Does Sculptra for the butt work? And how long will it last?

This is a great question as butt augmentation has become one of the most popular procedures in America.  Patients have several options, the most common being a Brazilian Butt Lift (fat transfer to the buttock).  Some of my thin patients will have an augmentation with butt implants or a combination of butt implants and fat transfer.  The procedures have given patients incredible results that have not only enhanced their butt, it transforms them from square to an hourglass figure. 

However, there are patients that are not ready to undergo a surgical procedure or are looking for in-office procedures that have minimal downtime for their butt enhancement.  Sculptra is a great option for patients that want a butt or hip augmentation with minimal to no downtime.

The Sculptra can be used for an initial butt or hip augmentation or to enhance the appearance of a butt augmentation that a patient has had previously.  The Sculptra works by stimulating the body to create its own collagen.  The Sculptra can be injected evenly though out the butt or hip area to give a natural and soft augmentation to the area. 

Sculptra is not a replacement for a Brazilian Butt Lift or butt implant enhancement, however it is a great alternative for patients wanting to improve their current butt augmentation or wanting to enhance their buttock without surgery and minimal downtime.  I explain to patient that this is similar to facial rejuvenation.  Fillers are not a replacement for a facelift, however they do help a tremendous number of patients and often put off the need for surgery for years.  It also allows your plastic surgeon to do some fine tuning of your butt after your BBL or implant surgery. 

The amount of Sculptra that is needed for the butt enhancement is dependent on the areas being treated, however it is more vials than is typically used in facial rejuvenation.  Several vials of Sculptra are injected into the buttock or hip area in the initial treatment. It takes six weeks to two months to see the full results of the Sculptra treatment.  Most patients will need two or three treatments to achieve their desired results. 

The good news is that Sculptra lasts longer then a lot of the fillers on the market.  The typical patient will get around a year and half from each treatment.  Also, Sculptra is different in that it stimulates the body to create its own collagen and thus give patients a very natural and smooth appearance to their butt. 

Please consult with a board-certified plastic surgeon that specializes in butt augmentation to discuss if you are a good candidate for Sculptra injections to enhance your buttock.  He will be able to discuss the advantages between Sculptra, Brazilian Butt Lift and Butt Implant surgery.  

Sculptra is used off-label for Butt enhancement.  Many vials are used to achieve gluteal volume enhancements every 4-6 weeks until contour achieved.  Since over 20 vials are often used for this procedure, sculptra for the Butt is usually used in thin patients that are not candidates for fat grafting or don’t want buttock implants. Realistic expectations are very important for this procedure.

I have performed many buttock augmentations with the above procedure: it is effective & natural looking because it stimulates the thickening of the patient's own tissue. It requires some repeated treatments- usually at 2 month intervals- to achieve a full contour; its duration is probably of several years without weight loss. This procedure was reported in 2017 by a highly regarded NYC dematologist in a respected medical journal.

Sculptra can improve the buttocks. The buttocks need numerous vials of Sculptra over time to build volume, and in some instances the results are subtle and will need to be combined with fat or implants to achieve desired results. I recommend seeing a body shaping expert for a formal evaluation. Best, Dr. Emer.

Sculpra Butt LIft gives predictable long lasting resultsMechanism of action:  Once sculptra is injected into the buttocks, the PLLA moleculres go to work to produce new collagen which just like in the face, increases volume.  I use a cannula for the injections so there is minimal discomfort and no bruising post procedure.  Much larger quantities, 10 vials at a time, have to be injected vs. the face usually only 1 to 2 vials at a time.  Two treamtents are required. This is a great alternative to someone who doesnt want downtime of surgical BBL, i.e. Kim Kardashian, or doesnt have sufficient donor fat for traditional BBL.Duration of results:  I have found that just like on the face, results will last 2 plus years.  It is beneficial to do a touch up treatment every 24 months.

