Sculptra™

Sculptra™, which has been called a "liquid facelift," restores the fullness and youthfulness of the face, restoring the volume lost with aging, to correct the signs of facial soft tissue loss. It has been said that an infant's face resembles an inflated beach ball, while the face of an elderly person resembles a deflated beach ball. Aging is characterized by loss of volume, resulting in a marked hollowing of the face causing sagging of the skin due to the loss of underlying support, including connective tissue and bone, combined with the loss of skin elasticity.

What is Sculptra™?

Sculptra™ is a synthetic injectable material known as "poly-L-lactic acid." Poly-L-lactic acid is biocompatible (it will not harm the body) and biodegradable (able to be broken down by the body). Poly-L-lactic acid has been widely used for many years in dissolvable stitches, soft tissue implants, and other types of implants.

How does Sculptra™ work?

Sculptra™ is injected deeply below the surface of the skin in the area of tissue loss. Sculptra™ provides a gradual increase in skin thickness. Visible results usually begin to appear within six weeks. Generally there are two to three treatment sessions, at about 6 weekly intervals.

Do I need a skin test before being treated with Sculptra™?

No skin testing is required prior to your Sculptra™ treatment.

Are the results from Sculptra™ immediate?

No. At your first treatment visit, it may appear that Sculptra™ worked immediately because of swelling from the injections and the water used to dilute Sculptra™. In a few days the swelling goes down and the water is absorbed by your body, you may look as you did before your treatment. Sculptra™ takes time to gradually correct the depression in your skin. Dr. Bock will see you again in about six weeks, to decide if you need more Sculptra™ injections.

Before

After

How many treatments are required?

Dr. Bock will decide the appropriate number of treatment sessions and the amount of Sculptra™ you will need at each session. Patients generally require about 3 treatment sessions, at about 6 weekly intervals, although occasionally more may be necessary.

What does Sculptra™ cost?

Our charges for Sculptra™ depend on the volume of Sculptra™ injected. Generally it is $700 per vial, which is reconstituted to 10ccs.

How long do treatment results last?

Treatment results will differ for each person. In a clinical study, the treatment results lasted for up to 2 years after the first treatment session, in most patients. European researchers have reported results lasting 3 years. Touch-up treatments may be needed to maintain the desired effect.

What areas are best treated with Sculptra™?

Sculptra™ is a remarkably versatile material and can be used to treat many areas on the face. On the face Sculptra™ is commonly used to fill in the hollows that develop in the cheeks, as well as indentations that develop in the lower face below the mouth. It has also been used successfully to fill the accentuated grooves that develop below the corners of the nose and to restore the volume and youthful projection of the cheeks. As the face ages, it gets flatter due to loss of bone and soft tissue. Sculptra™ can be placed against the residual bone and restore youthful prominence to the cheek bone area, jaw, the hollows that develop in front of the ears, and the hollows that frequently become prominent in the temples. Currently the use of Sculptra™ next to the bone is the closest we can come to the replacement of bone loss. It can also be used for broad skin indentations on the chin, and for some acne scarring.

What are the possible side effects of treatment with Sculptra™?

Generally, with the revised methods of dilution and injection of Sculptra™, there have been almost no side effects. The most common side effects with the use of Sculptra™ include injection-related side effects at the site of the injection such as bleeding, tenderness or pain, redness, bruising, or swelling. These side effects generally last, on average, 3 to 17 days.

One possible delayed side effect with Sculptra™ can be small bumps under the skin in the treated area. Because Sculptra™ is placed deeply, these small bumps usually are not visible, and you may notice them under the skin only when you press on the treated skin. These bumps tend to happen within the first 6 to 12 months after the first treatment. These bumps almost always go away on their own. Visible bumps, sometimes with redness or color change to the treated area, have also been reported. As with all procedures that involve an injection through the skin, there is a risk of infection.

What are the unique benefits of treatment with Sculptra™?

Because Sculptra™ is injected dissolved in water, it is the least viscous of the fillers. That means it is the least likely of any of the fillers to interfere with the circulation of blood to the skin. Blockage of the local circulation to the skin is a rare but potentially serious complication that can result in a skin ulcer. Because we are now using fillers to replace some bony loss, we are injecting into areas that we avoided previously, due to the proximity of important vessels in these areas. In these locations the extra safety provided by Sculptra™ is very important. The two plus year duration of the Sculptra™ effect is also an important benefit of this filler.

Who should not use Sculptra™?

You should not use Sculptra™ if you are allergic to any ingredient of Sculptra™. Sculptra™ should not be injected while you have an active skin infection or inflammation in the treatment area.