In recent years, you may have noticed a shift in aesthetic trends. Gone are the days of obvious fillers and frozen faces, and here are the days of subtle (but still transformative) results. Social media crazes like the ‘clean girl’ aesthetic have ushered in an emphasis on finesse, with modern tweakments tapping into the skin’s innate biology to produce anti-ageing effects all by itself. Leading this charge is biostimulators, a class of injectables that trigger the body’s ability to internally regenerate.
The first proven regenerative biostimulator to hit the aesthetic industry was Sculptra. And despite the injectable having been around for some time, it is now having a renaissance in the era of natural beauty. It can offer long-term collagen and elastin production, along with skin thickness and volume restoration.
A premium product with many possibilities, some Sculptra users report results in as little as two to three sessions, with most achieving a youthful glow that's accompanied by a natural lift. But what exactly is Sculptra, and how does it work?
What is Sculptra?
Sculptra is composed of tiny particles of poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA). When these particles are injected beneath the skin, they stimulate the body's collagen and elastin production process. Over time, this can help restore volume, smooth deep lines and soften facial wrinkles.
Collagen is the most abundant protein in the human body, and it is responsible for keeping skin firm and plump. However, once we hit our mid-20s, our ability to produce it naturally begins to dwindle by around 1% per year, with fine lines and wrinkles being the first telltale signs.
Meanwhile, elastin is responsible for skin’s elasticity, and thus is integral to youthful structure. Its depletion can also manifest as sagging (particularly around the jowls) and loss of volume. As such, collagen stimulating injectables like Sculptra aim to reinstall that snap-back resilience.
A typical Sculptra regime consists of two to three sessions, spaced four to six weeks apart. It is injected into the deep layers of the skin where collagen naturally exists and is made. Small beads of the product are placed slowly in areas of concern, and it then continues to work for months after the treatment.
Sculptra results last for up to 25 months, a clinical study by Galderma found. In addition to long-term collagen synthesis, it can also help produce elastin, a naturally-occurring protein in the body that provides elasticity to skin, as well as increases the skin’s thickness for a supercharged appearance of youthfulness.
What do the reviews say?
Doris, a 67-year-old Sculptra customer from west London, said after just one session, she had a “special radiance”. After falling ill with kidney failure and being hospitalised for months, it returned an air of luminosity to her skin. Praising the “subtle” and youthful glow it gave to her complexion, Doris added: “It’s just a really nice treatment. It makes you feel better, it makes you feel younger.”
Why women are combining Sculptra with Restylane after losing weight
For many entering midlife, significant weight loss can bring a noticeable loss of facial fullness. According to Galderma, this transformation often leads to common concerns such as sagging contours, hollowed cheeks and a dull, dry complexion. In response, the dermatology brand conducted a study to explore how the combination of Sculptra and Restylane injectables might help restore what time and weight loss had taken.
Restylane is an injectable infused with hyaluronic acid, a naturally occurring substance already in the body that keeps skin hydrated. Deposited in the face through an ultrafine needle, Restylane is designed to gently lift and plump the skin. These days, it is often used in tandem with Sculptra.
Three months after Galderma’s study, participants said their cheeks appeared lifted and softly contoured, with wrinkles diminished and newly-radiant faces. On the whole, they reported that their skin was more hydrated, as well as felt thicker. Over 85% of participants said they felt more attractive and refreshed, with particular kudos given to the natural appearance of results.
To find out more about Sculptra and Restylane, visit aestheticsbygalderma.uk.
DOP: GB-RES-2500101 Sept’ 2025
This article is sponsored by Galderma
AE reporting
Adverse events should be reported. For the UK, report forms and information can be found at www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard or search for MHRA Yellow Cardin the Google Play or Apple App Store. For Ireland, suspected adverse events can be reported via HPRA Pharmacovigilance, www.hpra.ie; Adverse events should also be reported to Galderma (UK) Ltd. Email: Medinfo.uk@galderma.com Tel: +44 1 923 208950.
