What it is
The active material is poly-L-lactic acid, a compound that dissolves in the body and has been used medically for decades. It does not add volume directly the way a filler does; it stimulates fibroblasts to produce new collagen.
The result builds slowly, over weeks to months, and usually needs more than one session. Anyone wanting a difference they can see the same day will not find it here — a common source of disappointment when it is not explained first.
An important difference from filler: hyaluronic acid products can be dissolved if needed. Sculptra cannot. What is injected stays until the body metabolises it, which is why restraint in quantity and spacing between sessions is central to its safety.
Where it is used
- Cheeks and the upper mid-face
- Temples
- The lower cheek and along the jawline
- Generalised volume loss from age or weight change
- Areas off the face in selected cases
When it shows, and how long it lasts
No immediate effect should be expected. What is visible right after injection is the fluid it is prepared in, and that settles within days. The real change appears gradually as collagen forms, usually over weeks, and continues to improve between sessions.
The number of sessions and their spacing are decided by examination. How long it lasts varies with age, lifestyle and metabolism.
Who it suits
- Those with diffuse volume loss rather than one defined hollow
- Those content with a gradual result and not asking for an immediate one
- Those who understand it takes more than one session and follow-up
- Those whose general health allows it
When we advise delaying or not treating
- Pregnancy and breastfeeding
- Active infection in or near the area
- Autoimmune conditions in an active phase
- A known tendency to keloid or hypertrophic scarring
- Known allergy to a component
- Anyone wanting an immediate result — filler suits that better, or nothing does
- Marked skin laxity; stimulating collagen does not address mechanical sagging
- A request for large quantities in one session. We decline: spacing is what reduces the risk of nodules
How the session goes
- Examination and assessment of the features, with a review of medical history and medicines.
- The material is prepared well in advance; correct preparation is part of its safety, not a detail.
- Local anesthetic, then injection into the appropriate plane by needle or cannula.
- Massage of the area afterwards, according to protocol.
- Review after some weeks to assess what has formed before considering a further session.
Afterwards
- Massage the area as instructed, for the period you are given
- Avoid high heat and strenuous exercise on the first day
- Swelling and bruising are possible and settle gradually
- Do not judge the result early; judging it too soon leads to over-treatment
Possible effects
Stated in full, because this product cannot be reversed:
- Swelling, bruising and local tenderness — common and temporary
- Nodules and papules: the principal concern. They can appear weeks or months later, and are associated with inadequate preparation, injection into too superficial a plane, or too much at once. Some are felt rather than seen; some need treating.
- Asymmetry — managed by working gradually and reviewing
- Delayed inflammatory reaction: uncommon, and it can begin months after the last session. It shows as swelling, redness or tenderness at a site that was injected before, and it is sometimes set off by an illness, an infection elsewhere in the body, or dental work. It does not mean nothing can be done; it is treatable, and it is more straightforward to deal with when it is caught early.
Prevention matters more than treatment here: correct preparation, the correct plane, conservative quantity, and sessions spaced apart. Anyone offering a complete result in a single session is increasing the risk, not the benefit.
If a lump, swelling or redness appears in an area that was injected — even months after the last session — contact us to have it examined. Do not wait for it to settle on its own, and do not press it or try to break it down yourself. This is not an emergency, but it needs looking at rather than postponing.
A note on darker skin
The material itself is unaffected by skin tone. The consideration is the needle and any bruising, which can leave temporary post-inflammatory pigmentation more readily in deeper skin tones; that is reduced by fewer entry points and by using a cannula where appropriate. Any tendency to keloid scarring is asked about before treating.
See also
Common questions
When will I see a result?
Not immediately. What is visible straight after injection is the fluid it is prepared in, and it settles within days. The effect forms gradually over weeks as collagen is produced.
How many sessions will I need?
The examination decides. It depends on the degree of volume loss and on how you respond between sessions, and cannot be set in advance.
Can it be dissolved if I dislike it?
No. This is a fundamental difference from filler, and the reason for working gradually and conservatively.
How does it differ from filler?
Filler adds volume directly and can be dissolved. Sculptra prompts your body to make collagen, so the result appears slowly and cannot be reversed.
Does it hurt?
Local anesthetic is used. Sensation varies between people and between areas.
Is the massage afterwards necessary?
Yes, and you are given its pattern and duration. Following it is part of reducing the chance of nodules.
I have noticed a lump months after my session. What should I do?
Get in touch and we will arrange to examine it. Nodules can appear late, and some are felt rather than seen. Do not massage or press it on your own initiative; it is assessed first, then what suits it is decided. Caught early, it is easier to deal with.
Does it suit a very thin face?
Sometimes, but with greater caution. Thin skin over a lean area makes any irregularity more visible.
I am pregnant or breastfeeding.
We postpone.