This patient transformation didn’t happen overnight, and that’s really the whole point. Here’s how Sculptra® is changing the cosmetic injection industry and why I’m here for it.
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As a cosmetic injector, I’m constantly balancing the science of facial anatomy with the art of achieving the beautiful aesthetics my patients desire. Some individuals come to me wanting high-impact change, instantly. Others, like the patient featured here, want undetectable cosmetic injections results—more subtle, progressive, and lasting. For this patient, Sculptra® was that ideal cosmetic injection treatment. A year after his first Sculptra® treatment, his results speak for themselves.
For context and before we get into it, this transformation was achieved using four vials of Sculptra® starting in spring 2024, with the last treatment taking place in April. This week (summer 2025), we followed up with a yearly maintenance dose of one vial of Sculptra® to keep collagen production active and preserve the results.
Related Reading: The Natural Appeal of Sculptra®
Is Sculptra® the same as filler?
Sculptra® adds volume, but in a totally different way than traditional dermal filler. It doesn’t physically fill space the way hyaluronic acid (HA) fillers like Revanesse® do. Instead, and stay with me here during this science talk, Sculptra® is a bio-stimulatory injectable made from poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA), a biocompatible, biodegradable substance that’s been used in medicine for decades.
Once injected, Sculptra® triggers a controlled inflammatory response, stimulating your body to produce new collagen. This isn’t an overnight process. In fact, it typically takes four to six weeks to start seeing results, and peak improvements continue for months afterward.
That delay is both Sculptra’s strength and its caveat: it’s perfect for patients who don’t want to look “done” and who are willing to let their results build naturally over time. Patience is the name of the game when it comes to Sculptra®.
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Who is a good candidate for Sculptra®?
So, who makes the perfect Sculptra® candidate? When this patient came to see me, he was experiencing early signs of facial fat atrophy: the natural loss of volume that comes for us all with age. In some cases, this can also be genetically predisposed or even worsened by non-invasive skin treatments (like microneedling) that remodel deeper facial tissues.
We were seeing hollowness in the lateral cheeks, volume loss in the temples, and overall laxity in the midface: areas that aren’t ideal for HA fillers because they don’t distribute well over broad regions and tend to feel firmer or lumpier in areas of motion or low-fat padding. That’s why I knew Sculptra® would be a great fit.
Sculptra® spreads evenly and can be injected with a cannula into larger regions like the temples, jawline, and outer cheeks. These zones tolerate PLLA very well and respond over time by rebuilding volume naturally by way of boosted collagen production.
How much Sculptra® is needed for full face?
Each individual will require a different number of vials of Sculptra® for a full face treatment. For this patient, we used a total of four vials of Sculptra®, spaced out over multiple sessions, and you might be wondering why it seems like such a drastic shift to go from four vials to begin down to just one per year for maintenance after. That higher volume at the beginning is really important for building a strong foundation, especially because this patient was experiencing noticeable volume loss.
When we’re working to restore lost structure, we need to stimulate enough collagen production to essentially “rebuild” what time has diminished, which requires a more targeted approach up front. But once that foundational collagen network is in place and facial volume has been replenished, we then shift into maintenance mode. That’s why, one year later, we only needed a single vial to keep the process going and preserve the results. The beauty of Sculptra® is that it works with your body’s natural biology, so once that transformation is established, it takes far less product to keep things fresh after that.
Where all can you put Sculptra®?
There’s a lot of nuance in treating with Sculptra®, and I actually prefer to take a highly conservative, anatomical approach for the best aesthetic outcome.
Ideal areas I treat:
- Temples: Often overlooked, but one of the first places we lose volume.
- Lateral cheeks and midface: Helps to get that youthful fullness in the lower part of your face.
- Jawline: Adds structure and smooths transition zones that are affected by laxity.
Areas I avoid:
- Perioral region (around the mouth): There’s high muscular activity here that can actually cause Sculptra® to clump, increasing the risk of nodule formation.
- Under-eyes: This skin is too thin and the risk of irregular texture or visibility is too high.
- Forehead, nose, and lips: These are not appropriate areas for Sculptra® and should be treated with HA fillers if you’re interested in these specific results.
Sculptra® is most successful when administered by a highly trained provider (read this for cosmetic injector red flags to look out for). For this patient, we avoided high-risk areas and instead focused on broad zones of volume loss that respond predictably and safely to PLLA stimulation.
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Sculptra® Patient Case Study
The before-and-after photos speak for themselves (but I don’t mind speaking for them too ahaha). One year post-treatment, this patient shows:
- A visible reduction in under-eye hollowness (even though we didn’t inject the tear troughs directly! Supporting the midface naturally lifted the under-eye area).
- Smoother skin texture and tone, which is a secondary but awesome benefit of Sculptra®: collagen production leads to thicker dermis and more hydrated, resilient skin.
- A softer, lifted jawline and cheek contour that looks totally natural and not at all “filled.”
We topped up this week with a single maintenance vial, which is ideal once full results have been established. This keeps the biological process active without overstimulating tissue or risking buildup.
Sculptra® in Kelowna, Kamloops and Sicamous
What I love most about Sculptra® is that it works with your body. We’re really not interested in changing your face here, but we aim to more so revive what time has faded, reinforcing your skin’s architecture, and helping you look like the most vibrant version of yourself.
This patient’s transformation really proves what’s possible when science, experience, and nature come together. He still looks entirely like himself, just more rested, more lifted, and undeniably refreshed.
If you’re curious whether Sculptra® might be the right choice for your goals, the best first step is an honest conversation, which I would love to guide you through. To book your Sculptra® consultation in Kelowna, Kamloops or Sicamous, start here.
