Fat Transfer Vs Sculptra

Truly rejuvenation of the face comes with re-inflating the balloon, i.e. our face. Replenishing volume that we used to have should be performed with fillers that will give you the most even result, with minimal bumps or lumps. Sculptra is made of PLLA (poly-L-lactic acid) requires typically 3 sessions, 4-6 weeks apart and works by stimulating your own collagen as PLLA gets reabsorbed almost completely in 2 weeks and gets replaced by your own collagen over time. In the early days of Sculptra where the dilution protocol was not uniform, lumps or bumps are more common. With the current dilution protocol with the FDA approval for cosmetic usage, lumps or bumps are exceedingly rare among experienced Sculptra physician injectors. There may be more versatility with Sculptra as there is always opportunity to make the subtlest augmentation adjustment in case there is any asymmetry. Fat transfer is a fine option; however, even in the best hands, there could be issues with lumpiness or uneven results as the fat transplant may not be evenly reabsorbed underneath the skin.

This is a great question, since it is consistently one of the most frequent questions asked in our clinics.  Unlike fillers and Sculptra, fat is a living cell-adipocytes.  When we remove fat from one part of the body, we are cutting off the circulation to these cells and they will die unless they receive new blood supply.  When we place these fat to a new place, we are expecting new source of blood supply to grow.  Once they do, the fat cells will survive and they will last for a very long time.  So it is crucial that the techniques used to harvest fat, purification, and placement of fat in the new location all increase the possibility of fat survival.  When these techniques are used, fat grafting is very consistent a wonderful method to volumize with a natural and long lasting result. I hope this helps!

For non-surgical volumizing of the face, I would certainly recommend Sculptra.  After having used Sculptra in many patients, I have been impressed with it's volumizing abilities through the formation of collagen.  Now, I tend to reserve fat grafting in the face for patients where I am already considering a separate surgical consideration such as eyelids or facelift.Done properly, both fat grafting and Sculptra can be done with very natural looking results and without developing lumps or bumps.

Fat transfer typically leads to partial long-term fill. Some of the fat get reasbsorbed by your body and some will survive. So there may not be a uniform contour by the time all is said and done. Sculptra can also lead to bumpiness, but i have found it to be much less than fat, particularly if the Sculptra is diluted and injected a bit deeper into the tissue.

You may not have enough donor fat for fat injections if you are an athlete. Sculptra and Fat can leave lumps, but the lumps fro Sculptra are usually not visible. You will feel them when you touch the skin from the outside, or push your tongue against the cheek from the inside. Sculptra does take several sessions and it takes a while for your body to produce collagen as a response to the material. Radiesse is an immediate filler and can replace significant volume losses well but does disappear in about 10 months to a year or more.

Sculptra can produce lumps and there is no consistent way to predict or prevent their occurence. Sculptra can be quite costly to achieve significant volume correction. It does offer convenience and that is its primary advantage.

Both Sculptra and fat transfer have pros and cons. Sculptra is great for restoring volume because of its long lasting results due to the fact that it works by stimulating your own collagen. The downside is that it’s something that needs to be maintained once a year after the initial series of injections. Fat Transfer is ideal because you are using your own fat to add volume to your face which is natural. The negatives for fat transfer is the unpredictability of how much fat the body will reabsorb as well as the texture. Fat is not a smooth substance, so the area that the fat is transferred to can appear uneven and bumpy. Because of the volatility of fat transfer, I tend to lean more toward Sculptra and continue to be very pleased with patient results. Best of luck to you!

Depending on the area in the face, there are a number of excellent options including fat transfer, sculptra, and voluma to replenish volume in the face. Each has its strengths and weaknesses. Without photos, the best recommendation is to consult with three experienced and expert board certified plastic surgeons.

Today, we have many choices for facial fillers. Sculptura was developed as a filler to treat overall facial wasting that occurs with age due to loss of fat and other supporting tissue and has just been approved by the FDA for cosmetic usage. It works well to improve contours of the cheeks and improve hollowing around the eyes. Unlike other fillers such as Juvederm made from hyaluronic acid which immediately plumps and fills, Sculptura, stimulates your own tissues to produce collagen so the results improve over several months. Typically 2-3 treatments spaced several weeks apart will provide the optimum improvement and results are thought to last up to 2 years.
Fat transfers can soften the lines around your mouth using your own fat from a different area of your body (typically your hips, buttocks, or abdomen). It can be used to plump lips, fill in cheeks and improve facial contours. Since it is your own fat you can't be allergic to it and last longer than other fillers- about 50% of the fat stays permanently where it was injected