DEAR DR. GOTT: I am 65 years young and in very good health. I’m 5’1”, 126 pounds and the only medication I take is lovastatin 20 mg. The last couple of years my total cholesterol has been between 175 and 180. I exercise three to four times a week for 90 minutes each day doing Bikram yoga.
What do you know about Sculptra Aesthetic? On September 10th I had cosmetic surgery to correct the drooping of my eyes. The physician who performed the surgery is offering me a free complete treatment of this product so he can be certified in its use. He does Botox, Juviderm and other fillers and in order for him to be certified, he is required to perform this procedure on four clients. He thinks I’m a good candidate because I have a small/skinny face.
Where does this product come from and is it absorbed by the body? Are there any short or long-term side effects? Where can I get more information on this product?
DEAR READER: Sculptra Aesthetic is an implant of beads of poly-L-lactic acid, otherwise known as PLLA injected into facial tissue where wrinkles, smile lines and other deformities may exist. As the beads break down and dissolve, collagen may be produced naturally at the injection site. Generally speaking, up to four injections over a 12 week period are given. The FDA has approved the product for use specifically as directed, based on results from a randomized study of 233 patients for the treatment of their nasolabial fold wrinkles. Each patient in the study was followed for a year following completion of the injections. Side effects that resolve without additional care and reported as short-term include redness, tenderness, swelling, itching, bleeding, discomfort and bruising at the injection site. Small bumps with a delayed onset have been reported in some patients. It is believed the average individual will see improvement for up to 25 months. From my perspective, this must indicate that you will have to repeat the process in a little over two years if you choose to continue.
Sculptra Aesthetic should not be considered if you have an allergy to any ingredient in the product, have an active skin infection or inflammation of the area to be injected. The product should not be injected into the red portion of your lips, nor should it be used in the skin near the eyes.
Reviews, as you might have already guessed, are mixed. Some individuals report excruciating pain, others indicated all was well for the first five weeks, followed by regression to their former appearance following that. It appears from what I have read that the body doesn’t continue to produce collagen, thus leading to a return to a person’s prior appearance. Still others feel it is worth the money and would definitely endorse it. While not an issue in your case, pricing varies and so does the quality of work. Therefore, the important thing is that if you choose to have the procedure done, be sure to consult first with your primary care physician, obtain his or her clearance and then choose a doctor you have complete confidence in.
As the eternal skeptic, I cannot endorse something so relatively new that we have no way of knowing what happens to the Sculptra Aesthetic in the body once it breaks down and what the long-term effects might be. As with any new “drug” or treatment, your body may react beautifully or it may respond in a negative manner. That will only be known if you choose to continue. Personally, while I am always attracted to a person with healthy, attractive skin, I also can look at a face full of wrinkles and know that individual has lived many years and likely has many great stories to tell. In reality, they feel they have earned every wrinkle and every grey hair in their heads and are still going strong.
