What is Sculptra?  It is a Poly-L-Lactic Acid (PLLA) which is a synthetic, biocompatible, biodegradable product derived from the alpha-hydroxy acid family.  Other such products include glycolic acid, malic acid, tartaric acid, etc.  Their use until recently was for the facial wasting associated with HIV patients.  The injections for the amount of volume needed for these patients was rather large and the injections were performed over three or four office visits to obtain the required results   The longevity of the product was touted to be in excess of twelve to eighteen months.

The mode of action as a long term volumizer for facial wasting was associated with a foreign body reaction as the product was broken down inside of the dermis and adjacent subcutaneously fat which in turn stimulated the production of collagen.  As previously documented, as we age, the amount of collagen produced by our body begins to slow and later in life, that process is all but over.  Even though there are a host of mechanisms to induce collagenagenesis (the stimulation of fibroblasts with collagen fromation), most are related to resurfacing techniques such as dermabrasion, chemical peels and/or laser resurfacing.  This modality of treatment however is nonsurgical as it is administered via serial punctures with a needle within the confines of the area that needs augmentation over several office visits so as to avoid problems associated with it such as nodule and granuloma formation.  These issues are largely ameliorated with proper preparation of the product, proper injection techniques and patience over time with the need for serial treatments and longer periods of time before the results are realized.

Recently, the product has received the right to be used in the filling of facial lines and wrinkles.  The trick however is in how the injectionist prepares the PLLA and the level of placement so as to prevent papular nodularity which can results from the use of this product.  That aside, this injectable is made form the same material as some of the  suture material I use in surgery so it has a good tract record for safety and usefulness. 

If this type of dermal and subcutaneous augmentation is for you, please call us or e-mail us at  your convenience and we will be glad to discuss your needs with you at that time.