Hyaluronic acid fillers (HA) such as Restylane, Juvederm Belotero and Versa, or injectable porcine collagen (TheraFill) or bovine collagen (KOKEN), fill sunken areas and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles by plumping up the dermis in the targeted areas. The results of these filler treatments are seen immediately and last for many months.
Sculptra Aesthetic is a pharmaceutical grade injectable product that is also used to create a youthful appearance, as well as sculpt most body areas, and/or correct deviations. Sculptra works by stimulating the patient’s own collagen production, as the injected Poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA) microparticles are broken down. Unlike HA fillers, Sculptra results are not immediate because it takes time for the patient’s own collagen to grow in the targeted areas – once stimulated by the product.
The Master Injector, Bernice Cohen RN, BSN, PHN, CANS is the USA’s top Sculptra Aesthetic injection trainer.
Having trained more MDs, PAs and MAs in America on injecting Sculptra, The Master Injector has some helpful tips to share with aesthetic injectors who offer, or want to offer, Sculptra injection treatments.
1. PREVENT NEEDLE CLOGGING BY WARMING THE SCULPTRA VIALS
Once the Sculptra is reconstituted, place the vials in a baby bottle warmer or a ceramic cup with very hot water. If you are using the cup method to heat the Sculptra vials, the water level should reach up to the neck of the vials.
Warming the Sculptra vials hypersaturates the Sculptra seedlings, which helps prevent the needle from clogging during injections.
Once the reconstituted Sculptra is transferred to the needle, it will cool to body temperature.
The Master Injector recommends keeping the vials in the bottle warmer, or ceramic cup with hot water during the entire treatment.
2. MIX SCULPTRA MORE DENSELY BASED ON HOW DEEP YOU ARE INJECTING
When injecting deeply, The Master Injector recommends that the mixture can be more dense. When injecting superficially the mixture needs to be diluted.
When bolusing or depoting deeply, Bernice recommends mixing 6 ccs of sterile water with one vial of reconstituted Sculptra. While a dense mixture can create little collagenomas, this is not a concern when the injections are deep and under thicker tissue. The Master Injector goes on to explain, “The more superficial the injections, the higher the dilution should be.” For superficial injections, she recommends adding 8ccs – 14ccs of saline (in addition) to the initial 6ccs of sterile water, with the goal of keeping the mixture isotonic.
Why isotonic? Pure water stings when it is injected. By keeping the mixture isotonic, the patient will not experience added pain and burning sensations during injection.
3. USE SCULPTRA TO LIFT A BUTT AND ADD PROTRUSION
A Sculptra Brazilian Butt Lift (BBL), can create lift and projection.
The Master Injector warns to dissuade patients with large and/or saggy derrieres from getting Sculptra injections in their buttocks to try to create lift – as doing so could have the opposite effect.
A Sculptra BBL is suited for fit and lean patients, with good muscle tone, who want a rounder and perkier posterior.
4. DON’T PRIME THE NEEDLE WHEN INJECTING SCULPTRA
Priming the needle can cause the Sculptra seedlings to adhere to the inside of the needle, thereby increasing the chances of clogging.
When injecting Sculptra Aesthetic, resist the urge to prime the needle.
5. WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT INJECTING SCULPTRA AROUND SPHINCTER MUSCLES
Sculptra can be injected near sphincter muscles, only as long as it is injected deep to the muscle (preferably on periosteum) and the patient is encouraged to massage the injected area to keep the Sculptra seedlings spread evenly. The Master Injector warns, “Never inject in or superficial to any sphincter muscle as those muscles can move the seedlings away from the intended area.”
Patients should be advised to massage the targeted area twice daily for a full week, with light to medium pressure. The Master Injector suggests that the best time to massage is when the patient is washing their face or applying moisturizer to their face.
6. ACHIEVE THE BEST RESULTS WITH MULTIPLE TREATMENTS
Aesthetic injectors will achieve the best results for their patients by doing multiple treatments, rather than using multiple vials at once.
The Master Injector recommends injecting an average of 2-3 vials of Sculptra into the face every 5 weeks, or 4 – 8 Sculptra vials into each buttock cheek, every 8 weeks until the desired baseline is achieved. Once the baseline is achieved, further treatments can be less frequent – with the goal of maintaining the baseline.
The results of Sculptra injections can last as long as the patient’s own collagen tends to last, which can be somewhere between 2 – 7 years.
If you have any topics you’d like to see in The Master Injector’s blog, or if you’d like to schedule Sculptra or injectables training, please send an email to info@TheMasterInjector.com
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