Is This the Longest Lasting Injectable Treatment?

Longevity in youth is the holy grail. Women (and men) are looking for ways to stay younger, for longer, which sounds like an injectible treatment that lasts up to two years and stimulates the body's natural collagen production to gradually restore facial volume, improve skin texture, and reduce wrinkles, providing long-lasting and natural-looking rejuvenation is a fountain of youth - not quite eternal, but closer than any other treatments have been before - and that’s exactly what Sculptra offers.

How does Sculptra Boost Collagen Production>

Sculptra, containing poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA), operates as a biocompatible and biodegradable dermal filler that effectively stimulates the body's natural collagen production. Upon injection, PLLA microparticles are introduced into the dermis, initiating an inflammatory response that activates fibroblasts. These cells are essential for collagen production, and their activation results in the synthesis of new collagen, enhancing skin volume and texture gradually over several months​.

Recent research has indicated that PLLA also induces the polarization of macrophages into the M2 phenotype. M2 macrophages produce anti-inflammatory signals and secrete factors such as IL-4 and IL-13, which further encourage fibroblasts to generate collagen. This process boosts dermal regeneration and collagen synthesis, significantly contributing to the overall rejuvenation effect​.

The degradation of PLLA microparticles is a controlled process that spans approximately two years. During this period, the slow breakdown of PLLA ensures sustained collagen production stimulation, maintaining the filler’s structural integrity for an extended duration and providing long-lasting results​.

Moreover, the microparticles in Sculptra function as a scaffold that supports the deposition of new collagen fibers. This scaffolding effect aids in restoring volume and improving skin elasticity, leading to a natural-looking enhancement. The collagen network that forms around the PLLA particles thickens the dermis over time, enhancing skin firmness and diminishing wrinkles and folds​.

Sculptra’s applications extend beyond facial rejuvenation to treating conditions like lipoatrophy in HIV patients and volume restoration in other body areas. Its capacity to stimulate collagen production makes it suitable for improving skin quality and structural support in various parts of the body​ - even as a ‘butt lift’.

How Does Sculptra last in comparison to other injectable treatments?

Sculptra stands out primarily because it stimulates the body’s natural collagen production, which not only addresses immediate volume loss but also improves skin quality and texture over time. This collagen stimulation process ensures that the results of Sculptra treatments can last up to two years or more, which is significantly longer than many other dermal fillers that typically last between six months to a year​.

“The beauty of Sculptra in the world of aesthetics is that there is no real alternative. Of course we have other collagen stimulators, such as polynucleotides and exosomes, but Sculptra works in a different way and has also been on the market for the last 25 years so has a lot of clinical data and studies behind it. The goal of Sculptra is to not only significantly boost collagen (increases type I collagen by 67% within the first 3 months), but also gives a natural lift to the skin and tissues, which we cannot obtain with other products to the same degree. I am deeming Sculptra treatment as the best non-surgical face/neck lift alternative, as we are using it so effectively to push out the need for surgery, and this is coming from a plastic surgeon! The longevity of the treatment is also another huge benefit, as your own collagen that is boosting will last up to two years. Patients optimally need one session a year for maintenance, but the results really do last an amazing amount of time which makes it more cost effective than some other treatments out there from a patient’s perspective.” comments Dr Ash Soni.

In comparison to other popular fillers such as those based on hyaluronic acid (like Restylane and Juvederm) and calcium hydroxylapatite (like Radiesse), Sculptra offers more prolonged benefits. While fillers like Juvederm Voluma can last up to two years in certain applications, most other fillers require more frequent touch-ups. For instance, Juvederm and Restylane products generally need reapplication every six to eighteen months depending on the specific product and treatment area​.

Sculptra is developed and manufactured by Galderma.