{"id":13592,"date":"2021-08-24T14:26:00","date_gmt":"2021-08-24T21:26:00","guid":{"rendered":"https://www.realself.com\/news\/?p=13592"},"modified":"2023-10-12T12:16:18","modified_gmt":"2023-10-12T19:16:18","slug":"sculptra-not-your-average-filler","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https://www.realself.com\/news\/sculptra-not-your-average-filler","title":{"rendered":"Instagram vs. Reality, Sculptra Edition: Here\u2019s Why It\u2019s Not Your Average Filler"},"content":{"rendered":"

Seeing an aesthetic procedure all over social media can breed a strange sort of FOMO. (Hey, we’re not immune.) Yet it may be difficult to distinguish for-the-’Gram fads from truly “Worth It” tweaks. Which is why we’re launching a new series on RealSelf: <\/em>Everybody’s Doing It.<\/em><\/a> Each month, we’ll explore all sides of an of-the-moment cosmetic procedure, to bring you the uncensored truth about its efficacy and safety so you can decide if it’s right for you. Here, in our latest installment, we’re talking Sculptra.<\/em><\/em><\/p>

Filler<\/em>: it’s the vague catchall we use to describe the myriad injectable gels doctors rely on to shape and swell our lips, restore time-sapped fullness, and fake better bone structure. The majority of FDA-approved dermal fillers<\/a> used in the United States are composed of a short-lived sugary substance called hyaluronic acid (HA)—but a few standouts are made from different, more durable biocompatible materials: Bellafill<\/a> buoys acrylic beads in a collagen base; Radiesse<\/a> is a synthetic calcium paste; and Sculptra<\/a> (a.k.a Sculptra Aesthetic from Galderma), the star of this column, is a liquid-y suspension of the man-made polymer poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA).<\/p>

These three are known as biostimulatory fillers, because they, quite literally, stimulate the biological process of collagen production to create a longer-lasting plump than do temporary HAs, which can be life-changing for those with waning facial volume and other signs of facial aging, from sagging to smile lines. However, patients seeking rejuvenation tend to be more wary of these collagen stimulators, says board-certified Boston dermatologist Dr. Papri Sarkar<\/a>, for two main reasons: they’re not reversible, like HA fillers (which can be melted with a shot of enzyme<\/a>), and they’ve historically gotten less airtime. “People simply haven’t heard that much about them,” she says. <\/p>

If recent social media posts are any indication, however, Sculptra’s days of being upstaged by HA seem to be over. What Insta captions rarely reveal though are the shot’s eccentricities, which make it a tad more high-maintenance than, say, your average HA. So please, read on for the proverbial fine print.<\/p>

Interested in Sculptra?<\/small><\/div>Find Doctors Near You<\/a><\/div>

How does Sculptra work?<\/h2>

Sculptra arrives at your doctor’s office as a powdered amalgam of PLLA microparticles plus mannitol (a preservative) and sodium carboxymethylcellulose (an emulsifier), in a glass vial. An appropriate dose of saline (or sterile water) transforms the dry mix into a syrupy suspension. Once injected, “the PLLA acts like scaffolding, providing a structure on which collagen can grow and making it easier for your body to build more of the protein,” says Dr. Sarkar. <\/p>

Since collagen synthesis typically takes 6 to 12 weeks, the immediate swell you see post-shot is essentially water weight. Within two days, your body absorbs the saline, treated areas deflate back to baseline, and you’re left waiting for your collagen cells to slowly refill the voids. “I liken PLLA to collagen seeds,” says Dr. Jason Bloom<\/a>, a board-certified facial plastic surgeon in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania. “We mix it with water, spread it evenly wherever we want new collagen growth, and then we wait for it to take root.” A second or even a third treatment, separated by roughly six weeks, is sometimes needed—with individual results lasting up to two years or more.<\/p>

Doctors have found that “once you create this lattice-like structural support, not only can your collagen grow into it and bloom, but if you inject Sculptra again down the road, you’ll get greater longevity and a better overall result because there’s that preexisting scaffold,” says Dr. Lara Devgan<\/a>, a board-certified plastic surgeon in New York City.<\/p>

Related: Deceptive Before & After Photos Are Everywhere. Here’s How to Spot the Red Flags.<\/a><\/em><\/p>

Where Sculptra shines<\/h2>

Sculptra’s broad FDA indication—“shallow to deep nasolabial fold contour deficiencies and other facial wrinkles<\/a> in which deep dermal grid pattern [cross-hatch] injection technique is appropriate”—allows for diverse applications, notes New York City board-certified dermatologic surgeon Dr. Jessica Weiser<\/a>. On the face, injectors like it for seemingly bottomless-pit type areas, such as the temples and the tops of the nasolabial folds on either side of the nose, which can remain sunken-looking even after multiple syringes of HA. “Sculptra is my treatment of choice for temple hollowing,” says Dr. Weiser. “Your body produces this really nice, gentle swell of the temples, for a youthful appearance that’s not puffy or overdone.” Gaunt cheeks, in-front-of-the-ear hollows, and weak chins (and accompanying chin wrinkles) can also benefit from the natural collagen padding a Sculptra treatment provides. <\/p>

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This . Is . Why . I 👏 LOVE 👏 SCULPTRA 👏 👏 👏⁣ ⁣ This patient came in because over a few months, she no longer recognized herself. It’s not that her face was sagging, it’s that her volume had completely disappeared. ⁣ ⁣ This after pic was taken 8 weeks after her first session of Sculptra – which I refer to as my watercolor of injectables (check out my previous post). It’s a stimulatory filler that boosts your body to create its own collagen! For the right type of patient, it’s nothing short of miraculous 🙌😇 ⁣ ⁣ FACTOID: Sculptra was initially approved as a medical treatment to help in the physical appearance of HIV associated fat loss in the face – delivering little miracles since day 1 👌<\/a><\/p>

A post shared by Dr. Shereene Idriss<\/a> (@shereeneidriss) on