Menu
Text size
Dark mode
Get more information about the injection product Sculptra.
Sculptra® (other name New Fill®) was approved in Europe in 1999 and in the USA in 2004. Sculptra® is used for volume building and skin rejuvenation. The drug was developed by European Aesthetics, then Sanofi-Aventis and later acquired by Sinclair Pharma and in March 2020 by Galderma. One Sculptra® ampoule contains 150 milligrams of poly-L-lactic acid (40%), 90 milligrams of sodium carboxymethylcellulose (24%) and 127.5 milligrams of a sugar alcohol (35%) in a freeze-dried state. Poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA) is produced by polymerization of lactic acid. Lactic acid is produced by fermentation from sugar and starch. The production was first patented by Du Pont in 1954. The poly-L-lactic acid molecules have a mass of 140 kilodaltons and a diameter of two to sixty micrometers. Poly-L-lactic acid has been used for decades. Poly-L-lactic acid is a component of absorbable suture material (for example Vycril® sutures), screws and plates for the treatment of bone fractures and drug carriers.
Sculptra® is used to build volume in the face. Poly-L-lactic acid injection also leads to an improvement in skin quality (Bohnert K., et al., 2019, Dermatol Surg). The areas of application for Sculptra® include:
During the consultation, your goals are first discussed. The contours and skin quality are examined and documented photographically. We will advise you in detail about the various treatment options. All the advantages and disadvantages will be discussed with you. A treatment plan will be developed together with you. One day before the treatment, the Sculptra® is dissolved in distilled water. A local anesthetic is added to the solution. The skin surface anesthetized with a cream. The use of a vibrating rod (vibration anesthesia) additionally reduces the sensation of pain. Pleasant background music helps to relax and distract. The best results are achieved after three to four repetitions at intervals of four to six weeks. The experience of the first treatment does not allow the tension before the second treatment to arise in the first place.
Treatment costs are largely determined by the amount of Sculptra® required. The larger the area to be treated, the greater the treatment effort. You can get an overview of the prices on our cost page.
The half-life of poly-L-lactic acid in the body is estimated to be 31 days, with complete degradation taking 18 to 24 months (Athanasiou KA, et al, 1995, Clin Podiatr Med Surg). The reaction with water splits the lactic acid chains into individual lactic acid building blocks (hydrolysis). Over time, the lactic acid is taken up by phagocytes (macrophages). Enzymes metabolize the lactic acid to pyruvate, then to an acetic acid residue (acetyl-coenzyme A) and finally carbon dioxide. The immune system reaction subsides within 6 months. However, the production of collagen lasts up to two years. This leads to a gradual increase in skin thickness.
Sculptra® and Radiesse® are very different products. They have only a few things in common. The duration of action of both active substances is one to two years. Fillers are called semi-permanent because the ingredients are broken down by the body over the years. Both Sculptra® and Radiesse® are suitable for injections into medium and deep skin layers.
Radiesse® primarily replaces lost volume. The volume increase is visible immediately. The changes are predictable and consistent. After nine months, enzymes break down the filler material. After eighteen months, 87 percent of patients are still satisfied. A temporary hematoma is seen in five percent of cases (Jacovella P. F., et al., 2006, Plast Reconstr Surg). Allergic reaction are very unlikely.
Sculptra® is used for skin rejuvenation. Lactic acid injection triggers increased collagen production. The effect becomes increasingly clear after two to three boosters at intervals of four to six weeks (Vleggaar D., et al., 2004, J Drugs Dermatol). Especially the formation of collagen type 1, which is increased in youthful skin, is stimulated. A tightening effect of the skin is achieved. This is where the term Liquid Lifting comes from.
New Fill®