Sculptra

What it is

The active material is poly-L-lactic acid, a compound that dissolves in the body and has been used medically for decades. It does not add volume directly the way a filler does; it stimulates fibroblasts to produce new collagen.

The result builds slowly, over weeks to months, and usually needs more than one session. Anyone wanting a difference they can see the same day will not find it here — a common source of disappointment when it is not explained first.

An important difference from filler: hyaluronic acid products can be dissolved if needed. Sculptra cannot. What is injected stays until the body metabolises it, which is why restraint in quantity and spacing between sessions is central to its safety.

Where it is used

• Cheeks and the upper mid-face
• Temples
• The lower cheek and along the jawline
• Generalised volume loss from age or weight change
• Areas off the face in selected cases

When it shows, and how long it lasts

No immediate effect should be expected. What is visible right after injection is the fluid it is prepared in, and that settles within days. The real change appears gradually as collagen forms, usually over weeks, and continues to improve between sessions.

The number of sessions and their spacing are decided by examination. How long it lasts varies with age, lifestyle and metabolism.

Who it suits

• Those with diffuse volume loss rather than one defined hollow
• Those content with a gradual result and not asking for an immediate one
• Those who understand it takes more than one session and follow-up
• Those whose general health allows it

How the session goes

1. Examination and assessment of the features, with a review of medical history and medicines.
2. The material is prepared well in advance; correct preparation is part of its safety, not a detail.
3. Local anaesthetic, then injection into the appropriate plane by needle or cannula.
4. Massage of the area afterwards, according to protocol.
5. Review after some weeks to assess what has formed before considering a further session.

Afterwards

• Massage the area as instructed, for the period you are given
• Avoid high heat and strenuous exercise on the first day
• Swelling and bruising are possible and settle gradually
• Do not judge the result early; judging it too soon leads to over-treatment

Possible effects

Stated in full, because this product cannot be reversed:

• Swelling, bruising and local tenderness — common and temporary
• Nodules and papules: the principal concern. They can appear weeks or months later, and are associated with inadequate preparation, injection into too superficial a plane, or too much at once. Some are felt rather than seen; some need treating.
• Asymmetry — managed by working gradually and reviewing
• Delayed inflammatory reaction — uncommon

Prevention matters more than treatment here: correct preparation, the correct plane, conservative quantity, and sessions spaced apart. Anyone offering a complete result in a single session is increasing the risk, not the benefit.

A note on darker skin

The material itself is unaffected by skin tone. The consideration is the needle and any bruising, which can leave temporary post-inflammatory pigmentation more readily in deeper skin tones; that is reduced by fewer entry points and by using a cannula where appropriate. Any tendency to keloid scarring is asked about before treating.

See also

Dermal fillers, Ultherapy

Common questions