If Sculptra did work slightly in my cheeks & I have a facelift, would that affect the results?

Question

I received 4 vials of Sculptra a few months ago, but I experienced minimal results, and it did not lift my face at all. I am now open to trying a facelift. However, I’m wondering: if Sculptra did work slightly in my cheeks and I proceed with a facelift, would that affect the results? Since Sculptra lasts about two years, would the facelift results look better initially but then worsen after two years when the collagen from Sculptra diminishes, potentially causing more sagging in my face?

Tanveer Janjua, MD · Answer

Since you did not see much of a change after Sculptra it is ok to get a facelift. If you had a significant change after getting Sculptra then it would be prudent to wait for at least two years to have it all dissolve for proper estimation of the pulling and skin removal in a facelift. 
Regards
Dr. J

Michelle Zweifler, MD · Answer

Facelifts after Sculptra and fillers in general has become a popular topic recently.  Normally Sculptra works by stimulating one's collagen from an inflammatory response to the product.  Patients with an intense response may have more scar tissue with some increased difficulty with a facelift.
The depth of the Sculptra injections plays a role; if placed deep on the bone often it is less of an issue than more superficial in the fatty layer.  Aging with loss of collagen and elasticity causes sagging.

Ronald J. Edelson, MD · Answer

I have performed many facelifts on patients with filler without any problems. If you’re a good candidate for a facelift it might be worth considering

Ruslan Zhuravsky, DO · Answer

Hi, That is a very good question and much more common than you would think. The overall answer is no, it does not work this way. Sculptra is a bio-stimulatory filler, which means that it adds volume by stimulating your body to create collagen in place of the injected "filler". As all fillers, it replaces lost volume in order to "reinflate" what has "deflated" with time ... but it does not truly "lift.As we age, there are 3 main categories of changes that occur; skin changes, volume loss, and laxity (drop with gravity). Fillers like Sculptra address the volume loss aspect but not the laxity, which is addressed by a facelift. The problem that we see very often is that fillers are being used to over inflate the face in order to avoid an actual lift. Sculptra, fat grafting, and other fillers are meant only to replace the volume and should be done with attention to where the volume was actually lost and the patients aesthetics. A facelift, especially a true deep plane facelift will act to lift the areas that have dropped with time. Loss of collagen from Sculptra may lead to some volumetric changes, but these continue to occur with time anyway and they occur gradually, rather than a sudden loss in 2 years. These volume losses can be treated with fat grafting or fillers as they occur and as you see fit, but the laxity from the facelift will not return sudden after 2 years in the way that you describe. The only down side that I have seen with scupltra and deep plane facelifting is that it can make the surgery itself slightly more challenging for the surgeon. However, those of us who perform these surgeries often and in the proper manner as used to it by now. If you are considering a facelift, please make sure to consult with at least a couple of surgeons that perform quality facelifts without the gimmicks. Make sure to read up on facelifting from quality sites prior to going in, so that you can have a better understanding of what is being offered.

Zoran Potparic, MD · Answer

Providing that you are a candidate for face lift, current Sculptra injection will not significantly contribute to your surgery result. Once effect of Sculptra is lost you can consider a new injection or select some other filler including fat grafts. Good luck.

Sean Fisher, MD · Answer

It should not directly affect your face and neck lift, assuming you pursue surgery from a well qualified plastic surgeon with expertise in facial rejuvenation. Biostimuatory agents, such as sculptra, stimulate collagen formation but also internal scar formation. This means that the planes of dissection can be more difficult to define during surgical dissection. While this can be more challenging to dissect, the effect of the face lift, once those tissues have been dissected appropriately, should be much the same. If you have noted minimal change from a single visit for injection, the change in volume over time should not drastically affect your results in the long-term. 
Sean Fisher Aesthetic Plastic SurgeonSeattle, WA

William Portuese, MD · Answer

Sculptra is a filler, it does not lift soft tissues like a facelift does. The goal of a lower face and neck lift is to tighten loose facial and neck skin, tighten loose facial and neck muscles, lift the jowls, and remove fat deposits above and below the platysma muscle in your neck, including a platysma plasty to significantly improve your jawline. Much more information is needed, such as a full set of facial and neck photographs from all angles and your age to make a determination about being a candidate for a facelift procedure. In our practice, we have removed large misplaced sculptra nodules during a facelift procedure.

If Sculptra did work slightly in my cheeks & I have a facelift, would that affect the results?

Answers (7)

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