As we age, collagen naturally declines, leading to signs of aging like wrinkles and loss of firmness. Sculptra is a unique injectable that aims to counteract the effects of collagen loss by stimulating your body to produce its own natural collagen. At Schlessinger MD, Drs. Joel and Daniel Schlessinger are experts in cosmetic procedures like dermal fillers, wrinkle relaxers and skin tightening treatments, Sculptra among them. Read on to learn:
What is Sculptra?
Is Sculptra a filler? Yes, Sculptra is considered a filler. However, its function is unique from traditional hyaluronic acid fillers, which help smooth and plump skin by providing temporary volume.
While Sculptra does add volume to the skin, it also helps your skin create its own natural volume over an extended period. According to board-certified dermatologist, cosmetic surgeon and Mohs surgeon, Dr. Daniel Schlessinger, “It’s like the difference between giving a man a fish versus teaching him how to fish. With Sculptra, you are actually stimulating the body to produce its own connective tissue.”
He says, “While most fillers are made of hyaluronic acids that add volume to our skin, the poly-L-lactic acid that makes up Sculptra actually stimulates our skin to produce more collagen. It is a thinner filler that can be spread over broader areas (like the entire cheeks, temples or jawline). As a result, it is better for people with thinner faces or who have lost a dramatic amount of volume in their entire face, such as patients taking GLP-1 medications like Ozempic or Mounjaro.”
Sculptra is FDA-approved and has been used across the globe since 1999. It’s naturally absorbed by the body and helps create natural volume and structure in desired treatment areas over time.
How long does Sculptra last, and does it have any side effects?
Sculptra’s unique formulation provides longer-lasting effects than traditional hyaluronic acid fillers. “Most patients notice an improvement within one to two months, with results lasting up to two years or more—though how long Sculptra lasts depends on your body’s metabolism,” says board-certified dermatologist, cosmetic surgeon and Mohs surgeon Dr. Joel Schlessinger.
Sculptra is a great option for people looking to improve loose skin on the cheeks, nasolabial folds (or smile lines), marionette lines (or lines around the mouth) and chin wrinkles.
Like with any filler, there are certain risks associated with treatment. As with hyaluronic acid fillers, there are risks, but they are minimized in experienced hands. Theoretical but rare side effects are nodules, infection, prolonged redness, injection site pain, bruising or migration.
Since Drs. Joel and Daniel Schlessinger personally perform every injectable treatment at Schlessinger MD and have perfected their craft with years of experience, the chance of side effects are low, though still possible.
That’s why talking to your board-certified dermatologist about a treatment plan is essential. They can discuss your goals to determine which dermal fillers would best meet your needs.
Sculptra pros and cons
Sculptra’s pros and cons depend on your overall goals. Your board-certified dermatologist is essential in determining what will work best for you. However, some things to consider before treatment are:
- Progressive results: Since Sculptra works by helping your body produce its own collagen, it can take up to several months to show results. If you’re looking for an immediate improvement, you may want to try fillers such as the ones in the JUVÉDERM® or Restylane® family of hyaluronic acid fillers as results are visible right after injection. On the other hand, Sculptra results tend to last longer than traditional fillers if you desire long-term results.
- Multiple treatment sessions: To see the best results, you will generally want to receive Sculptra in three or more treatment sessions over a span of one to two months.
- Sculptra cost: The cost of Sculptra varies based on your unique treatment needs and where you receive treatment. At Schlessinger MD, you can expect to spend anywhere from $850 to $1500 per treatment session. We will discuss pricing with you before injecting to ensure you are comfortable with the cost of your treatment plan.
- Rewards with your purchase: Each Sculptra purchase earns Galderma’s Aspire rewards, which can be used to save on future treatments.
- Sculptra isn’t reversible: As a biostimulatory product, its results cannot be reversed. “This means it is important to go to someone who carefully evaluates when and if it is necessary and focuses on doing just the right amount and not ‘overdoing’ it. We are careful in our practice about this, but if weight gain occurs after Sculptra, this could be an issue, as with other permanent and semi-permanent fillers,” Dr. Joel Schlessinger says.
If you’re ready to see if Sculptra is right for you, you can schedule a consultation using our appointment portal