日本語
简体中文
繁體中文
If hollow cheeks make you look older and your skin is not as firm as it was, the volume and collagen beneath the skin are declining together. Sculptra® is a poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA) injectable made by Galderma: your body makes collagen around the injected particles, so hollow areas fill in gradually over 4–6 weeks. Because it builds up over several sessions rather than filling all at once, the doctor examines you in person and decides the areas and amount.
About Sculptra
Sculptra is a collagen booster in which microparticles of a biodegradable ingredient, poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA), are placed beneath the skin. Your body makes collagen around the particles, so hollow areas fill in gradually, and the particles break down over time. It comes as a powder that is reconstituted with water for injection before treatment, and sessions are usually built up to three or more, one month apart. It was approved in the US for aesthetic use in 2009 and launched in Korea in 2011.
How it works
The key to understanding Sculptra is that the volume you see right after treatment is not the real result. That early volume is mostly the water injected with it; the real change happens over the weeks in which your body makes collagen.
Reconstituted PLLA is placed evenly, in divided amounts, beneath the skin of the hollow area (deep dermis or subcutaneous layer). The volume right after treatment is water and fades within a few days.
Your body makes its own collagen around the particles, and hollow areas fill in gradually over 4–6 weeks. The degree and duration of change vary from person to person.
Over time PLLA breaks down and leaves the body. That is why it is built up over several sessions rather than injected in a large amount at once.
Evidence
Here is the randomized controlled study behind Sculptra's 2023 US indication for cheek wrinkles, reported as it stands, with its limitations.
Adults with moderate or worse cheek wrinkles, randomized 2:1 to Sculptra or an untreated control group, evaluator-blinded
Fabi S et al., J Drugs Dermatol 2024Share with at least one grade of improvement in cheek wrinkles on both sides at 12 months (control group 26.1%)
Up to 4 sessions, one month apartSerious treatment-related adverse events. Related adverse events were mostly mild
Same study| Study | Participants · method | Results |
|---|---|---|
| Fabi S et al.J Drugs Dermatol 2024;23(1):1297-1305 · NCT04124692 | Multicentre US study of 149 adults with moderate to severe cheek wrinkles: Sculptra (150 mg reconstituted with 8 mL water for injection + 1 mL 2% lidocaine) vs no treatment, randomized 2:1. Up to 3 further sessions one month apart after the first; assessed at 7, 9 and 12 months | The share with at least one grade of improvement in cheek wrinkles was 66.2% vs 38.6% at 7 months, 70.6% vs 31.1% at 9 months and 71.6% vs 26.1% at 12 months, significantly higher than the control group. Related adverse events were mostly mild, with no serious adverse events. |
| Fabi SG et al.Dermatol Surg 2024;50(12):1137-1142 | Subanalysis of 9-month 3D photographs of participants in the same study whose cheek wrinkles were more severe (Sculptra 46, control 21) | Midface volume and projection increased more than in the control group (e.g. left cheek +4.88 mL vs +0.26 mL). |
This research was sponsored by the manufacturer (Galderma R&D), and some authors are Galderma employees. The control group received no treatment, and the paper reports results up to 12 months (the manufacturer has separately published 2-year follow-up results). Participants were in the US. Results vary between individuals and do not guarantee results at Dr. NewCell.
Find yours
Even with the same Sculptra, the areas, amount and session plan change with your concern. Pick what bothers you most right now and we will show how Dr. NewCell plans Sculptra for it. The final plan is set together with the doctor after examining your face in person.
We place one session's amount in divided portions into the hollow cheek and set the next session's amount by watching how it fills in over 4–6 weeks. It builds up rather than filling all at once.
Hollow cheeks · gradual fillingSee the plan →We look at where volume has been lost and where firmness has dropped, and place it evenly over a wide area. Because it fills in through collagen your body makes, the change builds slowly.
Volume + firmnessSee how it works →The volume right after treatment is water and fades within a few days; the real change comes over several weeks. The next amount is added only after seeing how much has filled in each session.
Little by little · naturalSee what to expect →The powder is fully reconstituted and placed evenly at the depth suited to the area. After treatment we give guidance on massaging at home for at least 5 days.
Reconstitution · depth · massageSee aftercare →Sagging contours are planned with a lifting device and lost volume with Sculptra, separately. Whether to combine them, and in what order, is decided by looking at your skin.
Sagging + hollowingSee combinations →Expression lines caused by movement are treated with Botox, and hollowing and firmness with Sculptra.
Expression lines + volumeSee combinations →These are example plans by concern, not a diagnosis. The areas, amount, sessions and any combined treatments are decided in consultation after looking at your face and skin.
