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Sculptra

Dr Garsing Wong, trusted international speaker and cosmetic physician, is one of the first doctors in New Zealand to use Sculptra®, Poly-L-lactic acid, a registered medicine to smooth out areas of depressed skin such as skin creases, wrinkles, folds, scars and improve the aging skin. It also assists in the restoration and/or correction of the signs of facial aging.  This procedure is popular in Asia.  The results are lasting however you require repeated treatments to obtain the best results.

Before, 5 weeks after 2 vials of Sculptra and 9 months after a total of six vials of Sculptra. Note the improvement in the skin texture and the natural looking global improvement. In the last photograph, the patient also had had Botox to lift her eyebrows.  Please note all photos are photographs of genuine patients of Dr Wong, the photographs are not altered or manipulated in any way. It is important to understand that the photos represent one persons experience and there is no guarantee that any other patient will experience similar results.

 

WHAT IS SCULPTRA®?

Sculptra is not a dermal filler like the popular hyaluronic acid fillers such as Teosyal or Restylane, as it does not give you instant results. Sculptra is intended for use in people with healthy immune systems.  Treatment regimen of up to 4 injection sessions that are scheduled about 3 weeks apart for correction of shallow to deep nasolabial fold contour deficiencies and other facial wrinkles in which deep dermal grid pattern (cross-hatch) injection technique is appropriate. You can expect subtle results which improve with time giving you a long lasting result. Sculptra stimulates your skin to make its own collagen, giving you a more natural looking result. A full treatment of Sculptra consist of an average of three treatments over a few months.  Results can last up to two years. 

 

Sculptra is ideal for areas of large volume lost which would require relatively large volumes of hyaluronic acid dermal fillers, but with Sculptra, you can achieve good gradual restoration of large volume lost in a relative economical manner compared to using hyaluronic acids.  It is important to remember that individual results and treatment regimens may vary, however the overall expectation is a gradual restoration of your appearance giving long-lasting results that can help to replace the lost collagen and volume in your skin.

It can be used for panfacial volume restoration, and most patients will experience an improvement in the quality of their skin visible after the first treatment session.

Book a consultation with Margaret when you click on this link.

 

How does Sculptra work?

As you age, your body's collagen production decreases, and you begin to see wrinkles. Sculptra is placed in the deep dermis, or deeper. This stimulates our skin to replace lost collagen. This reinforced collagen structure provides a foundation for gradually restoring your look of fullness of your shallow to deep facial wrinkles and folds that has been depleted over time. On average, four injections sessions are needed over a period fo a few months. The results after completing four sessions can last up to 2 years.

 

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

You should not use Sculptra if you are allergic to any ingredient of the product or have a history of keloid formation or hypertrophic scarring. Sculptra should not be injected while you have an active skin infection or inflammation in the treatment area and should not be injected into the red area of the lip or too close to your eyes.

 

Are there any side effects?

Like with any medicine that is administered by injections, you may have injection site discomfort, redness, bruising, bleeding, itching and swelling. Bruising is the most common side effect.  Other side effects may include small lumps under the skin that are sometimes noticeable when pressing on the treated area. Larger lumps, some with delayed onset with or without inflammation or skin discoloration have also been reported. Most of these can be resolved without treatment.  Sculptra is a registered medicine in New Zealand, and has been used worldwide since 1999.  Sculptra is made of a synthetic material called poly-L-lactic acid that is absorbed naturally by the body - and has been used for years in dissolvable stitches.

What can you expect after being treated with Sculptra?

You will be invited to have complimentary Red Light Rejuvenation to reduce bruising and to enhance your skin after the procedure.  It is essential that you massage the area where Sculptra has been administered five times a day, for five minutes for five days after having had the treatment.

Where is Sculptra used?

Sculptra is used to correct shallow to deep facial wrinkles and folds, which are treated with the appropriate injection technique.  Sculptra is suitable for:

- Deep folds between the nose and the mouth (nasolabial folds) also called smile lines

- The lines framing your mouth (marionette lines)

- Chin wrinkles

- Temporal hollowing, the loss of volume on the upper sides of your face

- Cheek hollowing

- Hands, this is a novel off label use of Sculptra to restore the collagen in your hands

- Anterior auricular rhytids - treating the wrinkles just in front of your ears

Please click this link to book to see Margaret for a consultation to see what procedure is best for you.

 

Updated 21 July 2022

SCULPTRA® is an injectable implant containing microparticles of poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA), carboxymethylcellulose (USP), non-pyrogenic mannitol (USP) and sterile water for injection (USP). SCULPTRA is available in 367.5 mg dose vials and is to be reconstituted prior to use by the addition of Sterile Water for Injection, USP (SWFI) to form a sterile non-pyrogenic suspension.

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Sapphire Appearance Medicine Clinic

