Sculptra^tm Guides

What Is Sculptra?

Sculptra, marketed in Europe as New Fill, is an injectable facial filler capable of returning fullness to the face and reducing the appearance of wrinkles and folds.  Currently, Sculptra is FDA approved in the United States for people suffering from lipoatrophy, facial wasting, as a result of HIV.  Lipoatrophy is caused by antiretroviral medications taken by HIV sufferers to help combat the disease.  Sculptra is the first injectable treatment to receive FDA approval for such treatment.

Sculptra is a synthetic material, called poly-L-lactic acid, that has been used for several years in dissolvable stitches and implants.  This material is both biocompatible and biodegradable.

Though not yet approved for cosmetic use, physicians can use Sculptra "off-label" for filling lines and wrinkles.  In a release by The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS), president Peter B. Fodor stated that "for cosmetic patients, the benefits of Sculptra in achieving long-lasting restoration of facial volume have yet to be confirmed by clinical trials in the U.S. however, the product is approved in Europe, where physicians have been using it as a wrinkle-filler for five years with reportedly good results."

How It's Done

Your doctor will inject Sculptra below the skin surface in the area of fat loss.  Sculptra does not correct the cause of lipoatrophy, but rather increases skin thickness and renews fullness to the face.  After the swelling caused by the injection goes down and the water used in Sculptra is absorbed by the body, your face appear as it did before treatment.  Sculptra gradually corrects skin depression; it will take a few days to more than a week before you notice results.

Recovery/ Post Op Expectations

After injections, most patients feel comfortable returning immediately to work and their daily routines.  You may experience slight pain, redness, or bruising, and an ice pack should be applied periodically in intervals of a few minutes during the first day after surgery.

Your doctor will schedule a follow-up appointment a few weeks after the original treatment.  Many people require two or three treatments to reach their desired effects, though some need up to six.  Results from Sculptra can last as long as two years.

Complications

The most common side effects associated with Sculptra include redness, pain, bleeding, bruising and bumps under the skin, and occur at the site of injection.  Any noticeable side effects are usually gone in 3-17 days.  If irritation or soreness persists you should consult your physician.

Am I Candidate?

As of now Sculptra is only approved for HIV patients with lipoatrophy, though Sculptra "off-label" is being used to reverse facial lines and other signs of aging.

Cost

Sculptra can cost from $500 - $1000 per 1.0 cc.