Why do Sculptra and Thermage have different results even though they both work by increasing collagen production?

The "holy grail" outcome of many cosmetic dermatology procedures is the production of collagen.  Where and how much new collagen you hope to gain are the keys to treatment choice.Collagen production that is created outside the body's natural inclination to do so is primarily achieved through the process of some kind of controlled "injury" or an induced response to the introduction of an agent (like Sculpta). Although that might be a confusing concept, it's actually fairly simple.The body reacts to injury with a cascade response, the end result nearly always some level of new collagen deposition in the skin.  (Ex: Elevated scars are the result of the body's natural wound repair system.)Sculptra:We use Sculptra to trigger a response to increase volume, so you'll see this injectable almost entirely used for facial volume replacement. Although the injection of the suspension fluid is not an actual injury, the Sculptra micro-particles trigger an inflammatory response that ultimately increases the amount of collagen in the areas treated. Thermage:Heat-producing devices such as Thermage depend on heating tissue up to specific temperature levels to achieve new collagen production. From the Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology: "As a result of the deep delivered energy into the skin, collagen remodeling through a controlled wound healing response occurs over time with associated neocollagenesis. This collagen remodeling also yields the desired tissue tightening that is seen with these devices."Both Sculptra injections and Thermage are delivered in a highly controlled process to assure a smooth result, whether for tightening or volume creation.

Excellent question. The difference is in how the two procedures stimulate collagen production. Sculptra contains poly-L-lactic acid, which promotes collagen production by initiating an inflammatory response within the dermal structure. This leads to more fullness when the collagen is produced. Thermage delivers heat via radiofrequency energy to the underlying dermal layers, which constricts tissue while triggering collagen production for a tightening effect. You can have these treatments separately or you can combine them to achieve even more dramatic results. Make sure you work with a board-certified cosmetic dermatologist no matter which treatment plan you choose to ensure an optimal outcome. 

Hello,Sculptra causes increased volume by addition of new collagen around the poly-L-lactate crystals below the level of the skin. Thermage stimulates both collagen production and subtraction in the skin, otherwise known as 're-modeling'. Best of luck!