BIOREGENERATION

SCULPTRA

Sculptra is a biostimulatory injectable treatment designed to restore facial volume, enhance contours, and rejuvenate your skin by stimulating natural collagen production.

Unlike traditional fillers that deliver immediate but temporary results, Sculptra works gradually, stimulating your body’s own collagen production to improve skin quality and restore youthful volume for a long-lasting, smoother, firmer, more radiant appearance.

What it treats

Collagen, a vital protein for skin structure and elasticity, decreases by approximately 1% each year throughout adulthood. By age 45, you may have lost up to 25% of your collagen. This natural decline weakens the skin’s support structure, leading to fine lines, hollowing, and wrinkles.

Sculptra helps combat these effects by stimulating your body’s collagen production. It restores lost volume in areas most affected by ageing, such as the outer facial areas prone to sagging, lost volume in the temples as well as a loss of definition along the jawline, whilst improving the appearance of thinning, crepey skin.

How it works

Sculptra contains Poly-L-Lactic Acid (PLLA), which activates fibroblasts, the cells that produce collagen.

While being gradually broken down, the PLLA encourages your body to rebuild its own structural support, developing results over 3-6 months for a natural, refreshed look, leaving behind your own new collagen to provide structure, support and volume.

What is Sculptra?

Sculptra is an FDA-approved biostimulatory filler designed to rejuvenate your skin and restore volume by stimulating your body’s natural collagen production. Unlike traditional dermal fillers, which are commonly used for areas like the tear troughs or cheeks to provide immediate volume, Sculptra works gradually, offering long-lasting, natural results.

The key ingredient in Sculptra is Poly-L-Lactic Acid (PLLA), a biodegradable and biocompatible compound. Once injected, the PLLA micro-particles are absorbed by the body within 48 hours. These particles trigger a controlled response in the skin, activating fibroblasts - the collagen-producing cells.

Over time, the PLLA is naturally broken down by the body, leaving behind your own collagen to provide structure, support, and volume. This gradual process ensures subtle, natural-looking improvements that enhance your appearance.

What are the benefits of Sculptra?

Natural Volume Restoration: Targets areas prone to hollowing for a youthful, full appearance.

Collagen Stimulation: Encourages your body to rebuild its own structural support for long-lasting improvements.

Gradual, Subtle Results: Changes develop over 3-6 months for a natural, refreshed look.

Long-Lasting Effects: Results can last up to 2 years with proper care.

How often is treatment required?

Initially, 2-3 treatments of Sculptra spaced six weeks apart are recommended. This will vary slightly from person to person, depending on how much volume loss you have or your skin concerns.

Suitability

Sculptra is particularly beneficial for individuals who have experienced volume loss due to:

  • Ageing: Natural volume loss in areas such as the cheeks, temples, and jawline.
  • Weight Loss: Significant changes in facial fullness.

Sculptra is also beneficial for those with earlier signs of ageing with associated skin concerns.

For optimum anti-ageing results, SkinPen Microneedling is recommended alongside your treatment plan.

You cannot have this treatment when pregnant, breastfeeding or if you have a history of severe allergies or any autoimmune conditions.

Discomfort

Sculptra is well tolerated, mixed with local anaesthetic. You may feel some mild discomfort and experience some light tenderness for a few days post-treatment.

Side Effects/Risks

As with all injectable treatments, there are rare risks and side effects. Most commonly, patients might experience swelling, mild pain, itching, bruising, or tenderness at the injection site. The majority of these side effects are self-limiting and resolve naturally within a few days post-treatment.

Following the aftercare diligently is important to reduce the risk of side effects after treatment. The incidence of nodules, the main risk, is extremely low.

Downtime

You will have mild swelling and tenderness that typically settles a few days. Bruising is also possible.

Avoid strenuous exercise and heat for 24 hours post-treatment. It is also recommended to massage the treatment area regularly for 5-7 days post-treatment.

Results

Immediately after treatment you can expect to see a more natural-looking increase in volume. This settles, and the beauty of Sculptra continues resulting in an improvement in skin quality in the areas injected.

Sculptra can last up to 2 years.

What’s the difference between Sculptra and Radiesse?

Sculptra is a biostimulator that consists of Poly-L-Lactic Acid (PLLA), used to restore volume. Its mechanism of action triggers an inflammatory response for collagen production. Radiesse filler is composed of calcium hydroxylapatite (CaHA). They are both biostimulators that induce skin rejuvenation by stimulating collagen production in the skin.

Although they are both safe procedures if injected by experienced medical professionals, there is a higher risk of nodule formation with the use of Sculptra in comparison to Radiesse, based on clinical studies - although this is no longer commonly seen .

Both bio-stimulatory products offer immediate and long-lasting results, however Radiesse is more versatile and can be used for contouring, volumisation, definition as well as skin rejuvenation.