SCULPTRA
Sculptra® is a popular, FDA-approved, collagen-stimulating injection in the UK used to combat skin aging by restoring volume and structural integrity to the face, neck, and chest. Unlike fillers, it uses poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA) to stimulate natural collagen production, with results developing over 2-6 months and lasting up to two years. We do recommend a single top up treatment annually to maintain perfect results and replace any lost collagen through the natural ageing process.
How it works
The active ingredient in Sculptra is poly-L-Lactic acid, PLLA. PLLA is a biodegradable substance that has been used for decades in dissolvable stitches for wound management. When PLLA is injected into the deeper layers of your skin, it helps stimulate your skin’s own natural collagen production. This can improve your skin’s inner structure and help you regain skin volume that has been lost to ageing.
Frequently asked questions
How should I prepare before my consultation?
Before your first treatment you will always have a consultation. Think through what you want to achieve and any questions that you want to ask your healthcare practitioner. You will be informed about how Sculptra works and how it can be used in a safe way to improve your skin’s firmness by stimulating your body’s own collagen production.
Your healthcare practitioner will also ask you about your medical history. After the consultation you should feel well informed about Sculptra and know what results to expect.
Who can inject Sculptra?
Specialists who have been trained to inject Sculptra for natural collagen stimulation, and are licensed to practice, may administer the treatment. This can include Doctor, Dentists, Nurse Practitioners, Registered Nurses and other trained personnel.
What should I expect from my chosen healthcare practitioner?
Your healthcare practitioner should provide you with comprehensive information about how Sculptra can stimulate the formation of collagen in a natural way and give you a detailed explanation regarding your treatment.
This is what you should expect:
• Information about the possibilities and limitations of the treatment
• Information about possible side effects and precautions for treatment
• Information about the cost of the treatment and follow-up treatments
• That your questions are answered to your full satisfaction
Which areas does Sculptra treat?
Sculptra is suitable for increasing the volume of depressed areas, particularly to correct skin depressions, such as in skin creases, wrinkles, folds, scars, and for skin aging.
Please consult your healthcare practitioner for more information.
How many treatments are required?
On average, a series of three treatment sessions over the course of a few months may be needed. The number of injections at each session will vary, depending on the degree of correction needed and the treatment plan determined by you and your healthcare practitioner.
Will the treatment be painful?
As with any injection, some pain at the treatment site is possible, but your healthcare practitioner may use a topical anaesthetic to ease any discomfort.
How soon will I see results?
Sculptra is designed to give you noticeable results that emerge gradually with increased collagen production. Don’t be disappointed if you don’t see immediate results. A few days after treatment, you may look as you did before treatment. This is normal and temporary. The Sculptra regimen delivers its full effects with an average of three treatment sessions over the course of a few months. Because results happen gradually, you will see subtle, yet noticeable, results in the reduction of facial wrinkles and folds by comparing images before treatment and a couple months following treatment.
What should I apply or avoid after treatment?
In the days following your treatment, keep a few things in mind for swift healing and optimum results:
Cold pack: A cold pack or ice pack will help reduce any common swelling. Within the first 24 hours of treatment, apply a cloth-wrapped cold pack to the treated area for a few minutes at a time. Never apply ice directly to the skin.
Facial massage: massage the treated area for five minutes five times a day for five days after treatment, as recommended by your healthcare practitioner.
Avoid sunlight: After treatment, excessive sunlight and UV lamp exposure should be avoided until any initial swelling and redness go away. Your healthcare practitioner will provide guidelines on sunscreen protection and how to avoid excessive sunlight.
How soon after treatment can I wear makeup?
Be sure to consult your healthcare practitioner after treatment.
Is Sculptra safe? What are the side effects?
Every treatment carries risk, therefore it is always vital to be well-informed about your treatment.
Sculptra was CE approved for aesthetic use in the European market in 1999 and is FDA approved in the United States. 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.
Common side effects reported include pain at the treatment area, redness, bruising, tenderness, itching and lumps, bleeding or swelling. Small bumps under the skin can sometimes be noticeable when pressing on the treated area. Larger lumps, with or without inflammation, have also been reported. Common side effects usually resolve spontaneously within 2 to 7 days. If you are experiencing side effects, talk to your healthcare practitioner.
Who should not have a treatment with Sculptra?
Sculptra is indicated for use in people with healthy immune systems as a single regimen for the correction of shallow to deep nasolabial folds and other facial wrinkles by stimulating collagen production. You should not receive treatment if you have an active skin infection or skin inflammation near the planned injection site.
Sculptra should not be used by people who are allergic to any ingredient of the product or have a history of keloid formation or hypertrophic scarring. Safety has not been established in patients who are pregnant, lactating, breastfeeding or under 18 years of age.