Sculptra is a safe, synthetic, and biocompatible material derived from fruit acids. It’s injected below the surface of the skin to create a fuller, more youthful appearance. Sculptra provides a gradual and significant increase in skin thickness, improving the appearance of wrinkles, folds, and sunken areas.
When it comes to treating volume loss in the face, a series of Sculptra injections is often the treatment of choice. The results a fuller, smoother, more youthful-looking face, with less pronounced lines, creases, wrinkles, and folds will last years.
Sculptra Quick Facts
- Long-term results
- Natural collagen stimulation
- Anti-aging benefits
Most Common Uses for Sculptra
Sculptra has been approved by the FDA since 2014 for facial rejuvenation. In the past year, we’ve seen a bunch of new cutting-edge applications for Sculptra. These are the treatments and uses we feel Sculptra produces the best results for currently:
Sculptra Liquid Facelift
Sculptra has been called a “facelift in a bottle” and was the original dermal filler touted as a “liquid facelift.” Unlike hyaluronic acid fillers (like Juvederm, Voluma, and Restylane), Sculptra doesn’t work so well at spot-treating, but instead works well to broadly restore lost volume and fat across large areas.
By age 50, your face will lose up to 30% of it’s natural collagen support1. Sculptra works to rebuild that collagen – naturally, throughout your entire face.
A recent study showed that skin collagen decreases linearly by about 1% per year throughout adult life1, starting around age 20.
Sculptra is an injectable treatment that achieves excellent results in treating all parts of the face, including the areas around the eyes and lips, cheeks, and neck, and between the mouth and nose. It adds volume to the cheeks, to folds around the chin, and to hollow areas around the eyes. All of these areas may be injected during one visit. Sculptra can also be used for increasing the volume of depressed areas, particularly to correct skin depressions in the areas of the temples, eye rings, cheeks, nasolabial folds, “marionette lines”, and chin. Sculptra can be used to sculpt your face by restoring its natural contours, and by smoothing out wrinkles, creases, and folds.
Visible results appear naturally and progressively after each treatment session. While Sculptra will not correct the underlying cause of facial fat loss, it will help improve the appearance by increasing skin firmness in the treated area.
- Recovery & Downtime: None required
- Numbing: Lidocaine numbing is mixed into the Sculptra
- Cost: $1050 for the first vial and $950 for additional ones
- Candidacy: Anyone who wants thicker, fuller skin and immediate improvement in wrinkles, folds, and depressions
- Duration: Multiple years
- Why We Love It: Comprehensive, long-lasting volume and collagen stimulator
Non-Surgical Butt Augmentation
Sculptra has become the non-surgical butt augmentation and enhancement treatment of choice. These injections can add volume to the butt, but also work to lift and firm the skin, for a smoother, tighter derriere with less visible cellulite. Sculptra hips dips and butt injections have no downtime and require no restrictions on working out, driving, or sitting – making them a convenient and easy way to achieve a tighter, toned butt. This is also often the only treatment option for patients with very low body fat.
This treatment is often not less expensive than fat transfer surgery (also called “Brazilian Butt Lift”), but many patients find that this is the right choice for them because:
- It doesn’t require having extra fat to be transferred
- Just like fat transfer, the results are all you – and natural and long-lasting
- Unlike fat transfer, Sculptra injections help improve skin quality (firmness and tightness)
- There’s no downtime – and no restrictions from work or working out
In general, people need more Sculptra to augment the butt or increase its size than they do to firm and smooth the butt’s skin (cellulite, stretch marks, loose skin, dimples, spot treatments, etc.). For augmentation, most patients will need at least 16 vials of Sculptra. For spot correction, occasionally we can get great results with fewer vials, but most patients find 4 vials or more to give them the transformation they’re looking for.
- Recovery & Downtime: Local anesthetic, topical anesthetic optional
- Numbing: Lidocaine numbing is mixed into the Sculptra
- Cost: $1050 for the first vial and $950 for additional ones
- Candidacy: Those who want skin texture improvements or augmentation with no downtime
- Duration: Several years
- Why We Love It: Sculptra injections may be the only way to naturally augment the butt for some people and has the benefit of no downtime or restrictions
Skin Resurfacing Collagen Booster
Boosters for laser skin resurfacing have been a big theme of the past year’s innovations in cosmetic medicine. Sculptra offers a unique take on how to boost the results from a single laser resurfacing treatment. Instead of injecting Sculptra, it’s applied topically directly after lasering, to deliver Sculptra down the micro-channels created by the laser, for a big boost in the collagen stimulation provided in the treatment, without risks of swelling and bruising from injections.
- Recovery & Downtime: Avoid excess sun exposure
- Numbing: Whatever’s needed for the laser treatment
- Cost: $1050 for the first vial and $950 for additional ones
- Candidacy: People undergoing laser resurfacing who want even better, longer-lasting results
- Duration: Many years
- Why We Love It: Multiplies the benefits of laser resurfacing with a simple topical treatment – no bruising risk
Procedures:
Sculptra & Hyperdilute Radiesse for Non-Surgical Butt Augmentation & Hip Dips
View More Sculptra Treatment Before & Afters
More Before & AftersWhy Choose Reflections For Sculptra Injections?
Sculptra is not your typical dermal filler. It requires specialized training to inject properly – and even more so, to use for butt augmentation, cellulite smoothing, or skin resurfacing is even more cutting-edge (and thus, less likely for your average physician to be properly trained in).
So here’s what you need to ask about:
- Experience, specifically with this procedure (not just with Sculptra) – fact-check them by asking to see their specific before and afters
- How frequently do you go to hands-on trainings and conferences? Bonus points if they also are the trainer physician for other doctors who are learning
- What would you do if there was a complication?
Not only looking at before and afters but also asking the doctor the details of that patient’s experience – side effects, time until seeing full results, how long their results lasted, and other questions can be even more helpful when deciding on a Sculptra injector.
Any doctor who has the expertise to train other physicians is a prime candidate for your treatments, as you know they’re at the top of their game for that specific procedure. Finally, making sure they have a good contingency plan for negative side effects is key to having a risk-free procedure.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I finance my Sculptra treatments?
How is Sculptra different from other Dermal Fillers?
Will insurance cover my Sculptra injections?
Does it hurt? Will I need numbing or anesthesia?
Will I need to take time off from work or social activities?
What is the treatment like?
What are the risks for complications?
Who makes Sculptra?
Are there alternatives to Sculptra that I should know about?
What can I do to maximize my results from Sculptra?
Sculptra is made from PLOY-L-LACTIC ACID(PLA) – are there other cosmetic applications for PLA?
How can I save money on my Sculptra treatments?
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Read MoreSources:
- Shuster S, Black MM, McVitie E. The influence of age and sex on skin thickness, skin collagen and density. Br J Dermatol. 1975;93:639-643.
- FDA Approval for Sculptra
Dr. Mitchell Chasin
Dr. Mitchell Chasin is a Cosmetic & Laser Physician at Reflections Center. Dr. Chasin believes strongly that the best cosmetic physicians are those who are dedicated to mastering their craft through continuing education and collaboration with the industry’s top doctors.