Radiesse® and Sculptra® in Manhattan

Radiesse® Manhattan

Radiesse® is a synthetic injectable filler that has been FDA-approved to reduce the appearance of moderate to severe wrinkles, folds and creases around the nose and mouth by augmenting the skin's natural collagen supply. It is a safe, effective and long-lasting alternative to injectable collagen and other dermal fillers for not only smoothing wrinkles, but also adding volume and contour to the face for an overall younger, fuller, smoother appearance. With just one or two Radiesse® treatments, you can enjoy a beautiful, natural look that lasts.

Radiesse® is composed of microspheres in a water-based gel. The microspheres are made of a substance called calcium hydroxylapatite (CaHA)-a material that is similar to bone in its makeup. The particles stimulate the production of collagen to smooth lines and wrinkles and also add younger-looking suppleness to the face. There is no need for pre-treatment allergy testing, and it is absorbed naturally by the body over time.

Radiesse® can be used on many areas of the face and body. Numerous studies have shown Radiesse® to be especially effective for filling and correcting smile lines, nasolabial folds (lines from the nose to the corners of the mouth), marionette lines (from the corners of the mouth to the chin), and other lines and wrinkles around the nose and mouth.

Radiesse® has also been approved to restore and correct the signs of lipoatrophy (loss of fat beneath the skin) in both the face and back of the hands.

At your Radiesse® treatment, your doctor will clean the treatment area and administer a series of quick injections with a fine needle. Treatments typically take 15 minutes and require only local anesthetic. There is little to no downtime; many patients return to their normal activities after their appointment.

Patients typically need only one or two treatments to achieve the full effect of Radiesse®. Your doctor may recommend a follow-up appointment to determine whether you would benefit from additional treatments.

Results are visible immediately after the injection and can last for a year or more. Touch-up treatments can prolong Radiesse®'s effects. Studies have shown that patients require fewer re-treatments with Radiesse® than with other leading dermal fillers.

Sculptra® Manhattan

Sculptra® is an injectable product that corrects the signs of facial fat loss (lipoatrophy) by restoring lost volume in the skin. Lipoatrophy can result in sunken cheeks, indentations and hollow eyes. Injected below the dermis layer of the skin, Sculptra® provides a gradual and significant increase in skin thickness, improving the appearance of folds and sunken areas.

Sculptra®'s main component is an alpha hydroxy acid called poly-L-lactic acid, or PLLA. It is a synthetic, biocompatible, biodegradable (able to be broken down in the body) and long-lasting product. PLLA has been used for more than 20 years in many surgical products, including dissolvable sutures and soft tissue implants.

At your Sculptra® treatment session, you will be asked to remove any makeup, and the area of skin to be treated will be swabbed clean. You and your doctor will discuss whether to use a local or topical anesthetic to minimize any discomfort. Then, your doctor will administer Sculptra® in a series of injections with a very fine needle. Afterwards, you will be given an ice pack to reduce swelling. It is important to massage the treated area to ensure that the material is evenly distributed beneath the skin.

Sculptra®'s effects are not immediate. Improvement in skin volume occurs gradually over one to two months.

More than one treatment may be necessary to achieve the best results. Patients with more severe lipoatrophy generally need additional injections. In your follow-up appointment a few weeks after your first Sculptra® session, your doctor will determine whether you need additional treatments.

The results of Sculptra® vary from patient to patient. In a clinical study, the effects were shown to last for up to two years after the first treatment session in most patients.