Sculptra

Injectable Poly-L-Lactic Acid

Sculptra® is an active filler that effectively restores areas of volume deficit. This innovative treatment has been available for many years on the European market and was approved in the United States August 2004.

Sculptra® has been used on over 150,000 patients in 30 countries. Sculptra® works to fill lines, wrinkles, and other volume deficits by stimulating the production of your body’s own collagen to increase skin thickness. Therefore, giving the natural appearance of younger, smoother, healthier looking skin.

Clinical studies show duration of effect greater than 2 years post injection without a return to baseline. Initial treatment will require more than one injection session to obtain a desired result. However, due to collagen production, touch up sessions at the 2 year timeframe and beyond typically require fewer injections and less product.

Sculptra® has been proven to be safe and effective. Allergy testing is not required prior to injection. Sculptra® is biocompatible and biodegradable. Sculptra® is made of a poly-l-lactic acid, a lactic acid monomer. Lactic acid based products have been used extensively in the medical industry.

Sculptra® injections are performed in the office with a small needle. Sculptra® is injected into the deep layer of the skin. The procedure takes approximately 20 minutes and requires no down time.

Sculptra™ Q and A's

WHAT IS SCULPTRA?
Sculptra is a synthetic injectable material made from microscopic crystals of poly-L-lactic acid. Poly-L-lactic acid is biocompatible (a material that does not harm the body), biodegradable (able to be broken down by the body), and has been widely used for many years in dissolvable stitches, soft tissue implants, and other types of implants.

HAS SCULPTRA™ BEEN FDA APPROVED?
Sculptra was first approved in Europe in 1999 for the cosmetic correction of scars and wrinkles. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Sculptra™ in August 2004 for the treatment of facial fat loss in patients with human immunodeficiency virus. The use of Sculptra™ for cosmetic applications is currently considered “off label” in the United States, but may be performed at the discretion of and under the orders of a physician.

HOW ARE SCULPTRA™ TREATMENTS PERFORMED?
Sculptra™ is injected below the skin with a small needle.

HOW MANY TREATMENTS ARE NEEDED?
Two to as many as five treatment sessions 4-5 weeks apart are usually needed. Other than the initial “needle poke” sensation, the treatment is quite comfortable and free of burning or stinging.

HOW DOES SCULPTRA DIFFER FROM OTHER APPROACHES?
There is a fundamental difference between Sculptra™ and all other “fillers” available today including Cosmoderm™, Restylane®, and Radiesse™. Sculptra is a volume increaser (“volumizer”). It does not in and of itself fill the depressed areas. Instead, Sculptra™ is a new generation of space filling substances. It stimulates the body to form its own natural collagen. In doing so, Sculptra smoothes loose, wrinkled and/or depressed skin. Results usually last two years, at which point a touch up treatment may be needed to maintain the desired effect.

WHEN WILL I BEGIN TO SEE RESULTS?
For the first couple of days, the treated areas usually appear improved due to swelling at the sites. The swelling subsides quickly leaving the areas looking the same as before the treatment. Be patient! Lasting results appear over a period of 3-4 months as the body produces its own collagen.

ARE THERE ANY SIDE EFFECTS?
Side effects are similar to those of any substance administered with a small needle. These include swelling, bruising, small “blood bumps” under the skin and bumps from newly formed collagen. Overall, these problems are mild and short-lived and seldom require discontinuation of treatment.

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST?
Sculptra™ treatments are priced according to the amount of material used. Because the fees vary in this way, they are individually quoted.

CAN SCULPTRA BE COMBINED WITH ANY OTHER TREATMENTS?
Yes. Sculptra™ may be used with other fillers, as well as fractional laser technology.