FAQs

Please see our most commonly asked questions below

What kind of results can be achieved?

The results from Sculptra take time as the body has to rebuild collagen. Patients can expect to see a more natural-looking increase in volume and improvement in skin quality in the areas injected.

Who is this treatment suitable and not suitable for?

Only some people are suitable for Sculptra. The treatment is designed to replace volume loss. If you already have a fuller face, this treatment may not be as beneficial.

Sculptra is brilliant for patients who have experienced volume loss from ageing or weight loss. For optimum anti-ageing results, we recommend you carry out a round of skin tightening treatments such as Morpheus 8, Sofwave, or Forma before having this treatment. The skin tightening would get the skin as tight as possible before we add volume back in.

You’re unsuitable for Sculptra if you have a history of keloids or hypertrophic scars. You cannot have this treatment when pregnant or breastfeeding. If you have a history of severe allergies or any autoimmune conditions we advise against Sculptra.

How long does it last?

Results can last for up to 2 years.

What is the recovery/downtime?

You will have mild swelling that actually looks desirable in slim patients. This goes in a day or two. There may be some bruising.

What are the side effects and risks?

As with all injectable treatments, there are rare risks and side effects, which include swelling, bruising, itching and skin discolouration. The majority of these side effects would resolve themselves naturally within a few days post-treatment.

The main risk would be a Sculptra nodule, but if you follow the after-care correctly, the risk is extremely low. A nodule feels like a tiny ball under the skin but would resolve independently and not need medical intervention. As with any treatment, complications such as nodules tend to happen from poor injection technique by an inexperienced or under-qualified injector. The dilution of Sculptra has also changed in the past year so the risk of nodules is now close to 0.

How painful is the treatment?

We use local anaesthetic mixed with the Sculptra. You may feel some mild discomfort but nothing severe. You will experience some light tenderness for a few days, but there won’t be any lasting pain post-infection.

Duration

Your appointment will take 1 hour.

How is it done?

Sculptra will be injected into the areas of your face that are lacking volume. This may vary from person to person, but this would typically be around the temples, jawline and outer areas of the face. We would not inject around the eyes or mouth due to a higher risk of nodules forming.

Your injector will inject Sculptra into the skin and then massage the bio-stimulatory filler to ensure it is evenly distributed.

How will I look straight after?

Sculptra is a non-invasive treatment. You may have some mild redness or bruising post-treatment at the injection points, but this would be very mild. You can still carry on your day as usual but will be advised to avoid strenuous exercise and heat for 24 hours post-treatment. The aftercare for this treatment also requires you to massage your face for 5 days post-treatment. You can see more details below in the aftercare instructions.