The claim that Sculptra lasts 2 years,

don't take it at face value

This is Director Wi Young-jin of Beauty's Doctor.

Please check this before you read on

Q. If you get Sculptra once,

doesn't it last for more than 2 years?

A. The "2 years" in clinical papers is

a figure under specific conditions,

and the actual duration varies quite a bit depending on

the injection amount, area, and individual metabolism.

Q. Then how long does it actually last?

A. On average, about 1 year to 1.5 years is

the realistic perceived duration,

and if the protocol is designed well,

it can be extended to close to 2 years.

Key points of this article

The claim that Sculptra lasts more than 2 years

The gap between clinical evidence and real-world duration

What is Sculptra?

Sculptra

(Sculptra, ingredient name PLLA — Poly-L-Lactic Acid) is

a collagen-stimulating injection that induces

your skin to produce its own collagen.

Unlike hyaluronic acid fillers, it does not

fill volume immediately upon injection,

but instead the PLLA microparticles slowly break down in the dermis,

and in that process new collagen is formed.

So, unlike hyaluronic acid fillers,

the effects appear slowly, but

the advantage is a "natural volume like your own flesh."

The basis for "lasting more than 2 years,"

when you actually break it down

If you search for Sculptra duration,

you'll mostly see the phrase "more than 2 years."

The source of this figure is the clinical data from

the time of FDA approval in 2004.

But there's one important thing here.

That clinical study was conducted on "patients with HIV-related lipoatrophy,"

and

the evaluation criterion was also "whether the volume loss

appeared to have completely returned to the original state" from the doctor's perspective.

To be honest, it does not mean that "the effect of the first injection

is preserved unchanged for the full two years."

It is true that collagen is created, but that collagen too eventually

is broken down through our body's

natural metabolic processes over time.

[Comparison] Clinical data vs. real treatment experience

Director Wi Young-jin's key summary

"Sculptra 2 years" is a figure under optimal conditions.

In reality, depending on the number of injections, the area, and individual metabolism,

12 to 18 months is the realistic perceived duration.

Following the protocol is the biggest factor that determines

how long the results last.

How to maximize the duration

A lot of people misunderstand this,

but Sculptra is not a treatment where you do it once and that's it.

The official protocol recommends at least 3 sessions

at intervals of 4 to 6 weeks.

If you compare collagen to "stacking bricks,"

one treatment is only the level of laying the foundation.

Only when the bricks are stacked through 2 and 3 repeated sessions

does a solid structure finally form.

For those who completed 3 sessions,

the total collagen amount had accumulated meaningfully,

and the proportion satisfied for more than 18 months was clearly higher.

Sculptra vs. other volume treatments,

duration comparison

The key is that the choice depends on whether you want

natural volume or

an immediate result.

Hyaluronic acid attracts water and plumps it up,

while Sculptra is filled in by your own collagen,

so the texture itself is different.

Frequently asked questions

Q1. Can I exercise after getting Sculptra?

It's best to avoid strenuous exercise on the day of the procedure,

but light exercise is fine starting the next day.

However, for 5 days after the procedure, 5 times a day, for 5 minutes each time,

you should gently massage the injection area.

Q2. How much does it cost,

and how many sessions are needed?

Per vial, the market average is usually in the 300,000 to 500,000 won range,

and

1 to 2 vials are used per session.

Since at least 3 sessions are recommended, the total cost is

based on 3 to 6 vials.

Q3. I'm worried about Sculptra side effects,

what are they?

The most common are swelling and bruising, but

most go down within 1~2 weeks.

Nodules are very unlikely to occur if dilution and injection technique are accurate.

the probability of occurrence is very low.

As a rule, it should not be applied to areas with thin skin,

such as under the eyes or the lips.

If you have any questions, feel free to contact us via KakaoTalk or phone.

This was Wi Young-jin.

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