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How Sculptra Works
Sculptra is poly-L-lactic acid, a biocompatible material that has been used in medicine for decades. Injected into the deeper layers of the skin, it triggers a controlled response in which your body produces new collagen around the particles.
The particles themselves are gradually absorbed. What remains is your own collagen, which is why the result looks and moves naturally and why it takes time to appear.
Who Sculptra Is For
Sculptra suits patients who want restoration rather than augmentation:
- Generalized facial volume loss, particularly in the temples and cheeks
- Hollowing that has developed gradually with age or weight loss
- Skin quality and firmness alongside volume
- Patients who prefer a change nobody can point to
If you want an immediate, visible change, hyaluronic acid filler is the better choice. Sculptra rewards patience.
What to Expect
Treatment takes 30 to 60 minutes. Sculptra is reconstituted before your appointment and injected across the treatment area, typically with a cannula. Most patients need a series of two to three sessions spaced about a month apart.
You will look fuller immediately from the injected fluid. That is not the result and it settles within days.
Aftercare
Massage of the treated areas for several days after treatment is important, and your provider will demonstrate the technique. Expect mild swelling and possible bruising for a few days.
The real result appears gradually across three to six months as collagen forms, and typically lasts two years or more.
Session Length
30 to 60 minutes
Downtime
30 to 60 minutes
Session Count
Typically two to three, spaced about a month apart
Results Timeline
Gradual over three to six months
Results Duration
Two years or more
Device or Brand
Sculptra® (injectable poly-L-lactic acid, Galderma)
FDA Status
FDA approved injectable poly-L-lactic acid collagen stimulator
Frequently Asked Questions
How is Sculptra different from filler?
Filler occupies space and works immediately. Sculptra stimulates your body to build its own collagen, which takes months but lasts far longer.
How many sessions will I need?
Usually two to three, spaced about a month apart, depending on the degree of volume loss.
Why do I need to massage?
Massage helps distribute the product evenly in the tissue during the early healing period. Your provider will give you a specific schedule.
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Dr. Todd A. Besnoff, MD
Medical Director
Top Doctor in Tampa Bay
Dr. Besnoff has been referred to as one of the Top Doctors in Tampa Bay (as seen in the recent Tampa Bay Magazine Top Doctors issue) and Top 100 Aesthetic Provider in America! Dr. Besnoff has assisted and/or performed hundreds of thousands of surgical procedures since 1995 in specialties such as plastic surgery, gynecology, tissue donation and life-saving emergency treatments. In fact, Ultimate Image has been known to have performed more BOTOX® / Dysport® treatments in Tampa Bay than any other provider.