A woman receiving cosmetic treatment from a professional in a clinic, surrounded by decorative flowers.

SCULPTRA™ INJECTIONS AND TREATMENTS IN CALGARY

SCULPTRA ™

Rediscover a naturally youthful appearance with Sculptra™ at PHI Medical Aesthetics in Calgary.

What is Sculptra™ and how does it work?

Sculptra™ is a biostimulatory filler made from poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA). What this means is that Sculptra™ works with your body to stimulate and produce more of its own collagen over time.

Following your treatment, the PLLA microparticles signal your skin to gradually rebuild its collagen network. This regeneration happens over the next few months following treatment. As your body creates more of its own collagen, you'll notice a natural restoration of volume, particularly in areas affected by aging. This process improves skin texture and structure from within. It helps smooth out wrinkles, both fine lines and deeper ones, to give you a healthier, more youthful look. It’s a gradual way to achieve a natural-looking rejuvenation.

What are the benefits of Sculptra™?

  • Natural-looking results: Enhancements appear gradually, leading to a refreshed look that's never artificial.  

  • Long-lasting effects: Results often last two years or more because Sculptra™ helps rebuild your own collagen structure. In fact, 80% of Sculptra users are still happy with their results 25 months after their injections.

  • Restores volume & structure: Sculptra™ effectively restores facial volume and underlying structure lost due to aging.  

  • Improves skin texture: Beyond volume, Sculptra™ improves the skin's overall firmness and contributes to a healthy glow.

  • Addresses the cause: Sculptra™ targets collagen loss directly, which is a key factor in how the face ages.

Common Treatment Areas 

Sculptra™ is versatile and frequently used to restore volume and smooth wrinkles in several facial areas, including:  

  • Cheeks (addressing hollowness or loss of definition)  

  • Temples (filling depressions)  

  • Nasolabial Folds (softening "smile lines")  

  • Marionette Lines (reducing lines from mouth corners)  

  • Jawline (improving contour and structure)  

Is Sculptra™ right for you?

We recommend Sculptra™ for those who fit the following profile:

  • Are 18 years of age or older.

  • Are in good overall health.

  • Want to address facial concerns like hollowness (cheeks, temples), volume loss, or deeper lines and wrinkles resulting from aging or weight changes.

  • Prefer gradual improvements that look natural.

  • Understand the treatment involves multiple sessions and that results appear over time. They have realistic expectations for the final outcome.

Candidates should also meet these criteria:

  • Are not currently pregnant or breastfeeding.

  • Do not have any active skin infections, inflammation, or rashes in the areas to be treated.

  • Are not prone to forming keloid scars or hypertrophic scars.

Important consideration: If you have certain health conditions, especially autoimmune diseases, or take medications that suppress the immune system, let us know during your consultation. This helps us determine if Sculptra™ is a safe and appropriate choice for you.

The Sculptra™ Treatment Process

Your Sculptra™ treatment appointment at PHI Medical Aesthetics is designed to be efficient and comfortable:

  1. Preparation: After confirming the treatment plan from your initial consultation, your Nurse Injector will cleanse the skin in the targeted areas and mark the injection points.

  2. Numbing: We’ll apply a topical numbing cream to the treatment areas before the injections begin.

  3. Injections: The injection process itself typically takes about 15 to 30 minutes. Using a fine needle, your Nurse Injector will carefully inject the prepared Sculptra™ mixture (PLLA powder mixed with sterile water and often lidocaine for comfort) into the targeted areas.

  4. Initial massage: Immediately after the injections, your nurse will massage the treated zones. This helps ensure the Sculptra™ is distributed evenly.

  5. Your essential home care (The 5-5-5 Rule): You will need to massage the treated areas yourself at home. The standard guideline is the "5-5-5 rule": massage for five minutes, five times per day, for five consecutive days. Your nurse will demonstrate the correct massage technique before you leave.

