The principal ingredient of Sculptra is PLA or poly-L-lactic acid. It is this poly-L-lactic acid that makes Sculptra so unique as a dermal filler.
Poly-L-lactic acid is a synthetic dermal filler which is made from a polymer of Lactic Acid molecules. Lactic Acid is present naturally throughout our body. In PLA, the individual lactic acid molecules are linked together in lengthy branches and chains.
The branching of PLA has two benefits. Firstly, it gives volume to Sculptra, thus enabling it to occupy the space under the sagging skin. Secondly, due to the chain-like structure of Lactic Acid, enzymes in the skin face difficulty in breaking down Sculptra. Thus Sculptra does not disappear from the body as quickly as other Lactic Acid injections would.
Most dermal filler treatments fill the subcutaneous area with volume and lift the skin away and up from the tissue underneath. Sculptra does that perfectly and also stimulates the body to sustain it. This is a unique property of Sculptra. The PLA micro-crystals in this dermal filler cause the immune system to emit an inflammatory reaction which generates collagen around the PLA. Majority of the dermal fillers reach their fullest within a fortnight. But, because of the inflammatory reaction, the filling effects of Sculptra can magnify for weeks and months.
The initial filling effect is not as robust in case of this dermal filler as it is in other fillers, though Sculptra plumps up an area as soon as it is injected.
The initial swelling subsides in a day or two.
The maximum benefit of Sculptra is seen after 2 months and the results generally last up to 2 years. The longevity of effect of this dermal filler is far above that of the other fillers available.
