Sculptra is a soft tissue dermal filler that is formulated by Sanofi Aventis. Once injected into the skin, Sculptra’s PLLA microparticles promote the body’s fibroblasts, which are collagen-producing entities, to reproduce skin-strengthening collagen fibers, which are lost due to aging. With the use of Sculptra, aesthetic imperfections are erased gradually, resulting in smoother and plumper skin.
Can I get Sculptra injections?
Sculptra is intended to correct shallow to deep-set facial wrinkles, such as nasolabial folds, contour deficiencies, chin wrinkles, and even marionette lines. In addition, Sculptra has also been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to correct facial lipoatrophy in patients with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infections.
How is Sculptra injected?
A treatment session using Sculptra can only be performed by a licensed medical practitioner.
The initial consultation session is for assessing the severity of patients’ aesthetic conditions and current medical status. Photographic documentation may be performed, as it can be used as an excellent monitoring tool over time. Next, the patient’s medical history is reviewed to ensure that they are not allergic to any of the components of Sculptra. Patients who are pregnant, breastfeeding, or have a history of developing hypertrophic scars are contraindicated from receiving Sculptra injections.
Sculptra must first be reconstituted by using sterile water. Next, patients must prepare for the treatment session by removing their makeup. The injector will then clean the proposed injection sites in accordance with antiseptic standards. The need for a topical or local anesthetic agent should be assessed and, if necessary, administered. The reconstituted Sculptra suspension should then be injected in small volumes using a very fine needle via the cross-hatching injection technique, for optimal results.
Sculptra aftercare methods
Following a Sculptra treatment, the corrected region(s) should be massaged gently to ensure that the filler is distributed evenly along the facial contours. Patients can also apply ice packs for a short period of time on any swollen areas. Extreme temperature, ultra-violet lamps, and direct sunlight should be avoided until the swelling and redness subside.
Are the results from Sculptra immediate?
No, the aesthetic outcomes of Sculptra are not immediate. Results are typically observed over a period of time. The full effects of Sculptra injections can take up to six months to be visible. This is because the injected PLLA microparticles encourage the growth of new collagen fibers. Patients with a severe loss of facial fat tissues may also require two to three rounds of injections, spaced four to six weeks apart, to adequately stimulate the growth of collagen fibers.
How long does Sculptra last?
The skin-plumping effects of Sculptra can last for approximately two years. The long duration is made possible due to Sculptra’s mechanism of action. The injected PLLA microparticles do not simply act as temporary scaffolding for the collapsed skin structure, but also stimulate the growth of collagen fibers, resulting in volumized and plumped skin. This means that even as the actual Sculptra dissipates in the skin after a few months, the new collagen fibers whose creation it stimulated, preserves the beneficial skin-plumping effects well past the biodegradation of Sculptra. The exact duration is influenced by physiological factors, the amount of Sculptra injected, and the injection technique employed.
Does Sculptra come with an anesthetic agent?
No, Sculptra is not integrated with a pain-numbing agent, such as lidocaine. Hence, topical or local anesthetic agents can be administered on the injections sites, especially for patients who have high skin sensitivity to pain.