Sculptra™

Sculptra™, which has been called a "liquid facelift," restores the fullness and youthfulness of the face, restoring the volume lost with ageing, 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.

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 below the surface of the skin in the area of fat loss. Sculptra™ provides a gradual increase in skin thickness. Visible results appear within the first few treatment sessions.

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 one month, 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 monthly 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 $200 per cc.

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, as well as non-facial areas such as the backs of the hands and the neck. On the face Sculptra is commonly used to fill in the hollows that develop in the cheeks, as well as under the corners of the mouth. It has also been used successfully to fill the accentuated grooves that develop below the corners of the nose and the corners of the mouth. We have had impressive success using Sculptra to fill the vertical lines that develop in the upper lip. As the face ages it gets flatter and Sculptra can restore youthful prominence to the cheek bone area and to the temples. It can also be used for broad skin indentations on the chin, or from 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. These small bumps may not be 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. Occasionally, these bumps 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.

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.