Sculptra®
Aesthetic

Sculptra® Aesthetic is made from poly-L-lactic acid, which has been used for decades in a variety of surgical products. It is manufactured in a laboratory and contains no animal components, so no allergy testing is required prior to treatment. Widely used in Europe for over fifteen years under the brand name New-Fill, Sculptra® Aesthetic was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2009.

A single treatment with Sculptra® Aesthetic usually takes less than an hour. Dr. Yee first applies a topical anesthetic to the treatment area and then uses ultra-fine needles to place the product deep into the skin. The number of treatments, which are spaced four to six weeks apart, will depend on how much collagen has been lost. Eventually, the treatment substance is absorbed naturally by the body. Once-a-year maintenance treatment is usually recommended.

All injectable skin treatments have similar side effects that can include bruising, discomfort, redness, bleeding, itching, and swelling at the injection site. Like other synthetic wrinkle fillers, Sculptra® Aesthetic may produce small, temporary bumps under the skin that can be felt when you press on the area. In rare cases, larger lumps, with or without skin discoloration or redness, can occur. You can minimize your risks and increase good outcomes by getting your treatment done by a skilled practitioner in a doctor’s office with an FDA-approved filler. Although injectable skin treatments are being offered in spas, hotels, and homes, there is no way to guarantee their sterility and authenticity in these non-medical settings—or the experience of the provider.