen around that, then, if needed, another layer can be built on top of that.’
Sculptra can be injected deep into the dermis, for skeletal augmentation, or into the facial fat pockets and sub dermis, for a more superficial fill.
‘The aim is to build new facial scaffolding, and the type of treatment will depend on the individual patient and their existing tissue and bone structure,’ Dr Fitzgerald said. ‘Treatment with Sculptra should mimic nature in restoring the facials contours by replacing lost collagen. It is extremely effective when used as a preventative measure in anti-ageing, and can achieve a global, rejuvenating result.’