Sculptra® is a great option for those looking for a subtle boost of volume, some modest contouring and an improvement in the appearance of dimpled skin texture due to cellulite. While it won’t provide the same dramatic results as a butt lift through fat transfer or implants, it can offer a nice alternative to a more in depth procedure. Most people require a series of injections, scheduled approximately 3 weeks apart, to see the results they want from a Sculptra® butt lift. Results can last up to 2 years.

I think the most important issue to address in answering this question is what do we mean by "work."  Sculptra, or L-polylactic acid, is an injectable filler that has been used for many years, mainly to add temporary volume to the face.  Relatively recently we also discovered that volume can be produced with Sculptra in other areas of the body too, most notably the buttocks.  We know that in this sense, that is in the production of volume in tissues, it works.  The real question is will it work the way you want it to work.  I have experience with injection of both fat and Sculpta in the buttocks, and there are some differences between them that are worth noting.  None of these things are absolutely "good" or "bad" - in some cases what may be "good" may be undesireable in others.  Thus, it is best to just be objective and recognize the more factual information about the treatments and then decide which one suits your needs best.  Sculptra has the advantage of being available "off-the-shelf," meaning that we don't have to harvest it from somewhere else on your body, we can plan a treatment a little easier, and you won't have to heal or recover as long.  This is particularly good for someone who wants some additional volume in the buttocks but doesn't have enough fat for a fat transfer procedure.  On the other hand, Sculptra is not living tissue, and as such, the effects will be temporary, usually lasting a couple of years or so, depending upon how much was used.  In general Sculptra is dosed by the number of vials injected, and while this will vary from person to person based upon size and amount of volume desired, the average person needs about 5 - 10 vials on each side of the buttocks, with 2 - 3 treatments required to attain the desired results.  This can run into some cost limitations, as each vial of filler used will add to the cost.  At the upper ends of numbers of vials used, the cost of the procedure can start to approximate the cost of a surgical fat transfer, or BBL (Brazilian Butt Lift) procedure.  For this reason I generally see Sculptra more as a shaping and subtle volume corrector as opposed to a treatment to add significant amounts of volume.  Done correctly, both procedures are very safe, but I would say that Sculptra carries a bit less risk than fat transfer simply because there are no issues with donor sites when using Sculptra, and the risk of injecting into blood vessels should be significantly less. The bottom line though is that Sculptra definitely works in the buttocks, and if expectations and goals are realistic, and the right patients are selected for the procedure, it can be very satisfying indeed.  My best advice is to consult with board certified surgeons who offer both procedures so that you will get the best perspective and learn about all of your options.  That way you can make an informed decisino and better select the procedure that is right for you.  Best of luck.

Sculpture in my opinion is a last resort, when a patient absolutely wants something but does not have fat.  It is temporary and may last 1-2 years, and requires a large volume of sculpture to often achieve a patient's goals.

Thank you for asking this question.  Sculptra Aesthetic consists of poly-l-lactic acid and is a product that was originally developed for use in treating depressed facial areas, such as skin creases, wrinkles, folds and scars.  However it has also been found to be suitable for large volume corrections and can be injected into the buttocks for buttock augmentation.  In my experience it definitely works as a non-surgical buttock treatment, but realistic expectations are necessary and more than one treatment will be required.  Unlike a surgical buttock enhancement, it will take time to deliver the desired results while the product works to stimulate the production of collagen within the body, but equally it does not have any of the downtime associated with a surgical procedure.  A clinical study involving 106 people found that when injected into the face, the results of Sculptra lasted at least 25 months, (which is when the study ended).  So while not a permanent treatment, Sculptra can produce long lasting results.  I hope that this information has been helpful and wish you well with your results should you decide to have this treatment.  With my best wishes.  Dr Haus.

Sculptra is Poly-L- Lactic Acid injections, designed to treat hallow cheeks, temples, nasolabial folds, and as of recently buttock volume. It works by stimulating collagen production in the dermis to create more volume overtime.
We typically start by injecting 4 vials and have the patient retreat monthly until we achieve desired volume. Results can last up to 2 years but is recommended to retreat annually to preserve results.

Always discuss desired outcome with your Expert Injector.