Sculptra

As you age, your body’s ability to produce collagen decreases, and your face begins to age and wrinkle. Since collagen keeps the skin youthful and smooth, increasing your collagen production will rejuvenate your facial appearance. Sculptra is a new type of injectable facial volumizing treatment that stimulates the regeneration of your own collagen to smooth out wrinkles and fine lines and to restore lost volume to give you a more youthful face. This non-surgical treatment works gradually in a series of treatments – on average, three injection sessions are needed over a few months – for a subtle, more youthful looking appearance.

What is Sculptra used for?

Sculptra is a collagen biostimulator and is used to replace the volume loss that occurs naturally due to the aging process. The loss of volume is one of the key components that makes a face look older. Since a young face is full and voluminous, by restoring volume to the face with Sculptra, the face will look younger.

Our doctor uses Sculptra to correct shallow to deep wrinkles and folds by contouring the face and adding volume. Unlike other fillers, it works by stimulating the body to produce new collagen. By replacing lost collagen, it gradually gives you a more youthful looking appearance without making you look like you’ve had work done.

Sculptra aesthetic is used to improve the following areas:

• Deep folds between the nose and the mouth (nasolabial folds or smile lines)
• The lines framing your mouth (marionette lines)
• Chin wrinkles
• Temples
• Under the eyes
• Jawline

How does Sculptra work?

Sculptra targets the underlying causes of the signs of aging. Within the deep dermis, your skin’s structure is reinforced as the poly-L-lactic acid in Sculptra stimulates the body to produce new collagen. This reinforced collagen structure provides a foundation that gradually restores the look of fullness to your shallow-to-deep facial wrinkles and folds that have been depleted over time. The result? Sculptra Aesthetic is different because it gradually and subtly corrects these facial wrinkles. This can provide a refined, more youthful-looking appearance.

How is Sculptra injected?

Prior to the Sculptra injections, a local anesthetic is administered in order to decrease discomfort during the procedure. Our doctor will inject Sculptra into the areas of your face that need to be volumized. In order to achieve natural results, a series of Sculptra treatments (usually three sessions over a few months) will be needed. After Sculptra treatments, the results gradually become visible and last for up to two years.

Sculptra FAQ

What makes the face age?

The face begins to age as we lose collagen and skin elasticity. Facial aging is caused by both internal factors (genetics and natural aging process) and external factors (sun damage, smoking, pollution, facial expressions, gravity, etc.). All of these factors contribute to color and texture issues, as well as loss of volume in the face.

Who is a good candidate for Sculptra?

Since Sculptra provides a natural-looking appearance subtly over time, it is a great anti-aging treatment for those who do not want people to know they have had work done. Patients who want to restore facial volume, hollow eyes, sunken cheeks, and/or thin lips are prime Sculptra candidates.

How many Sculptra treatments are needed?

On average patients will need a series of three Sculptra injection sessions spread out over a few months to achieve the best results. The effects of Sculptra appear gradually, so it is important to slowly add Sculptra in order to maintain a natural facial appearance. Our expert clinical team will assess your individual situation, your goals and desires, and then create a treatment plan that suits your personal needs.

When will I see the results of the Sculptra treatment?

You will not see immediate results from Sculptra injections. Generally, patients begin seeing the effects of Sculptra within a month of the treatment. Since the volume is not created by the product itself, but the product’s ability to stimulate your own collagen growth, it takes time for results to be visible. Over the course of a few months, the results will continue to improve, until your desired results are achieved. Keep in mind that immediately following the treatment, you will experience some swelling, giving your face a more volumized appearance. However, within a few days this swelling will disappear, and your face will look like it did prior to the treatment. Do not let this worry you; remember that the results appear gradually over time.

How long does Sculptra last?

The results of Sculptra can last up to two years. Some patients need periodic touch up treatments to maintain the desired youthful effects.

What is Sculptra made of?

Sculptra is a poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA), which is a biocompatible, biodegradable synthetic material that has been used by physicians for decades.

What are the side effects of Sculptra?

The Sculptra side effects are minimal. As with most injectable fillers there is a chance of temporary swelling, bruising, tenderness or redness around the injection site. If you experience any of these side effects they should subside on their own within a few days.

How much downtime should I expect after Sculptra treatments?

There is very little downtime after Sculptra injections. While you may have some swelling, numbness or redness for a few hours following the treatment, you can continue on with your daily activities as soon as you feel comfortable with the way you look. You can apply makeup immediately after the treatment to cover up any redness, if necessary.

Do Sculptra injections hurt?

To decrease the pain from Sculptra injections, our doctor will apply a topical anesthetic before the treatment. Additionally, Sculptra is mixed with a numbing agent to further minimize discomfort.

How much does Sculptra cost?

The cost of Sculptra depends on each patient’s unique situation and depends on how many Sculptra injections and treatments are needed to achieve a youthful face. In general, Sculptra is more expensive than other filler options, but it lasts much longer and may end up being more cost-effective in the long run. Schedule a consultation at Advanced Dermatology and Laser Institute in Seattle to learn more about Sculptra and how much treatments will cost.

Can Sculptra be used with other fillers and/or Botox/Dysport?

Yes, Sculptra can be combined with other fillers (like Juvederm, Radiesse or Restylane) or Botox/Dysport. Since each product has a slightly different use, by combining Sculptra with these other facial injectables, you are able to achieve even greater anti-aging results.