Why is Sculptra measured in mg rather than cc or ml?

Sculptra comes as a powder that is reconstituted with sterile water.  Each vial has the same amount, measured in mg because it is a powder and not a liquid.  The treating physician can decide how much water to add to the vial, so the volume can vary.  Thus the volume can vary, but the mg amount is the same per vial.  

Sculptra comes in a powder form so it has to be measured in mg. It is not in a liquid form until is it reconstituted in the doctor's office. The mixture is not standardized and is done per the preference of the injecting physician. Most docs are using a 9 cc reconstitution now. It was originally recommended to be a 4 or 5 cc dilution but it was found that this lead to more nodules than the less concentrated solution. Regardless of the cc's used for reconstitution, when a vial is used, the patient gets the full contents. 

Leah,Hello and thank you for the question.  Sculptra is distinct from other injectables.  It is a biostimulator, by definition, which means that its introduction into tissue incites neocollagenesis or the formation of new collagen.  The product, unlike some of the mainstream fillers such as Juvederm and Restylane, is packaged as a powder and not a liquid.  It becomes liquid upon being reconstituted.  Hence, its quantified measurement is described in mg rather than ml.  Warmest Regards,Glenn Vallecillos, MD, FACS