Sculptra - How it Works, Results and Risks

Prof. Kirwan was appointed a European and US consultant to Dermik (Sanofi-Aventis), the manufacturer of Sculptra. He gave two instructional courses on injection techniques for Sculptra to a total of twenty visiting ear nose and throat, dermatologic and plastic surgeons from the United States.

Prof. Kirwan's instructional course took place in his Harley Street office on June 5 and June 12, 2004. He also gave a lecture to US consultants in Chicago, earlier this year.

Prof. Kirwan was invited to talk about "New Soft Tissue Fillers" at the "Hot Topics Section" of the Annual meeting of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons 10/09/04 in Philadelphia and the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery 04/28/05 ANNUAL MEETING in New Orleans.

Sculptra

Sculptra is used to restore volume and smooth contour defects such as acne scars. Sculptra is ideal for: ageing skin, loss of volume such as in the cheeks and in the temporal area and contour enhancement, particularly in the malar and chin areas.

In time, your skin loses its full, firm, youthful appearance. This is the result of a natural ageing process. Your skin changes with age and sun damage losing the youthful structure which then causes it to thin and losing elasticity and smoothness.  The skin starts to sag and wrinkle.

Fat tissue which also helps to fill out your face is lost. This reduction in volume can make your face look thin and narrow so that you may possibly look older than you are.

Sculptra can help smooth out lines and wrinkles, and restore the lost volume in a natural way.
You can restore facial contour and get rid of disturbing lines and wrinkles without surgery.

Poly-L-lactic acid, the main ingredient of Sculptra has been used successfully in surgical procedure for more than 25 years, among others for bioresorbable sutures, in bone plates and screws, and as a medium for medication.

Sculptra has been specially developed to repair contour defects in the face. About 150 000 patients have been treated since 1999 world-wide. Sculptra is long-lasting, biocompatible and biodegradable.

Unlike surgical options, Sculptra can provide gradual changes which may go undetected.
Results may last for up to 2 years in many patients!

Sculptra is approved by the FDA for restoration and/or correction of the signs of facial fat loss (lipoatrophy) and is used for treating facial lines and wrinkles.
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.

Side effects of Sculptra may include the delayed appearance of small bumps under the skin in the treated area. Generally these bumps are not visible and may only be noticed when pressing on the treated area.

Other side effects may include injection-related events at the site of injection, such as bleeding, tenderness or discomfort, redness, bruising or swelling. All of these are usually temporary in nature.

How does Sculptra work?

Sculptra over the course of time

Treatment areas of Sculptra

• Sunken temples
• Wrinkles and dark circles around / under the eyes
• 'Tear-trough' depressions
• Restoring / accentuating cheek contours
• Folds between the nose and mouth (naso-labial lines)
• Marionette lines around the mouth
• Contours of the chin and jaw
• Neck and forehead wrinkles
• Hand

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Sculptra?
Sculptra is a synthetic injectable material known as "poly-L-lactic acid." Poly-L-lactic acid is a biocompatible, biodegradable material that has been widely used for many years in dissolvable stitches, soft tissue implants, and other types of implants.

How does Sculptra work?
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.

Are skin tests required before treatment with Sculptra®?
No, skin testing is not required prior to use.

Are the results from Sculptra immediate?
No. After the first treatment, it may appear that Sculptra worked immediately. Typically, patients will experience some degree of edema associated with the injection procedure, which will give the appearance of a full correction by the end of the injection session (within about 30 minutes). The patient should be informed that the injection-related edema typically resolves in several hours to a few days, resulting in the "reappearance" of the original contour deficiency. Sculptra takes 4-6 weeks after each injection session to gradually correct the depression in the skin by stimulating the formation of collagen.

How many treatments are required?
Each patient should be evaluated individually. At least 3 treatments are required. Each session is spaced 4-6 weeks apart. Patients with severe facial fat loss may require 3 to 6 treatment sessions.

How long do treatment effects last?
Treatment effects will differ for each person. In a clinical study, the treatment results lasted for up to 2 years after the first treatment session, in most patients. Touch-up treatments may be needed to maintain the desired effect.

How quickly can my patients return to their daily activities?
Most patients feel comfortable going back to their normal activities following treatment.

When will my patients be able to apply make-up after treatment?
Make-up may be applied a few hours after treatment if no complications are present (for example, open wounds or bleeding)

What are the possible side effects of treatment with Sculptra?
The most commonly observed product-related adverse event was the delayed occurrence of subcutaneous papules (5 mm or less), which were typically palpable, asymptomatic, and non-visible, and confined to the injection site area. Other reported side effects of Sculptra® include immediate and transient injection-related events such as bleeding from the injection site, discomfort, erythema or inflammation, ecchymosis, and edema.

Advise patients to report any side effects to their healthcare provider.

Who should not use Sculptra?
Sculptra is contraindicated in those individuals who have shown a hypersensitivity to any of its components.

For more information about Sculptra® visit www.sculptra.co.uk

Alternative and Additional Treatments

There may be alternative treatment options, depending on your condition. You could check other treaments like Collagen, Restylane, Radiesse, and Evolence. Also in some circumstances surgical procedures may be more appropriate, such as a facelift. Please discuss additional treatments in conjunction with Sculptra, such as chemical peel, laser skin resurfacing or micro-dermabrasion during your appointment with Laurence Kirwan.