Sculptra is a collagen stimulator. Instead of filling a hollow on the day, it prompts your skin to rebuild its own collagen, so lost volume comes back gradually over a few months. Because the change is slow, people tend to say you look well rather than ask what you’ve had done.
Sculptra is a treatment that requires careful planning and commitment to the recommended aftercare to support the best possible outcome. I’ll only recommend it if I feel it’s suitable for you and you’re happy to follow the aftercare.
What is Sculptra?
Sculptra is made of poly-L-lactic acid, or PLLA. It’s placed in the deep dermis, where it helps your skin regenerate its depleted collagen stores, restoring the skin’s inner structure and volume over time.
Unlike dermal filler, it doesn’t give an instant result. It works gradually, as your own collagen builds. One of its key benefits is how long that lasts: typically up to two years.
Who is Sculptra for?
Most of my clients are women over 40 whose face has started to look more hollow or tired than they feel. Sculptra is worth talking about if you notice:
- volume loss in the temples, cheeks or lower face
- a face that looks thinner or more drawn than it used to
- skin that has lost some of its firmness
It isn’t for everyone. It’s not the right choice if you want to see a difference straight away, if you can’t fit the aftercare into your days, or while you are pregnant or breastfeeding. If dermal filler would suit you better, I’ll tell you.
Book Sculptra
Not sure yet? Book a consultation. It’s £30, fully redeemable against treatment on the day.
How many sessions will I need?
I usually recommend 1 vial per decade of life, with sessions spaced 8 to 12 weeks apart. Sculptra is £500 a vial, and each appointment takes an hour. We’ll agree how many vials and sessions suit you at your consultation, and the result builds slowly over the months that follow.
Aftercare matters
This is the part I’m strict about. For the first few days after Sculptra you need to massage the treated areas regularly, usually 5 minutes, 5 times a day, for 5 days. It helps the product settle evenly, and skipping it raises the risk of small lumps under the skin. I’ll show you exactly how to do it before you leave.
You’ll look fuller straight after treatment, because of the water the product is mixed with. That settles within a few days, so don’t worry if it looks as though it has worn off: the real result is still to come.
What happens at your appointment?
We start by talking through your face, your goals and your medical history, so I can be sure Sculptra is the right choice. The product is prepared 24 hours before your appointment, which is why Sculptra is paid in full when you book.
Afterwards you may have some swelling, tenderness or bruising for a few days. Most people go back to work the same day.
Sculptra or dermal filler?
Both restore volume, in different ways.
- Dermal filler adds volume on the day and is ideal for shaping a particular area, such as the cheeks or jawline. Read more about dermal filler.
- Sculptra rebuilds volume slowly, by stimulating your own collagen, and the change is gradual and subtle.
If your main concern is dull, dehydrated or crepey skin rather than lost volume, skin boosters and Profhilo or polynucleotides may suit you better. Not sure? Book a consultation. It costs £30, fully redeemable against treatment on the day.
