Sculptra® in Athens, GA
Sculptra® in Athens, GA
Some volume loss happens so slowly you only notice it in photos. Sculptra® works the same way in reverse: it helps your skin rebuild its own collagen over a few months, so results appear gradually and look like you on a good year.
Who performs your treatment: Sculptra® at Blue Spiral is performed by our nurse injectors, including Charlotte Sims, RN, MSN, CANS, a Certified Aesthetic Nurse Specialist, and Erin Wood, DNP, APRN, FNP-C, a board-certified family nurse practitioner. Blue Spiral is part of Pittman Plastic Surgery. Meet the team.
What Is Sculptra®?
Sculptra® is an injectable made from poly-L-lactic acid, a biocompatible material that has been used in medicine for decades. It is FDA-approved to correct facial wrinkles such as smile lines. Instead of filling an area directly, Sculptra® stimulates your body to produce new collagen in the treated area. That is why it is often called a collagen stimulator, or biostimulator.
What Sculptra® Can Help With
- Hollowing or flattening in the cheeks and temples
- Smile lines and deeper facial wrinkles
- Skin that looks thinner or less firm with age
- Overall facial volume loss, including after weight loss
Sculptra® is not used in the lips or directly around the eyes. For lip volume, lip filler is the right choice.
Sculptra® vs. Hyaluronic Acid Fillers
Hyaluronic acid fillers, such as Juvéderm® and Restylane®, add volume right away. Sculptra® builds volume gradually over several months as new collagen forms. Fillers suit patients who want an immediate change in a specific area. Sculptra® suits patients who prefer a slow, overall restoration and longer-lasting results. Many patients use both, and your injector can help you decide during your consultation. See all of our dermal filler options.
How Sculptra® Treatment Works
Your consultation
Your injector looks at where you have lost volume, the quality of your skin and your goals, and reviews your medical history. Together you decide whether Sculptra® is a good fit and how many sessions it is likely to take.
Your treatment
Numbing can be applied before treatment. Sculptra® is injected in small amounts across the treatment area, and most sessions take less than an hour. Most patients need a series of treatments spaced several weeks apart, often around three, to reach their goal.
After your treatment
You may look fuller right after treatment, but that is mostly from the liquid Sculptra® is mixed with, and it fades within a few days. Your real results build over the following weeks and months as collagen develops. Your injector will usually ask you to massage the treated area at home for several days, often five minutes, five times a day, for five days, to help the product settle evenly.
Downtime and Recovery
Most people return to work the same day. Swelling, tenderness, redness and some bruising are common for a few days. Avoid alcohol and blood-thinning medications and supplements, such as aspirin, ibuprofen and vitamin E, for up to a week before treatment if your doctor agrees, to lower the chance of bruising.
How Long Sculptra® Lasts
Because Sculptra® works with your own collagen, results can last up to two years. Many patients come back for a single maintenance treatment when they start to notice volume softening again.
Safety and Possible Side Effects
Common side effects include swelling, tenderness, redness, bruising and mild discomfort at the injection sites. Some patients develop small bumps under the skin, which is one reason careful technique and the at-home massage routine matter. Unlike hyaluronic acid fillers, Sculptra® cannot be dissolved, so choosing an experienced medical injector is important. Your provider will go over the risks with you before treatment.
Sculptra® is not recommended during pregnancy or breastfeeding, or if you have an active skin infection in the treatment area. Tell your injector if you have a history of keloid scarring.
Frequently Asked Questions
When will I see results from Sculptra®?
Results appear gradually. Most patients start to notice a difference over the weeks following treatment, with fuller results developing over a few months as collagen builds.
How many Sculptra® treatments will I need?
Most patients need a series of treatments, often around three, spaced several weeks apart. Your injector will recommend a plan based on how much volume you have lost.
Will Sculptra® look natural?
Yes, when it is done well. Because results build slowly from your own collagen, the change is gradual and tends to look natural.
Can I combine Sculptra® with other treatments?
Yes. Sculptra® is often combined with hyaluronic acid fillers for areas that need immediate shape, or with Botox® for expression lines. Your injector will plan the order and timing with you.
Does Sculptra® hurt?
Most patients find it very manageable. Numbing can be applied before your injections, and any tenderness afterward usually fades within a few days.
