How to Reverse Ageing Skin: Sculptra Injections

Beauty standards seem to evolve almost overnight, don’t you think? Since we opened our skin clinic in 2013, we’ve seen trends come and go, probably most prominently, the request for enhanced lips. We don’t follow trends here, preferring the approach that looking healthy, glowing, and great for the age you’re at… is timeless.

There are a number of treatments that are phenomenal at reversing signs of skin ageing. Thermage has been our favourite treatment for treating ageing eyelids since day one-it has stood the test of time for us and our clients come back for repeat treatments every few years because they’ve seen it work for them. Fraxel Dual is another powerful treatment; it’s one of our go-to lasers for sun damage, many forms of hyperpigmentation, and other forms of skin ageing.

Another favourite skin treatment of ours is Sculptra. Skincare professionals, such as our nurses, and beauty enthusiasts alike adore this treatment. In fact, Sculptra made Elle magazine’s list of The Best Treatments For A Subtle Yet Transformative Tweak; as did Fraxel, hyaluronic acid-based dermal fillers, and micro-needling.

Sculptra offers long-lasting, natural-looking treatment results that gradually and subtly restore your skin’s youthfulness. This can make it a great choice for those of us who want our signs of skin ageing to be reversed without the tell-tale signs of having had ‘something done’. Sculptra is about looking like the best version of yourself at the age you are.

We know better than most the transformative power of natural-looking treatment results. These results extend way beyond the surface. We’ve seen thousands of confidences become reignited and our clients become empowered following non-surgical treatments. Sculptra is no different.

So, what does Sculptra do?

Sculptra Science

The science that sits behind the Sculptra results lies with something called poly-L-lactic acid. Let’s call it PLLA for short. PLLA is a biocompatible material widely used in medicine… such as in sutures, for example. When introduced to your skin by small injections, PLLA stimulates it to generate healthy, new collagen that works to smooth even deep wrinkles, crepiness, and improve a loss of facial volume-all natural signs of skin ageing that generally start to appear around the age of 40 onward.

Having youthful, well-functioning collagen is an essential part of your skin being smooth and firm. Unfortunately, our natural collagen supplies start to dwindle as early as in our late teens and early twenties, becoming evident and more dramatic from around the age of 40.

There’s a really helpful video here which shows beautifully just how Sculptra works. You may need to scroll down the page a little to see it.

Preservation Power

Sculptra isn’t reserved for those with advanced skin ageing, oh no! Those savvy ones amongst us who are forward-thinking can use Sculptra as a powerful tool to help prevent signs of skin ageing. By taking a preventative approach to skincare, younger adults can help to maintain their naturally youthful skin for years to come. It’s unlikely you’ll see the more dramatic results seen in those that use Sculptra to CORRECT signs of ageing, but that’s simply because there’s less to correct-at this point it’s more about preservation and creating radiant, fresh skin.

Softening Scars

In addition to helping reverse and prevent signs of skin ageing, Sculptra can also work its magic to improve some types of scars, such as acne scarring. Depending on your requirements, this may be used in conjunction with other treatments to achieve your desired results.

Now you have a better idea of what Sculptra is and how it can help reverse skin ageing, the next logical questions are when will you see Sculptra results and how much does Sculptra cost?

Sculptra Results

For those of us who like stats, Sculptra has been shown to increase type 1 collagen by 66.5% 3 months post-treatment*; type 1 makes up most of the collagen found in our body and plays a major role in our skin looking young and functioning in a youthful way, so you can imagine the impact the newly formed collagen can have on your skin post-Sculptra.

Yep, that’s right, I did say 3 months post-treatment back there. The transformation that Sculptra can offer your skin doesn’t happen overnight. It is a gradual process and does require some patience. Usually, a series of treatment sessions are required which are spaced about 6 weeks apart. Between sessions, many clients notice positive changes in their skin, however, don’t expect to see your full results until after your final session as your skin transformation is gradually unveiled.

Although some patience is required initially, you might think it’s worth it because of the long-lasting results that you can enjoy; known for its longevity, Sculptra offers results lasting up to 5 years, sometimes longer.

Sculptra Cost

This will vary depending on how many sessions you require; this should be discussed with you during your consultation once you’ve been assessed and discussed your goals with your medical practitioner. Briefly on that note, please ensure that your practitioner is a medical professional (doctor, nurse, or dentist) because as it stands the aesthetic industry is unregulated and therefore anyone can pick up a needle and inject you. Personally, I wouldn’t want someone to inject my face or body who the NHS wouldn’t let inject me. You’ll probably find that a medical practitioner charges more than a non-medical practitioner because of their skill set, training, and ability to deal with complications; it is worth spending a bit extra on this level of the practitioner who has your safety, as well as treatment outcome, in the forefront of their mind.

Where you are in the world will also influence how much Sculptra costs, for example, in England, skincare treatments tend to cost more in the south.

At our CQC-registered and Save Face-accredited clinic, the Sculptra treatment starts at £750. Although Sculptra isn’t cheap, it’s worth remembering how long your results can last for. Additionally, our skin clinic offers ways to spread the cost of your treatment, without paying interest, which can make treatments more affordable; it’s worth asking if your chosen clinic offers such options.

Please note that this price is correct at the time of publication and may be altered without prior notice; please confirm the price with us prior to booking.

Our nurse, Natalia, says: “For those who want treatment results that gradually build and long-lasting, natural but noticeable results then Sculptra can be a really great treatment option for addressing signs of skin ageing, as well as helping to prevent them.

Of course, Sculptra isn’t the only option for helping to reverse signs of ageing skin, and some may need a combination of treatments to achieve their desired results, for some Sculptra will be ideal, and for other people, alternative treatments will be better suited for them. One size does not fit all when it comes to treating skin ageing.

The key is having a consultation with an experienced medical practitioner who can discuss all of the most appropriate treatment options for your skin. This way you can consider the best options for you before diving straight into a treatment.”

If you’d like to discuss your skin, Sculptra, or any of our rejuvenating skin treatments, please contact our Hertfordshire clinic to arrange a consultation.

*Increase seen after 3 sessions, 4 weeks apart. Adapted from Goldberg D, et al. 2016.

Disclaimer: This blog is not to be used for diagnostic purposes. We are all unique which means that our results, recovery and suitability for any type of treatment will vary. Always seek the advice of a professional should you have any health or cosmetic concerns or to discuss treatments specifically for you.