How Does Sculptra Build Collagen if It's Injected into Muscle (Temple)?

Question

I did not think you can stimulate collagen of the skin by injecting into the muscle. I would think it would just dissipate without leaving any semi-permanent improvement. Does anyone know the mechanism behind this?

Babak Azizzadeh, MD, FACS · Answer

GREAT Question! Sculptra is a great treatment for adding volume to the temples. Although there has not been scientific studies on this topic, but most experts believe that the area around the periosteum (tissue attached to the bone) likely increases in thickness. In order to treat the temples, your doctor needs to inject the Sculptra as deep as possible, which is usually below the muscle and close to the bone. Sculptra then stimulates the growth of new collagen, which lifts the muscles to create a more youthful appearance.

Daniel Shapiro, MD · Answer

Within the deep dermis, your skin's structure is reinforced as Sculptra helps to replace lost collagen. This reinforced collagen structure provides a foundation that gradually restores the look of fullness of your shallow to deep facial wrinkles and folds that has been depleted over time.

Kenneth R. Francis, MD, FACS · Answer

The fibroblast (the cell that produces collagen) is found in virtually ALL tissues of the human body. So, injecting Sculptra into the muscle stimulates the fibroblasts that are found within the muscle tissue to produce collagen, just as it stimulates skin fibroblasts when injected close to the skin.

Stephen Weber MD, FACS · Answer

Sculptra temple injections are performed beneath the temporalis muscle to plump the temples. An additional advantage to injecting Sculptra and other fillers deep to the muscle is that this location reduces trismus or pain with opening the jaw. If you have had injections into or surgery on that muscle before, you realize that trismus can be very uncomfortable but is typically temporary. Sculptra injections elsewhere in the face are typically placed either in the deep dermis or just above the facial bones. Areas to avoid with this treatment include the eyelids and lips as Sculptra treatment of this area can result in nodules.
	Thank you for your question.Stephen Weber MD, FACS

Sean Doherty, MD, FACS · Answer

Sculptra is an excellent treatment for temple hollowing. This look is very aging and improvement here has a tremendous rejuvenating effect. Sculptra in this area is injected very deep--below the muscle and close to the bone--if not on it. It is in the layer that collagen is stimulated.

Timothy G. Rodgers, MD, FAAD · Answer

Sculptra is typically injected very deep.  In the temple area, it is injected deep against the bone itself.  This seems to result in the most collagen production and most natural results.

Edward Szachowicz, MD, PhD · Answer

Sculptra is unique filler in that the crystals of polylactic acid actually stimulate the body to produce brand new collagen, regardless of the age of the person. There are very few good types of filler to treat the temple hollows when they occur. Sculptra corrects the temple hollow when placed in a depot (deep) injection below the muscle. When new collagen is stimulated to form, the new collagen lifts the muscle and creates a very natural look. Typically 3-4 treatments are necessary, depending on the depth of the hollow and the age of the person (young people develop collagen more quickly).

How Does Sculptra Build Collagen if It's Injected into Muscle (Temple)?

Answers (7)

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