Is Sculpra safe for ehlers danlos skin?

I totally understand why this can feel confusing—there’s a lot of numbers and ratios thrown around, and it’s not as simple as a 1:1 increase. A lip lift works by shortening the space between the base of your nose and your upper lip (the philtrum), which in turn rotates and slightly rolls out the upper lip.

The general rule that surgeons reference is that for every millimeter of skin removed from the philtrum, the upper lip typically moves 0.5 to 0.7 mm forward and curls outward, not a full 1:1. So if someone had a 4 mm lip lift, you might see roughly a 2–3 mm increase in lip projection. For an 8 mm lip lift, the increase could be somewhere around 4–5 mm, depending on your natural anatomy, lip thickness, and elasticity of your skin.

It’s also important to remember that the visual change isn’t just vertical—it also subtly changes the curvature of your upper lip, making the cupid’s bow more defined and the teeth more visible when you smile. Everyone’s face reacts a little differently, so the ratios are really averages rather than guarantees.

The key takeaway is that a lip lift enhances projection and shows more of your upper teeth, but the exact millimeters of forward movement depend on your unique anatomy, so small differences in lift can have a noticeable effect without being strictly linear.

This is a great and very important question. When it comes to Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS), there is no one-size-fits-all answer—and that’s exactly why a thoughtful, multi-modality approach matters so much.
Sculptra (poly-L-lactic acid) works by stimulating your body’s own collagen production over time. In some patients with EDS, this can be beneficial, particularly for improving overall skin quality rather than creating volume. However, EDS skin is unique: connective tissue is more fragile, healing can be unpredictable, and the risk of complications, such as bruising, nodules, or uneven collagen response, can be higher if the treatment is not performed very conservatively.
Also, because EDS affects how collagen is formed and organized, the collagen stimulated by Sculptra may not behave the same way as in individuals without a connective tissue disorder. As a result, patients with EDS may experience more variable and sometimes less pronounced volumizing outcomes compared with those who have normal collagen function.
At Citrus Aesthetics, we don’t automatically rule Sculptra out, but we approach it with extreme intention. If it’s considered, it’s done using:
Lower product volumesStrategic placementExtended treatment timelinesClose follow-up and monitoring
That said, collagen stimulation alone is rarely enough for EDS skin. This is where a multi-modality approach becomes essential. Depending on the individual, we often focus on combining treatments that support skin health from multiple angles, such as:
Energy-based devices that gently stimulate collagen without over-stressing the tissueBiostimulators used cautiously and strategicallyMedical-grade skincare to support the skin barrierNutrition, lifestyle, and internal support that play a huge role in skin integrity
For concerns like skin laxity and reduced elasticity, the goal isn’t aggressive tightening, it’s long-term skin resilience. The safest and most effective plans for EDS patients are always highly personalized and conservative, prioritizing skin health first and aesthetic results second.
If you have EDS and are considering any injectable treatment, it’s critical to work with a provider who understands connective tissue disorders and is comfortable building a customized, multi-modality plan rather than relying on a single treatment.
Aesthetic treatments should always be discussed with and performed by a trained, licensed, and medically certified aesthetic provider. The recommendations above are for educational purposes only and do not replace an in-person consultation, examination, or personalized medical advice.