Hyaluronic Acid Fillers vs. Sculptra®: What’s the Difference?

Youthful-looking faces have volume in all the right places. Healthy fat, collagen, and even bone structures beneath the skin contribute to a pleasing roundness that many people in our culture consider to be beautiful. Unfortunately, facial volume tends to diminish with age. Fat can migrate downward, collagen breaks down, and even bone can recede, leading to skin laxity and changes to the face’s overall shape. To counter this, there are plenty of options available—including hyaluronic acid-based dermal fillers and Sculptra®—at Florida’s Skin Wellness Physicians. 

Since HA fillers and Sculptra® are both volume-adding injectables, it can be easy to assume that they work the same way. In fact, however, they have entirely different properties and ingredients.

Read on to learn more!

Hyaluronic acid-based fillers are—unsurprisingly—comprised of a hyaluronic acid gel that readily binds to water and adds physical volume that is immediately visible below the skin. When injected into the mid-face, for example, the gel can fill hollows, create more roundness in the “apples” of the cheeks, and provide more structure to prevent sagging that changes the look of the lower face. All of these results will be visible as soon as the treatment session is over, with the effects becoming more refined as initial treatment-related swelling goes down. Depending on the filler used and the area injected, results can be expected to last anywhere from six months to two years.

Sculptra®—known as a bio-stimulator—takes a different approach. Rather than adding volume that makes a visible difference once injected, the formula introduces poly-L-lactic acid below the skin. This biodegradable material is similar to what dissolvable sutures are made of. PLLA encourages specialized cells called fibroblasts to begin making new collagen. Over a span of weeks and months, this new collagen will continue to proliferate, restoring volume to the area.

Since the skin makes collagen on its own, the results from a Sculptra® injection session can be especially natural looking and long lasting.

The most appropriate areas for treatment with Sculptra® are the temples, jawline, and cheeks. Ideally, the PLLA is injected into an area that is not especially active, since constant movement can cause the new volume to break down more rapidly.

To learn more about Sculptra®, call Skin Wellness Physicians at 239.732.0044 or reach out online to set up a consultation.