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Sculptra® is intended for restoration and/or correction of the signs of facial fat loss (lipoatrophy). As we age, we tend to lose facial fat, thus decreasing fullness and lending to the deepening of facial wrinkles and craeting an unpleasing jawline contour. Sculptra® has been clinically proven to be an effective, well-tolerated, and long-lasting treatment for the signs of facial lipoatrophy.
Sculptra® is a synthetic injectable material known as "poly-L-lactic acid." Poly-L-lactic acid is a biocompatible, biodegradable material that has been widely used for many years in dissolvable stitches, soft tissue implants, and other types of implants. Sculptra® is injected below the surface of the skin in the area of fat loss. Sculptra® provides a gradual increase in skin thickness. Visible results appear within the first few treatment sessions.
After the first treatment, it may appear that Sculptra® worked immediately. Typically, patients will experience some degree of edema associated with the injection procedure, which will give the appearance of a full correction by the end of the injection session (within about 30 minutes). The patient should be informed that the injection-related edema typically resolves in several hours to a few days, resulting in the "reappearance" of the original contour deficiency. Sculptra® takes time to gradually correct the depression in the skin.
Each patient should be evaluated individually. More than one treatment session may be required. Patients with severe facial fat loss may require 3 to 6 treatment sessions.
Treatment effects will differ for each person. In a clinical study, the treatment results lasted for up to 2 years after the first treatment session, in most patients. Touch-up treatments may be needed to maintain the desired effect.
Most patients feel comfortable going back to their normal activities following treatment.
Make-up may be applied a few hours after treatment if no complications are present (for example, open wounds or bleeding).
Occasionally patients may have the delayed occurrence of very small subcutaneous nodules, which were typically palpable, asymptomatic, non-visible, and confined to the injection site area. Other reported side effects of Sculptra® include immediate and transient injection-related events such as bleeding from the injection site, discomfort, redness, bruising, and swelling.
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