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Sculptra Aesthetic ® "Facelift in a bottle"
By Staff Writer

Your face is the first thing people notice about you. When age begins to catch up with us, all too often our appearance doesn't reflect how we feel on the inside. Facial ageing is a complex and continuous process throughout life, including thinning of skin, loss of elasticity, appearance of expression wrinkles, bone volume loss, sagging excess skin, excess fat accumulation in the jowls and under chin areas, increased pore size, as well as appearance of age spots, fine lines and broken vessels.

For many patients above 40 who follow a healthy lifestyle, are fit, and close to ideal weight, the primary problem is the loss of the youthful fullness of the face. This is often made worse by the simultaneous loss of skin collagen resulting in thinner and less elastic skin. The net result is a deflated, wrinkled and hollowed out face. These changes have often been compared to the difference between a grape and a raisin.

When it comes to minimally invasive volume correction in the face, Sculptra Asthetic® stands out with its unique and useful features. Referred to by some physicians as a "Face lift in a bottle", Sculptra Aesthetic ® represents a unique non-invasive option that helps facial skin naturally regain a more youthful and natural-looking appearance.

Sculptra Aesthetic® is a synthetic injectable material known as poly-L-lactic acid. This synthetic polymer is derived from Lactic acid, a type of fruit acid that is biocompatible and completely biodegradable. Poly-L-lactic acid has been widely used for over 30 years in dissolvable sutures, and soft tissue implants. Microscopic particles of this polymer, when injected in to the desired areas, naturally stimulate the body to produce its own collagen, increasing the volume of depressed areas gradually, over several weeks. The result is a fuller, smoother, more youthful and natural-looking face. Sculptra ® allows your trained physician to literally "sculpt" your face by restoring its natural contours and smoothing out wrinkles, creases and folds. Sculptra Aesthetic ® is ideal for increasing volume of depressed areas, particularly to correct skin depressions in the areas of the temples, eye rings, cheeks, nasiolabial folds, marionette lines and chin.

Generally, 2-3 treatment sessions over a 3-to 4-month period may be necessary to obtain the desired results. Visible results appear gradually and progressively after each treatment session. Many patients find this incremental improvement socially desirable. The best part is, unlike other traditional treatments, Sculptra Aesthetic ® results can last up to 2 years or more.

Sculptra Aesthetic® is an injectable product mixed in water and administered using an ultra-fine needle. When performed by a trained physician, Sculptra Aesthetic ® injections should only cause slight and tolerable discomfort. Numbing creams on the skin and local anesthetic can also be used to minimize discomfort. Each Sculptra Aesthetic ® treatment session generally takes about 20 to 30 minutes. Periodic touch-up treatments may also be needed to maintain the desired effect.

While the upfront cost of Sculptra Aesthetic ® may be higher than other temporary filler injections (like Restylane ®), the longer duration and ability to globally restore volume over the whole face end up making it less expensive than all the other synthetic filler alternatives. Sculptra Aesthetic ® is now FDA approved for cosmetic use in the US. In fact, Sculptra ® was originally FDA approved for HIV related facial fat loss, but it had been used off label for cosmetic purposes for many years, with great track record of safety and efficacy. When injections are performed by a trained physician, side effects of Sculptra Aesthetic® are usually temporary and minimal, but can range from redness to slight bruising, bleeding, small bumps, tenderness, or swelling. These side effects generally last a few days to a week, on average, and are coverable with appropriate make up. On rare occasions palpable or visible bumps have also been reported.

Raffi Dishakjian M.D. specializes in minimally invasive facial rejuvenation techniques at Nu Vela Esthetica in Porter Ranch, CA. He is a Board Certified physician and a member of the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery and has extensive experience with needle based fillers for facial rejuvenation.

Call 818-832-4500 for a free consultation to discuss you facial rejuvenation needs. To learn more visit us at nuvelaesthetica.com

Taking the Guesswork Out of Plastic Surgery
By Staff Writer

Choosing a doctor who's a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons® (ASPS) is the first step when considering plastic surgery. Founded in 1931, ASPS is the largest plastic surgery organization in the world. ASPS Member Surgeons are certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery®, which is the only board dedicated to plastic surgery of the face and entire body. Unlike other specialty organizations, ASPS requires each member surgeon to have a minimum of six years of surgical training, with at least three of those years specifically in plastic surgery.

During the consultation, you will want to discuss your goals. Your surgeon will examine you and advise the best procedure to achieve your desired results.

Dr. Michelle Reyes practices Ophthalmology in West Hills, California. Dr. Reyes graduated with an MD 18 years ago.

Dr. Reyes asks what the patient would like to change. Plastic surgery can slow the aging process and improve the visible signs of aging. ASPS Member Surgeons are trained in cosmetic procedures of the face and all areas of the body to help you look naturally younger.

Your Plastic Surgeon Should

"Fulfill continuing medical education requirements, including standards and innovations in patient safety.

• Are your partners in cosmetic and reconstructive plastic surgery?
• Answer all of your questions thoroughly and clearly.
• Ask about your thoughts to recommended treatment.
• Offer alternatives, where appropriate, without pressuring you to consider unneeded or additional procedures.
• Welcome questions about your procedure and his or her professional qualifications, experience, costs and payment policies.
• Make clear the risks of surgery and possible outcomes.
• Give you information about the procedure you want.
• Leave the final decision to you.
  

Step 1: Questions to Ask When Choosing a Plastic Surgeon

1. Are you an ASPS Member Surgeon? (If he or she answers "yes," you can rest assured that your surgeon is board certified in plastic surgery, has hospital privileges and only performs surgery in accredited facilities.)

2. Are you board-certified by The American Board of Plastic Surgery or The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada?

3. Do you have hospital privileges to perform this procedure? If so, at which hospitals?

4. Is the surgical facility accredited?

Step 2: Questions to Ask Your ASPS Member Surgeon

It's important to talk to you're your goals and your treatment. Feel confident asking about your doctor's credentials, experience, outcomes or safety record. It is your body, your safety and your life.

1. Am I a good candidate for this procedure?

2. What will be expected of me to get optimal results?

3. What are the risks involved with my procedure?

4. How long of a recovery period can I expect, and what kind of help will I need during my recovery?

5. Will I need to take time off work? If so, how long?

Dr. Reyes can be reached at:
7301 Medical Center Dri., Ste 410
West Hills.
(818) 340-9960

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