Sculptra®

Sculptra is made up of poly-L-lactic acid, a polymer that, with time, is metabolised naturally by your body. It is not a wrinkle filler, but a bio activator of natural collagen or “volumiser”. It works by stimulating the body to produce new collagen at the sites of injection, thereby replacing lost volume to restore a fuller, more youthful appearance.

FACEMED does NOT advocate Sculptra as a wrinkle filler. Monica Berrangé has perfected the precise placement technique of this facial volumiser through hundreds of hours of experience; so you get the longest lasting, natural result from a ”non-surgical facelift”. This specialised procedure replaces the natural volume (fat) loss that occurs with age – the volume loss that is responsible for the appearance of saggy skin and aged face. This is a very important concept which explains why a surgical facelift may be the wrong thing to do if there is little or no volume in the face; or what to do if you want to look younger!

• Volume loss
• Redefining the jawline and lifting jowls
• Correcting the tear trough, dark circles, and wrinkly skin of the lower eyelids (without placing the product close to the eye area)
• Enhancing and redefining cheeks
• Correcting nose to mouth lines (without treating the mouth area)
• Filling the concavity of the temples
• Lifting the mouth corners
• Acne scarring

The Sculptra anti-ageing facial treatment procedure takes 30-45 minutes. There may be some discomfort; however, the product is mixed with local anaesthetic, and numbing cream may also be used. The number of necessary injections and placement depends on age, amount of volume to be restored, and the type of treatment desired. 3-5 sessions at 6-8 week intervals may be required.

Once collagen production has been stimulated by the Sculptra facial injections, the natural-looking results should become visible after the 2nd or 3rd session, with results lasting for around 2 years. To maintain the best possible results, we advise one top-up session once a year.

As with all other facial injections, there can be temporary swelling and bruising, which may last for a few days. Other risks include the transient appearance of palpable but usually not visible papules under the skin, which resolve spontaneously over time.

Data from clinical studies of Sculptra® indicate that, in very rare instances, small and invisible or visible bumps (nodules) in the injection area can occur within a year or longer of Sculptra® treatment. The risk of bumps is lessened by proper preparation of Sculptra®, accurate placement of the injections, and most importantly, regular massage of the treated areas, as instructed. If the nodules persist, surgical intervention may be required.

It is not intended for use in the lips or the mouth region and not recommended for use in the periorbital area.

The pros and cons of Sculptra® should be weighed and discussed within the consultation process. The pros of Sculptra® include the long duration of its effects, very low incidents of undesirable side effects, and biocompatibility; its ‘cons’ include possible nodules, swelling, and bruising, although, according to data from clinical studies of Sculptra®, these effects are temporary.

“The Liquid Facelift” allows you to maintain your beauty secrets as there is no dramatic instant change but rather a gradual enhancement as your appearance fills out slowly from within, continuing to make you look fresher and younger.

Sculptra comes in vials which are for single patient use only. Sculptra is reconstituted prior to use for named patients, and the charge should be per vial NOT per ml or session. Any excess solution will be discarded at the end of the session. Paying in advance for a pack of sessions may not be a good idea if your body produces collagen well. So…ask what you are paying for!!!

If you are looking for a non-surgical facial anti-ageing treatment in Essex or London, our FACEMED clinic in Essex can discuss the Sculptra “Liquid Facelift” treatment with you over the phone or in a free consultation at our Essex clinic.