Sculptra®

The number of vials you need to achieve your aesthetic goals with this treatment is directly related to your age and degree of desired correction. For example, women in their 30s or 40s may require 2 to 4 vials, while women in their 50s and 60s may require more. Only one or two vials are used in a single treatment and treatments are usually spaced 2-4 months apart.

The results of this treatment are truly gradual. While some fillers and injectable treatments will have near-immediate results, this filler will require several weeks to begin showing results, and a few more weeks after that to reach optimal results that you can enjoy. For the majority of patients, results are evident 3 or 4 months after the first treatment sessions.

While the gradual onset of this treatment may take some time, the longevity of the results is quite unlike any other dermal filler available to patients. Most patients can expect results to last for 2 to 3 years at a time, which is almost twice as long as the leading dermal filler treatment.

Because the results of this treatment last for so long, you won’t need to have treatments as frequently. After the initial round of treatments, you may not feel that you need to have a follow-up or touch-up treatment for at least 2 years. Many patients opt to have annual treatments with a fraction of the original amount used to maintain results for as long as possible.

Most dermal fillers are simply true to their name — when injected they “fill” in the area under a wrinkle or crease, pushing the skin back upwards or adding volume.Sculptra® doesn’t work like that. It doesn’t provide instant results. Sculptra® is made from poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA), which works within the skin to replace lost collagen. Sculptra is the first facial injectable that gives you subtle results over time as collagen is replaced. This makes for a natural-looking appearance that improves over time, not an instant change as with other fillers. Sculptra is injected in three sessions over three to four months for the best results.

Sculptra is the same as other dermal fillers. You may have some slight redness, swelling, and sometimes bruising at the injection sites, but these side effects usually resolve in a few hours. Patients can return to work or their other normal activities immediately after these injections. Because sculptra is a powder that is mixed with sterile water for injection, you will need to perform a gentle massage of the treated areas to ensure it works best. This only needs to be done for about 3-5 minutes, 3 times per day, for 3 days.

As with many fillers, it is hard to know which is the right product for you. It’s important to choose a physician that is not only an expert injector but one whose aesthetic view is comparable to yours. Make sure to have a detailed consultation explaining what you are trying to achieve, and listen carefully as your physician explains their recommended treatment plan. Remember to keep your expectations realistic and understand that several Sculptra® treatments over several months may be needed to achieve the desired correction. In some cases, a combination of different products or treatments may be recommended for optimum results.