Sculptra FAQs

Answers to your most frequent questions about Sculptra^™ treatments..

• What is Sculptra?
• How does Sculptra work?
• Who should use Sculptra treatments?
• Who should NOT use Sculptra treatments?
• Who should administer Sculptra® Cosmetic Treatments?
• What does Sculptra treat?
• What results should I expect from Sculptra injections?
• How long does a Sculptra treatment take?
• Are Sculptra treatments safe?
• Are Sculptra injections painful?
• How soon are the results of Sculptra injections noticeable?
• How long are Sculptra injections effective?
• Are there side effects from Sculptra?
• Is Sculptra affordable?

What is Sculptra?
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Sculptra^™ is a synthetic injectable material known as "poly-L-lactic acid." Poly-L-lactic acid is biocompatible (a material that does not harm the body) and biodegradable (able to be broken down by the body). Poly-L-lactic acid has been widely used for many years in dissolvable stitches, soft tissue implants, and other types of implants.

How does Sculptra work?
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Sculptra^™ is injected below the surface of the skin in the area of fat loss. Sculptra^™ provides a gradual increase in skin thickness. Visible results appear within the first few treatment sessions. Sculptra^™ will not correct the underlying cause of the facial fat loss, but will help improve the appearance by increasing skin thickness in the treated area.

Who should use Sculptra treatments?
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Healthy adults who do not show any contraindication to receiving Sculptra^™ injections are the most common candidates. The following facial defects may benefit from Sculptra^™ treatment:

• Lipoatrophy (excessive fat loss)
• Wrinkles
• Facial lines
• Creases
• Furrows
• Marionette lines (that pull down the corners of the mouth)
• Nasolabial folds or depressions
• Hollows
• Depressions

Who should NOT use Sculptra treatments?
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You should not use Sculptra^™ if you are allergic to any ingredient of Sculptra^™. Sculptra^™ should not be injected while you have an active skin infection or inflammation in the treatment area. Talk to your healthcare provider about your medical history when deciding on treatment options.

Who should administer Sculptra treatments?
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Any authorized healthcare professional can administer Sculptra^™.

What does Sculptra treat?
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Sculptra^™ is designed to restore volume of depressed areas such as skin creases, wrinkles and folds resulting from natural aging. It results in a fuller, more smooth natural-looking face with minimal touch-up treatments.

What results should I expect from Sculptra injections?
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At your first treatment visit, it may appear that Sculptra^™ worked immediately because of swelling from the injections and the water used to dilute Sculptra^™. In a few days, when the swelling goes down and the water is absorbed by your body, you may look as you did before your treatment. Sculptra^™ takes time to gradually correct the depression in your skin. Your healthcare provider will see you again in a few weeks to decide if you need more Sculptra^™ injections.

How long does a Sculptra treatment take?
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Each Sculptra treatment session generally takes about 20 to 30 minutes, depending on the number of areas treated and the effects you want to achieve.

Are Sculptra treatments safe?
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Sculptra^™ is a safe, non-invasive procedure that has been used in the cosmetic dermatology field since 1999 in 30 countries. The product is highly biocompatible and biodegradable. Sculptra^™ is made from a material called poly-L-lactic acid, which has been widely used for over 30 years in dissolvable sutures, soft tissue implants and other types of implants.
Refer to Side Effects.

Are Sculptra injections painful?
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When performed by a trained physician, Sculptra^™ injections should only cause slight discomfort. Though Sculptra^™ is injected into the skin, it is injected in tiny amounts using an ultra-fine needle. To optimize your comfort, your trained physician may choose a local anaesthetic in the treatment area prior to injecting.

How soon are the results of Sculptra injections noticeable?
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The true results of Sculptra^™ treatments take weeks or months to fully manifest themselves. A period of four to six weeks is a good estimate of how long the effects of Sculptra^™ treatments take to become apparent.

How long are Sculptra injections effective?
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Treatment effects differ from person to person. In many cases, treatment results can last for up to 2 years. Touch-up treatments may be needed to maintain the desired effect.

Are there side effects from Sculptra?
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The most common side effects with the use of Sculptra^™ include injection-related side effects at the site of the injection such as bleeding, tenderness or pain, redness, bruising, or swelling. These side effects generally last, on average, 3 to 17 days.

One possible delayed side effect with Sculptra^™ can be small bumps under the skin in the treated area. These small bumps may not be visible, and you may notice them only when you press on the treated skin. These bumps tend to happen within the first 6 to 12 months after the first treatment. Occasionally, these bumps go away on their own. Visible bumps, sometimes with redness or color change to the treated area, have also been reported. As with all procedures that involve an injection through the skin, there is a risk of infection.

Is Sculptra affordable?
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Cost will depend on your age, level of skin damage and desired treatment areas.

For more information about Sculptra treatments...

We'll be glad to answer your Sculptra^™ questions personally, so don't hesitate to call or email DermaVogue.