At this point, you’ve likely heard both names. Botox is mentioned in every chat about aesthetics, really. Sculptra may not be a term that many are familiar with, but it is becoming one of the fastest things on the list! Whether that makes sense for your face right now depends on determining what is actually changing and depending on what you’d like to fix.
These are not interchangeable treatments. Fresno, CA Botox (Muscle Movement) The loss of volume and collagen can both be addressed with Sculptra treatments. One works in days. The other works over months. Being able to recognize that difference prior to booking ensures you don’t end up with treatment for the wrong issue.
What Botox Actually Does
Let’s break it down. If you are planning for botox in Fresno, CA then you should know that it is a neurotoxin. Botox temporarily halts the nerve signals that tell certain facial muscles to contract. As those muscles relax, the skin directly above them no longer creases. The lines soften. The face looks rested.
Botulinum toxin type A was approved for cosmetic use by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2002. According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, it has since grown to be the most sought-after minimally invasive aesthetic procedure nationwide. That’s not without reason. For dynamic wrinkles, those caused by repeated contraction of underlying facial muscles- Botox offers a great solution with completely predictable results.
Available neurotoxin options include Botox, Jeuveau, and Daxxify at Savage Serenity MedSpa in Fresno. Daxxify typically lasts longer than standard Botox (6 months or more). It ultimately comes down to how fast the product wears off on you and your desired return for retreatment.
What Sculptra Treatments Do Differently
Digs gets really interesting here. Sculptra does not relax muscles. Unlike with a hyaluronic acid filler, it doesn’t increase the immediate volume. Instead, it acts as a biostimulant. The main agents are poly-L-lactic acid, which is a synthetic substance that stimulates your body’s own collagen production.
You’re vaccinated, and you wait. Over a period of 3 to 6 months after treatment, the formation of new collagen allows most patients to experience gradual improvement in these areas. Sculptra is one of the longest-lasting options in injectable aesthetics with results that can last 2 years or longer. Poly-L-lactic acid has long been studied for both aesthetic and HIV related facial lipoatrophy, having received an FDA indication for cosmetic use in this setting with the formulation Sculptra.
The tradeoff is patience. This is something some struggle to digest, especially if you’re wired for the results within a week model. Sculptra is not a choice for you if you require results in time for an event next month.
The Problems Each One Solves
This is perhaps useful with which to approach it. When you look into that mirror, think about what is really bothering you.
If your concern is:
Forehead lines, frown lines between the brows or crow’s feet; botox takes care of that. They’re caused by the movement of muscles, which is precisely what neurotoxins disrupt.
That look of a hollowed-out, deflated, or older face; enter Sculptra. Collagen depletion and fat pads, NOT muscle movement are responsible for volume loss.
Loose skin or crepey texture in the cheeks, temples, or jawline area Sculptra (and even some biostimulators like hyper-dilute Radiesse) tend to work better here than Botox would.
Static wrinkles lines that appear even when your face is relaxed and as though it has just been ironed now require a two-pronged approach. It can stop them from becoming deeper, but a biostimulator (Sculptra) or filler is necessary to treat what’s already there.
Not many people aged 35 or older are tackling just one of these issues concurrently. And this is where combination treatment comes into play.
Can You Do Both
Yes, and many patients do. Because Botox and Sculptra act on different parts of the skin, there is no feud between these two treatments. When working on a full-face treatment plan in fewer appointments, you are trained to create a schedule that simultaneously addresses muscle movement and volume loss.
But the order also matters, and the timing. Everyone wears it differently, and that’s why an advanced injector will perform an evaluation of your face before she recommends anything. What looks good on one face structure does not mean that it is the right call for all three.
The Fear Worth Naming
It is not talked about enough in these discussions. Many have feared booking because they don’t want to seem too different. Not younger, just different. Like they have obviously gotten something done.
That fear is valid. And that is also precisely why product selection matters less than provider selection. A well-executed injection of Sculptra or Botox from one pair of hands can look natural and refreshed, while a barely-there amount from an entirely different injector can leave you with an obvious, overdone outcome. The product is only half the equation.
Angela Hash, with over 11 years of clinical experience in injectable treatments, is a National Trainer for Revance at Savage Serenity MedSpa. Her background renders her no novice in product choice or placement. The way she sees it, each face responds differently to different treatments, and she tailors her approach accordingly.
Before You Book
If you’re still uncertain which treatment will suit your condition, then a consultation is the crucial initial step. The best provider looks at your face, talks about what you’re after, and gives you an honest reading on what’s actually there and what will probably make the difference.
You need not walk in already knowing the answer. That’s what the consultation is for.
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