Sculptra™ │ Poly-L-lactic acid

Each Sculptra vial holds 150 mg of sterile, freeze-dried poly-L-lactic acid plus 45 mg mannitol and 90 mg sodium carboxymethyl-cellulose—exactly what the e-fillers and Reliable Medicare listings show. The 50–100 µm particles are big enough to stay where you place them yet small enough to glide through a 25 G cannula once re-suspended. The powder carries both CE and FDA approval and contains no BDDE cross-linker. Mix each vial with 5–8 ml sterile or bacteriostatic water. You get a silky suspension around 200 cP: thin enough to flow, thick enough to stay put. You may add up to 1 ml lidocaine without changing how the polymer works. After placement, the PLLA sparks a gentle, self-limiting response from M2 macrophages and fibroblasts, leading to fresh type I and III collagen over eight to twelve weeks. Expect volume to build gradually, peaking by month four.

Sculptra treats moderate to severe facial volume loss—think hollow cheeks, temple dips, or HIV-related fat loss. It shines in patients with decent skin quality but clear soft-tissue deflation. Because PLLA makes you grow your own collagen, results look soft and natural; no “pillow face” here. Skilled injectors also use it off-label for hip dips, upper-arm crepe, and chest lines by diluting to 10–12 ml and placing it deep in the dermis. Skip it if you have an active skin infection, uncontrolled autoimmune disease, a history of hypertrophic scars, or if you’re pregnant. Compared with calcium hydroxyapatite, PLLA lasts longer and spreads wider, but you need three sessions about four weeks apart. If you want instant plump, you can layer hyaluronic acid filler first, then add Sculptra to future-proof the lift.

A tamper-sealed carton carries two color-coded glass vials of the lyophilised powder, an easy Luer-Lock vial adapter, a single-use 18 G transfer cannula for drawing diluent, and two peel-off traceability stickers per vial. The multilingual booklet explains storage (2–25 °C, protect from light), mixing ratios, a five-minute stand time after shaking, and the famous “5-5-5” massage rule. No injection needles come inside, letting you pick your favorite—25 G × 38 mm cannula for sub-SMAS or 26 G × ½″ needle for dermal fanning. Shelf life is 36 months; never freeze the powder or you may crack the microspheres.

Right after injection, the added water shows an instant preview, but this volume fades within 48 hours. The real lift arrives as new collagen forms. Imaging studies reveal about a 25 percent dermal-volume jump by month four, with peak effect between months six and nine. Most patients enjoy their results for two to two-and-a-half years. Lean, athletic folks may want a touch-up at 18 months; others keep the glow for 30 months or more. Long-term success depends on after-care: massage the area for five minutes, five times a day, for five days. If volume is still short after the third visit, schedule a fourth at month five—safe and effective.

Q1: How many vials will I need?
A1: A full-face plan usually means two vials per session across three visits—six vials total. Treating just the temples or another small spot may need only one vial overall.

Q2: Is Sculptra reversible?
A2: Not on the spot. PLLA breaks down naturally over 18–24 months. If you must speed things up, saline dilution and a steroid shot can help the body clear it faster.

Q3: Can I combine Sculptra with neurotoxin or HA filler?
A3: Yes. Do neurotoxin a week before or after Sculptra. Add hyaluronic fillers at least four weeks after the final PLLA session to fine-tune shape.

Galderma Laboratories produces Sculptra in ISO 13485 facilities in Lausanne, Switzerland. First launched as NewFill in 1999, Sculptra earned EU marking the same year and FDA clearance in 2004, later expanding to cosmetic volume loss in 2009. The PLLA comes from renewable corn sugar, and every lot goes through laser particle sizing, sterility checks, and endotoxin testing. Galderma’s 2030 plan aims for carbon-neutral manufacturing and 60 percent recycled packaging. With more than two decades of data and over four million vials sold, Sculptra sets the standard for long-lasting, collagen-driven facial rejuvenation.