Facial Enhancement and the European Experience with Sculptra (Poly-L-lactic Acid)

The primary reason patients seek aesthetic treatments is to combat the signs of aging. However, the majority of facial treatments and procedures fill specific wrinkles or pull-taught sagging skin, without returning the volume and contours of a youthful face. Injectable poly-L-lactic acid (Sculptraâ„¢) is a synthetic, biodegradable polymer, popular in Europe for the correction of lipoatrophy. The novel technique and mechanism of action of this product require physicians to adjust their practice of treating a specific line to returning volume to a facial area. Sculptraâ„¢ has been used successfully for the correction of nasolabial folds, mid and lower facial volume loss, jaw line laxity, and other signs of facial aging. Sculptraâ„¢ treatment provides a minimally invasive, effective, and prolonged (18-24 months) facial enhancement correction with a low frequency of side effects and no need for allergy testing.