Sculptra or Facial Laser for aging spots and discoloration? Which would be more beneficial? (Photo)

If your main concern is that your face looks tired, hollow, or deflated, start with Sculptra.

Restoring structure usually makes the biggest difference in how youthful and lifted you appear even before fixing surface discoloration.

If your skin has good structure but you feel “aged” mainly because of spots, uneven tone, or dullness, start with a laser.

A clear, radiant complexion gives an instant refreshed look even without volume correction.

Thank you for sharing your question and photo. Both Sculptra and laser treatments can be very effective, but they address different elements of facial aging—one focuses on restoring structure while the other improves skin quality.

Volume loss in the temples can contribute to a more hollow or tired appearance, while discoloration and uneven tone can affect overall radiance. In your case, you have some mild volume loss as well as some sun-related pigmentation, but neither is pronounced enough to make one treatment the clear priority. Because of that, there isn’t a single “correct” choice to start with—both would be beneficial, just in different ways.

If you’re most interested in softening that hollowed look and creating a smoother, more balanced contour, starting with Sculptra may be a good option. If your primary concern is achieving brighter, clearer skin, then beginning with a laser treatment may be the better first step.

Ultimately, a combination approach usually provides the most natural and refreshed result over time, but whichever you decide to do first will still make a noticeable improvement.

Thank you for sharing your question and photo — it’s an excellent one, and I completely understand wanting to choose the most effective treatment when working within a budget.

Both Sculptra and laser treatments can rejuvenate the skin, but they target different aspects of aging:

Sculptra works from within — it gradually stimulates your own collagen production to restore lost volume in areas like the temples, cheeks, and lower face. This leads to a more lifted, youthful contour over time, though it doesn’t directly treat pigment or sun spots.

Facial lasers, on the other hand, work on the surface — they help improve skin tone, sun damage, and discoloration, giving a brighter, more even complexion.

If you could only do one first, I would recommend basing your choice on what bothers you most right now:

If the uneven tone and sun spots are your main concern and you want to refresh the skin’s appearance, start with the laser.

If the volume loss and hollowing make you look tired or aged, start with Sculptra, since it rebuilds the foundation of the face and creates longer-term structural improvement.

Ideally, both treatments complement each other beautifully — but if starting with one, think of Sculptra as rebuilding the structure, and laser as refinishing the surface.