What is the Difference Between Artefill and Sculptra?

Sculptra is absorbable suture material injected under the skin and in a significant number of patients it is permanent. It is a better volumizer, like filling in a hollow cheek as opposed to  filling in a line.

 

Artefill is permanent. It is plexiglass like beads in a collagen base and it is permament.  In a small number of cases 2% you can have a residual lump under the skin that is typically not visible but palpable. 

Both are great fillers just have different uses. If you want to see what it would look like before you put it in you can use hyaluronic fillers which are always temporary.

 

Sculptra is a beta hydroxy acid that is injected into the skin to stimulate the production of your own collagen.  It thickens thin skin and lasts about 2 years.  Artefill is a filler that contains polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) particles and bovine collagen and is used to replace volume loss.  These synthetic particles are permanent and not absorbed by the body.  There is a chance at any time of developing a reaction to the particles.  I prefer hyaluronic acid fillers since they are so safe.

Sculptra is a very popular filler which is used to volumize a face.  It causes the body to produce collagen where it is injected and then is degredated by the body.  The results will last about 2-3 years because of the collagen which is produced.  Artefill, is never degredated, and will last a lifetime.  I don't recommend this filler because the body changes as we age and the filler might not look good down the road.  Also, complications can occur with this fillers years after it's placement.  Although the attractiveness of having a long corrrection with the Artefill is appreciated, the long term potential issues keep me from using it.

Sculptra is a "stimulatory" filler which takes time for the result to develop. It is long lasting but does disappear over time.

It is a limited access filler in that they only sell to doctors that have been trained by one of their trainers to use the product.  We feel that it is the best filler to duplicate loss of fat.  It should not be used in the lips or about the eyelids.

Artefill is a permanent filler.  It will be in place forever, but the body does continue to age about it. It also cannot be used in lips or eyelids.  We feel due to its density it is the best product to be used in the naso-labial folds.  It is the most expensive product we use and as such we use it more sparingly.

Dr. Mayl

Fort Lauderdale