Sculptra is one of the numerous injectable facial fillers that has an established history of treating the condition known as facial lipoatrophy, most commonly seen in patients with HIV disease as a result of their antiviral therapy. By working as a facial volume restoration method rather than as a wrinkle or lip filler, Sculptra’s mechanism of action is different than all other injectable fillers. Because of its FDA approval and differing injection method, Sculptra has been the most obscure of the injectable fillers.
On July 29, 2009, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Sculptra from its original medical indication of facial lipoatrophy to a broader cosmetic one. Specifically, Sculptra Aesthetic (injectable poly-L-lactic acid) is intended for the correction of shallow to deep nasolabial fold (smile lines) contour deficiencies and other facial contour and wrinkle areas. The duration of action for Sculptra is around two years and now separates itself as the long-lasting injectable filler currently available.
The FDA approval of Sculptra was based on a study of 233 patients who received either Sculptra or human-derived collagen for the treatment of their deep nasolabial folds. Unlike the collagen injections, Sculptra injections are different in that they are given in a series of three treatments, spaced three weeks apart, rather than all at once. The Sculptra patients maintained their treatment effects for up to twenty-five months after the last treatment session, while the human injections lasted only three months. The improvement in nasolabial folds is significant in aesthetic treatments as this is one of the classic hallmarks of facial aging and is a gold standard test site.
Of equal relevance is that no serious adverse events were reported in this study, regardless of the treatment used. The injected areas did have some typical short-term reactions such as bleeding, tenderness and swelling. Sculptra did have a few delayed small bumps and lumps that occurred over the twenty-five month period but these resolved on their own. The mechanism of action of Sculptra and its unique injection technique does pose the risk of developing localized bumps under the skin but their occurrence was quite low.
Sculptra offers another but different injectable filler to options in non-surgical facial rejuvenation. In my Indianapolis plastic surgery practice, facial volume restoration with Sculptra can easily be combined with Botox or Dysport as well as numerous methods of light facial skin resurfacing to create significant improvements that require little recovery.
Dr. Barry Eppley
Indianapolis, Indiana