Your Sculptra treatment
Sculptra renews the look of skin by improving the appearance of wrinkles up to 25 months between treatment1. Before you have your first treatment with Sculptra, you will always have a consultation with a healthcare professional. Think through what you want to achieve and what questions you may want to ask your healthcare practitioner. We recommend you to read through our Q&A section below to find out more about treatments with Sculptra. View Important Product Safety Information.
The first step: Find your clinic
Christoph Martschin, dermatologist, Sweden, gives his best advice on how to find a clinic and a healthcare practitioner that you can trust and be comfortable with for your treatment.
Treatment areas
Sculptra increases skin volume, helps improve skin firmness and reduces the appearance of wrinkles.
What to ask your practitioner
A clear and open conversation with your doctor is important prior to treatment. Make sure you get all the information you need to make the decision that is right for you. Talk to your doctor about treatment expectations.
Here are a few questions that we recommend you ask your healthcare practitioner:
• Is Sculptra the right product for me?
• How does Sculptra work?
• What happens during the treatment?
• How many treatments do you think I would need?
• When can I expect to see results?
• How long will the results last?
• What are the possible side effects with Sculptra?
• Are there any ingredients in Sculptra that I may be allergic to?
• Could my medical history or previous treatments affect or prevent treatment?
• Is there anything I should do before and after treatment?
• Any other question you may have.
Prior to treatment, tell your doctor about all the medications you are taking, even over-the counter products or treatments.
You will also find detailed information about treatment with Sculptra in our FAQ section below.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Will the treatment be painful?
As with any injection, some pain at the treatment site is possible. Our healthcare practitioner may use optional addition of a local anesthetic lidocaine. Consult your doctor about what to expect prior to treatment.
How soon will I see results?
Sculptra is designed to give you noticeable results that emerge gradually with increased collagen production. Sculptra can give you noticable results that emerge subtly. Because results happen gradually, you may notice subtle reductions in the appearance of facial wrinkles and folds over time.
Your healthcare professional will determine the best treatment plan for you. Because results happen gradually, you will see subtle, yet noticeable, results in the reduction of facial wrinkles and folds by comparing images before treatment and a couple months following treatment.*
*Safety and effectiveness of Sculptra have not been evaluated in areas other than nasolabial wrinkles and folds.
What should I apply or avoid after treatment?
To help ensure safe use and obtain optimal results, it is important that you comply with the aftercare instructions provided by your doctor. In the days following your treatment, the following can be done after each treatment session for swift healing and optimum results:
Cold pack: A cold pack or ice pack will help reduce any common swelling and/or bruising. Within the first 24 hours of treatment, apply a cloth-wrapped cold pack to the treated area for a few minutes at a time. Never apply ice directly to the skin.
Facial massage: Massage the treated area for five minutes five times a day for five days after treatment to promote a natural looking correction, as recommended by your healthcare practitioner.
Avoid sunlight and UV esposure: After treatment, excessive sunlight and UV lamp exposure should be avoided until any initial swelling and redness have disappeared. Your healthcare practitioner will provide guidelines on sunscreen protection and how to avoid excessive sunlight.
How soon after treatment can I wear makeup?
If there are no complications, you may apply makeup several hours after treatment. Be sure to consult your healthcare practitioner after treatment for more information.
Is Sculptra safe? What are the side effects?
Sculptra was CE approved for aesthetic use in the European market in 1999 and approved in Canada in 2006. Sculptra is made of a synthetic material called poly-L-lactic acid that is absorbed naturally by the body and has been used for years in dissolvable stitches. Since Sculptra does not contain any human or animal components, no allergy testing is needed prior to treatments.
Common side effects reported include pain at the treatment area, redness, bruising, tenderness, itching and lumps, bleeding or swelling. Small bumps under the skin can sometimes be noticeable when pressing on the treated area. Larger lumps, with or without inflammation, have also been reported. This is only a partial list of possible side effects. For a complete list of all side effects, please click here. If you are experiencing side effects, talk to your healthcare practitioner.
Who should not have a treatment with Sculptra?
Sculptra is indicated for use in people as a single regimen for the correction of shallow to deep nasolabial folds and other facial wrinkles by stimulating collagen production. You should not receive treatment if you have an active skin infection or skin inflammation near the planned injection site.
Sculptra should not be used by people that are allergic to any ingredient of the product or have a history and/or susceptibility of keloid formation or hypertrophic scarring. Safety has not been established in patients who are pregnant, lactating, breastfeeding or under 21 years of age and is not recommended for use.
Skin insights
REFERENCES
1 Narins RS et al. J Am Acad Dermatol 2010;62(3):448–62.; Brandt FS et al. Aesthet Surg J 2011;31(5):521–8.
2 Nelson L and Stewart KJ. J Plast Reconstr Aesthet Surg 2012;65(4):439–47.; Moyle GJ et al. HIV Med 2004;5(2):82–7.; Mest DR and Humble G. Dermatol Surg 2006;32(11): 1336–45.; Valantin MA et al. AIDS 2003;17(17):2471–7.; Narins RS et al. J Am Acad Dermatol 2010;62(3):448–62.; Brandt FS et al. Aesthet Surg J 2011;31(5):521–8.