Address: 26 College Hill,

Freemans Bay,  Auckland 1011

Phone: 09-360 0066

Email: sapphireclinic@gmail.com

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Mandatories:WEGOVY® (semaglutide) injection 2.4 mg is an injectable self funded ie not subsidised prescription medicine used with a reduced calorie diet and increased physical activity:  Doctors fees are in addition to the medication costto reduce the risk of major cardiovascular events such as death, heart attack, or stroke in adults with known heart disease and with either obesity or overweight.that may help adults and children aged 12 years and older with obesity, or some adults with overweight who also have weight-related medical problems, to help them lose excess body weight and keep the weight off. Full information on the bottom of this page. Wegovy® contains semaglutide and should not be used with other semaglutide-containing products or other GLP-1 receptor agonist medicines.It is not known if Wegovy® is safe and effective for use in children under 12 years of age.Wegovy® may cause serious side effects, including:Possible thyroid tumors, including cancer. Tell your healthcare provider if you get a lump or swelling in your neck, hoarseness, trouble swallowing, or shortness of breath. These may be symptoms of thyroid cancer. In studies with rodents, Wegovy® and medicines that work like Wegovy® caused thyroid tumors, including thyroid cancer. It is not known if Wegovy® will cause thyroid tumors or a type of thyroid cancer called medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) in peopleDo not use Wegovy® if you or any of your family have ever had a type of thyroid cancer called medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) or if you have an endocrine system condition called Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2) Do not use Wegovy® if:you or any of your family have ever had a type of thyroid cancer called medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) or if you have an endocrine system condition called Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2)you have had a serious allergic reaction to semaglutide or any of the ingredients in Wegovy® Before using Wegovy®, tell your healthcare provider if you have any other medical conditions, including if you:have or have had problems with your pancreas or kidneyshave type 2 diabetes and a history of diabetic retinopathyhave or have had depression, suicidal thoughts, or mental health issuesare scheduled to have surgery or other procedures that use anesthesia or deep sleepiness (deep sedation)are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Wegovy® may harm your unborn baby. You should stop using Wegovy® 2 months before you plan to become pregnantare breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if Wegovy® passes into your breast milkTell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Wegovy® may affect the way some medicines work and some medicines may affect the way Wegovy® works. Tell your healthcare provider if you are taking other medicines to treat diabetes, including sulfonylureas or insulin. Wegovy® slows stomach emptying and can affect medicines that need to pass through the stomach quickly.Wegovy® may cause serious side effects, including:Possible thyroid tumors, including cancer. Tell your healthcare provider if you get a lump or swelling in your neck, hoarseness, trouble swallowing, or shortness of breath. These may be symptoms of thyroid cancer. In studies with rodents, Wegovy® and medicines that work like Wegovy® caused thyroid tumors, including thyroid cancer. It is not known if Wegovy® will cause thyroid tumors or a type of thyroid cancer called medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) in peopleDo not use Wegovy® if you or any of your family have ever had a type of thyroid cancer called medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) or if you have an endocrine system condition called Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2) Do not use Wegovy® if:you or any of your family have ever had a type of thyroid cancer called medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) or if you have an endocrine system condition called Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2)you have had a serious allergic reaction to semaglutide or any of the ingredients in Wegovy® Before using Wegovy®, tell your healthcare provider if you have any other medical conditions, including if you:have or have had problems with your pancreas or kidneyshave type 2 diabetes and a history of diabetic retinopathyhave or have had depression, suicidal thoughts, or mental health issuesare scheduled to have surgery or other procedures that use anesthesia or deep sleepiness (deep sedation)are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Wegovy® may harm your unborn baby. You should stop using Wegovy® 2 months before you plan to become pregnantare breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if Wegovy® passes into your breast milkTell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Wegovy® may affect the way some medicines work and some medicines may affect the way Wegovy® works. Tell your healthcare provider if you are taking other medicines to treat diabetes, including sulfonylureas or insulin. Wegovy® slows stomach emptying and can affect medicines that need to pass through the stomach quickly. What are the possible side effects of Wegovy®?Wegovy® may cause serious side effects, including:inflammation of your pancreas (pancreatitis). Stop using Wegovy® and call your healthcare provider right away if you have severe pain in your stomach area (abdomen) that will not go away, with or without vomiting. You may feel the pain from your abdomen to your backgallbladder problems. Wegovy® may cause gallbladder problems, including gallstones. Some gallstones may need surgery. Call your healthcare provider if you have symptoms, such as pain in your upper stomach (abdomen), fever, yellowing of the skin or eyes (jaundice), or clay-colored stoolsincreased risk of low blood sugar (hypoglycemia), especially those who also take medicines for diabetes such as insulin or sulfonylureas. This can be a serious side effect. Talk to your healthcare provider about how to recognize and treat low blood sugar and check your blood sugar before you start and while you take Wegovy®. Signs and symptoms of low blood sugar may include dizziness or light-headedness, blurred vision, anxiety, irritability or mood changes, sweating, slurred speech, hunger, confusion or drowsiness, shakiness, weakness, headache, fast heartbeat, or feeling jitterykidney problems (kidney failure). In people who have kidney problems, diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting may cause a loss of fluids (dehydration), which may cause kidney problems to get worse. It is important for you to drink fluids to help reduce your chance of dehydrationsevere stomach problems. Stomach problems, sometimes severe, have been reported in people who use Wegovy®. Tell your healthcare provider if you have stomach problems that are severe or will not go awayserious allergic reactions. Stop using Wegovy® and get medical help right away, if you have any symptoms of a serious allergic reaction, including swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat; problems breathing or swallowing; severe rash or itching; fainting or feeling dizzy; or very rapid heartbeatchange in vision in people with type 2 diabetes. Tell your healthcare provider if you have changes in vision during treatment with Wegovy®increased heart rate. Wegovy® can increase your heart rate while you are at rest. Tell your healthcare provider if you feel your heart racing or pounding in your chest and it lasts for several minutesdepression or thoughts of suicide. You should pay attention to any mental changes, especially sudden changes in your mood, behaviors, thoughts, or feelings. Call your healthcare provider right away if you have any mental changes that are new, worse, or worry youfood or liquid getting into the lungs during surgery or other procedures that use anesthesia or deep sleepiness (deep sedation). Wegovy® may increase the chance of food getting into your lungs during surgery or other procedures. Tell all your healthcare providers that you are taking Wegovy® before you are scheduled to have surgery or other procedures The most common side effects of Wegovy® may include: nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, constipation, stomach (abdomen) pain, headache, tiredness (fatigue), upset stomach, dizziness, feeling bloated, belching, low blood sugar in people with type 2 diabetes, gas, stomach flu, heartburn, and runny nose or sore throat.

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