Compare
All are injections that help the body make collagen, but they differ in what goes in and how the change appears. Choosing is easier if you look at the ingredient before the name.
This is a general comparison of product characteristics and does not imply that one product is better than another. Even the same product behaves differently depending on dilution, amount and depth, and the areas it can be used on follow each product's approval. Which product suits you is decided together with the doctor, who examines your skin in consultation.
Design
With Sculptra, "where, how much and over how many sessions" decides the result more than "how many vials". At Dr. NewCell the doctor sets the four points below in consultation.
Using a mirror together, we choose where hollowing has begun, such as hollow cheeks, cheek wrinkles or around the nasolabial folds.
The amount per session is set by the size of the area and how hollow it is. We do not inject a lot at once.
The powder is fully reconstituted and placed evenly, in divided amounts, at the depth suited to the area to reduce lumps.
We recommend three or more sessions one month apart, and adjust the next amount according to how much has filled in after each session.
Who it fits
Process
The doctor looks at the hollow areas and your skin thickness and decides whether Sculptra suits you or another approach is better. There is no separate consultation with a non-doctor coordinator.
Using a mirror together, we decide where to inject and how much per session, and mark the areas.
After anesthesia, reconstituted Sculptra is placed evenly, in divided amounts, beneath the skin. It takes about 15 minutes.
We show you how to massage at home and book the next session one month later.
Safety 365
Safety 365 is the safety standard that the manufacturer Galderma sets out for Sculptra® treatment. It groups the product, the treatment process and what not to do under the numbers 3, 6 and 5, and Dr. NewCell follows this order from consultation through post-treatment follow-up.
Source: Galderma's 'SCULPTRA® SAFETY 365' content for clinics. This is not a guarantee of treatment results.
After Sculptra
Volume appears right away because of the water injected with it, then fades along with the swelling over 3–5 days. This is a normal part of the process.
Gently massage the treated area for 5 minutes, 5 times a day, to help the particles spread evenly.
As collagen forms, hollow areas begin to fill in. The next session follows one month apart.
We set the next treatment according to how much has filled in. How long it lasts differs from person to person.
Combination
Sagging contours are planned with a lifting device and lost volume with Sculptra, separately.
Areas that need shape right away are treated with filler, and broad hollow areas with Sculptra.
Expression lines caused by movement are treated with Botox, and hollowing and firmness with Sculptra.
Aftercare
FAQ
Read more: NewCell Collagen Booster · XERF lifting
For international patients
Sculptra is a poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA) injectable by Galderma. Rather than filling volume at once like a filler, it helps the skin build its own collagen, so hollow areas fill in gradually over 4–6 weeks. A typical plan is three or more sessions about a month apart, with gentle at-home massage for at least five days after each session. English- and Japanese-speaking consultation, next to Sinnonhyeon Station (exits 5 and 6).
スカルプトラ（Sculptra）は、ガルデルマ社のポリL乳酸（PLLA）注入剤。フィラーのようにすぐ埋めるのではなく、肌が自らコラーゲンを作るのを助け、4〜6週かけて少しずつふっくらします。約1か月間隔で3回以上が目安。日本語相談可。
7F Namyoung Building, 458 Gangnam-daero, Gangnam-gu, Seoul — Dr. NewCell Clinic Gangnam Main Branch
Line 9: from Sinnonhyeon Station exit 5, walk straight; 7F of the building right next to the Apple Store
Shinbundang Line: Sinnonhyeon Station exit 6, to your left; 7F of the building between Starbucks and the Apple Store
Gangnam Station exit 11, about 8 minutes on foot
*Free parking for patients
Director Dr. Shin Yong-bae · 16 years in anti-aging · medical team of 9
Sculptra consultations are done by the doctor. If you booked at an event price, that price stands.
The information on this page does not replace a consultation with a doctor. Results and side effects vary between individuals; swelling, bruising, itching, redness, nodules and other reactions may occur. Sculptra is a medical device approved by Korea's Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS). Product information is based on data published by the manufacturer (Galderma), Safety 365 content and the MFDS approval; clinical information is based on the papers cited. The comparison table reflects general product characteristics and does not imply that one product is better than another. The product photo and the video at the top of the page (part of a brand film) are materials provided by the manufacturer Galderma Korea for clinics. Seo Ji-hye is the advertising model for Sculptra® and not a promotional model for Dr. NewCell Clinic. The video at the top of the page is manufacturer promotional material, not a Dr. NewCell treatment case. The doctor in the consultation photo is a real Dr. NewCell doctor (Dr. Shin Yong-bae); the person seated across from him is not a real patient or a Dr. NewCell treatment case. Dr. NewCell Clinic · Business registration 380-22-01983.
