Sculptra Found to Provide Long-lasting Wrinkle Correction

Sculptra (poly-L-lactic acid), one of the dermal fillers used by physicians for the treatment of aging skin, has recently found to provide long-term wrinkle correction compared to collagen.

The study published in the March Issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology (JAAD) reported that Sculptra appears to achieve the longest lasting wrinkle correction of any nonpermanent filler.

Its main downside is the 6 months it takes for the maximum correction to build up. This requires patience on the part of those treated with Sculptra. The authors added that spacing treatments every 6 weeks will reduce the risk for overcorrection.

Sculptra is a dermal filler that volumizes the skin by stimulating the formation of collagen fibers around particles that are injected into the skin (dermis). The body produces its own collagen over several months. This study was sponsored by the manufacturer, Sanofi-Aventis, and focused on the treatment results for those with mild to deep nasolabial folds. (the folds the run from the sides of the nose to the angle of the mouth). Patients were randomized to receive a series injections of either human collagen (CosmoPlast) or Sculptra injections at 3-week intervals until optimal correction was achieved (up to 4 sessions). All patients were followed for 13 months after the last injection, and the Sculptra patients were followed for an additional year. The average time from first injection to peak correction was 6.5 months in the Sculptra group and 3.5 months in the CosmoPlast group. All correction was lost by 3 months after the last injection in the CosmoPlast group, while a correction of about 75% persisted throughout the 25-month follow-up period in the Sculptra group. This points to the long-lasting affects of treatment with poly-L-lactic acid.