Number of Treatments and Timing

Most patients achieve their desired results in two to four treatment sessions. These sessions are typically spaced six to eight weeks apart to give your body the necessary time to gradually build collagen in response to the treatment.

How many Sculptra™ vials do I need?

There isn't a standard amount for everyone. It really depends on factors like your age, the amount of volume loss we're addressing, the specific areas being treated, and your aesthetic goals. We’ll cover all of this in your initial consultation.

When will I see results?

Sculptra™ results are gradual and appear naturally over time. It's a process that relies on your body building collagen.

Immediately after treatment, you might see some temporary fullness from the sterile water in the mixture and slight swelling, but this isn't the final result. True improvements begin subtly, often becoming noticeable a couple of months after your first or second treatment.

The most significant effects (i.e., the visible volume restoration and wrinkle smoothing) typically develop fully three to six months after your final session in the series. Patience pays off with Sculptra™!

How long does Sculptra™ last?

For many patients, the results typically last for two years or more. 

For instance, a 2024 study specifically looking at the treatment of cheek wrinkles found very high levels of patient satisfaction 12 months after treatment. Over 90% of participants reported satisfaction with improvements in skin radiance and firmness, and over 85% felt their results looked natural. 

Is Sculptra™ safe?

Sculptra™ has a well-established safety profile when administered by trained and experienced professionals like our team at PHI Medical Aesthetics. Importantly, Sculptra™ is Health Canada-approved.

However, as with any medical aesthetic procedure involving injections, it's normal to experience some temporary effects at the injection sites, such as:

  • Bruising

  • Swelling

  • Tenderness or mild discomfort

These typically resolve on their own within several days to about a week.  

Your Nurse Injector will thoroughly discuss the full safety information, including potential risks and side effects specific to your treatment plan, during your consultation. We want you to feel fully informed and confident in your decision.

Combining Sculptra™ with Other Treatments 

Combining Sculptra™ with neuromodulators like Botox® or Dysport® is a common and effective strategy we often recommend for comprehensive facial rejuvenation. These treatments work very well together because they target different concerns: Sculptra™ focuses on rebuilding collagen to restore foundational volume and structure over time, while neuromodulators relax specific muscles to smooth out dynamic wrinkles (like crow’s feet or frown lines). Addressing both aspects simultaneously leads to a more balanced and natural-looking anti-aging result.

Depending on your individual needs and goals, Sculptra™ can also be part of a broader treatment plan at PHI Medical Aesthetics. We might recommend combining it with specific hyaluronic acid (HA) fillers for targeted volume or immediate refinement in certain areas.

 FAQs

  • We generally advise patients to avoid strenuous exercise, heavy lifting, or activities that cause excessive sweating or facial flushing for the first 24-48 hours post-treatment. This precaution helps minimize potential swelling and bruising. Gentle walking is typically fine. Always follow the detailed aftercare instructions provided by your Nurse Injector

  • For the first night or two, it's ideal if you can sleep on your back with your head slightly elevated. This helps reduce swelling and avoids putting sustained pressure on the treated areas. If you're a side sleeper, try to avoid direct pressure on the injected zones. Your injector may give specific advice based on the areas treated.

  • Direct injection of Sculptra™ into the tear trough (the hollow under the eye) is generally not recommended. The skin there is very thin, increasing the risk of visible nodules. Sometimes, treating the upper cheek area near the under-eye with Sculptra™ can provide support that indirectly improves the appearance of the tear trough, but this requires careful assessment by an expert injector.

    HA fillers are preferred for under-eye treatment.

  • It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.

  • Treating the neck with Sculptra™ is considered an "off-label" use but can be performed by experienced injectors to help improve skin firmness, texture, and crepiness over time. The skin on the neck is delicate, so careful technique is essential. We can assess if this is a suitable option for you during your consultation.

  • No, Sculptra™ is not intended or approved for use in breast augmentation or enhancement. It is primarily used for facial volume restoration and addressing wrinkles, and sometimes for specific body contouring applications when appropriate.