Sculptra in Calgary

Sculptraat Rejuvenation Dermatology Calgary South.

Sculptra is a collagen stimulator rather than a filler. Injected into the deep tissue of the face, it prompts the skin to build its own collagen over months, restoring volume gradually and lasting up to two years or more. At Rejuvenation Dermatology Calgary South, Dr. Paul Kuzel, a board-certified dermatologist, performs every treatment himself.

Book a consultation Call (403) 286-6888

14Years of training FRCPCRoyal College certified VPAlberta Society of Dermatologists

What it is

Poly-L-lactic acid, and how collagen stimulation works.

Sculptra is a suspension of poly-L-lactic acid, a biocompatible material used in dissolvable sutures for decades. It has been approved in Canada for facial volume loss since 2005.

MechanismThe microparticles are injected deep, beneath the skin, and provoke a controlled response in which the body lays down new collagen around them. Over weeks the particles dissolve and the collagen remains. The volume you see is your own tissue, not the product.

GradualNothing much is visible on the day beyond the water the product is diluted in, which resolves within days. Volume builds over six to twelve weeks after each session and continues to improve for months after the course is complete.

Long-lastingBecause the result is collagen rather than a gel, it lasts two years or more. Sculptra is not reversible in the way hyaluronic acid filler is, which is why placement and dilution matter and why it is a physician's treatment.

Sculptra or filler

Two different tools.

Sculptra and hyaluronic acid filler are often used together. They do different jobs.

Sculptra

Diffuse volume, gradual result

Suited to general volume loss across the cheeks, temples and lower face, where the aim is to restore the fullness of the whole area rather than to shape one point. Result builds over months.

Filler

Precise shape, immediate result

Suited to defining a specific structure: the cheekbone, chin, jawline or lips. Result is visible on the day and is reversible.

Juvederm

Together

Foundation and detail

A common plan is Sculptra for the foundation, restoring overall volume, with a small amount of filler for definition. Sculptra can be used in patients who already have filler.

Skin quality

Beyond volume

Because the result is collagen, patients notice firmer, thicker skin as well as restored volume. Sculptra is increasingly used at lower doses in younger patients for skin quality alone.

Why a dermatologist

Dilution, depth and nodule prevention.

Sculptra's reputation for lumps came from early years of under-dilution and shallow placement. Both are technique, and both are avoidable.

Correct dilutionSculptra is reconstituted in sterile water and lidocaine well before injection. Under-diluted product placed too shallow produces palpable nodules. Dr. Kuzel uses a high dilution, prepared in advance, as current practice recommends.

Correct planeSculptra belongs deep, on the periosteum or in the deep fat, never in the dermis or the muscles around the mouth and eyes. Placement is by cannula or needle at the right depth for the area.

Vascular safetyLike any injectable, Sculptra is placed among the arteries of the face. Dr. Kuzel knows the anatomy and uses cannula where it reduces risk.

CoverageSculptra is cosmetic and not covered by Alberta Health Care. Pricing is by vial and is quoted at consultation before any treatment.

Areas treated

Where Sculptra is used.

Sculptra is used where volume has been lost across an area. It is not used in the lips, the tear trough, or the glabella.

Midface

Cheeks and midface

The most common use. Restoring the fullness of the midface lifts the folds below and reverses the hollow, tired look of volume loss.

Sculptra for cheeks

Upper face

Temples

Hollow temples narrow the upper face and make the brow appear to drop. Sculptra restores the curve.

Sculptra for temples

Lower face

Jawline and jowls

Restoring volume along the jaw and in front of the jowl improves definition and the appearance of sagging.

Sculptra for jawline

Overall

Generalised volume loss

Where the whole face has thinned, with weight loss, age or the newer weight-loss medications, Sculptra restores the foundation across several areas at once.

Sculptra for volume loss

Body

Buttocks, décolletage and skin laxity

Sculptra is used off the face to improve the contour of the buttocks and hips and the crepe texture of the chest, arms and knees. Discussed at consultation.

Hands

Backs of the hands

Diluted Sculptra restores the fullness that hides tendons and veins on the back of the hands.

Hand rejuvenation

Your visit

A course of two or three sessions.

Sculptra is given as a series, four to six weeks apart. Each session takes about thirty minutes.

ConsultationWhat concerns you, your medical history, previous filler, and what you want the face to look like in a year rather than a week.

Assessment and planDr. Kuzel assesses where volume has been lost and how many vials over how many sessions are needed. The price is confirmed before treatment.

InjectionTopical anaesthetic; the product is mixed with lidocaine. Injection by cannula or needle into the deep plane. Twenty to thirty minutes.

MassageFive minutes of massage, five times a day, for five days after each session, to distribute the product evenly.

Repeat and reviewSecond and third sessions at four to six week intervals; review at three months after the last, when the result is assessed.

Aftercare and safety

The five-five-five rule.

Massage after treatment is the single most important thing the patient does to ensure an even result.

After treatment

Massage the treated areas for five minutes, five times a day, for five days
Swelling on the day is mostly the diluent and settles within one to three days
Bruising, if any, resolves within a week
Avoid strenuous exercise, alcohol and saunas for 24 hours
Makeup can be applied the next day
Small, non-visible firmness under the skin in the first weeks is normal and resolves; a persistent visible lump is uncommon and is treated
Contact the clinic immediately for skin that turns white, mottled or dusky, or unusual pain
Not used in pregnancy, breastfeeding, active infection, or a history of keloid scarring

Booking and fees

No referral is needed. Sculptra is priced by vial and quoted at consultation, and the price is confirmed before anything is injected.

Call (403) 286-6888 for current pricing.

What to expect

Expected outcomes.

Sculptra rewards patience. After the first session the face looks briefly fuller from the diluent and then returns to baseline. Volume begins to appear at four to six weeks, builds with each session, and continues to improve for three to six months after the course is complete. The change is gradual enough that it is noticed as looking well rather than as having had something done.

The result lasts two years or more, and a single maintenance session at eighteen months to two years extends it. Patients also report firmer skin and improved texture over the treated areas, which is the collagen itself.

Sculptra does not define a cheekbone, shape a lip or fill a tear trough. Where a specific structure is wanted, hyaluronic acid filler does it, often in the same plan.

2 to 3Sessions in a course 3 to 6Months to full result 2+Years of duration

Questions

Questions about Sculptra, answered.

How much does Sculptra cost in Calgary?

Sculptra is priced by vial and quoted at consultation. Most patients need one or two vials per session over two or three sessions, depending on the degree of volume loss. Call (403) 286-6888 for current pricing.

How many sessions do I need?

Usually two or three, four to six weeks apart. Younger patients treating early volume loss or skin quality may need one or two; significant volume loss may need three. Dr. Kuzel sets the plan at consultation and adjusts at review.

When will I see results?

Volume begins to appear at four to six weeks after the first session and builds with each session. The full result is assessed three months after the last session and continues to improve for some months beyond that.

How long does Sculptra last?

Two years or more. Because the result is your own collagen, it fades slowly. A single maintenance session at eighteen months to two years extends it.

What is the five-five-five rule?

Massage the treated areas for five minutes, five times a day, for five days after each session. This distributes the product evenly in the tissue and is the most important step in preventing lumps.

Does Sculptra cause lumps?

Early Sculptra earned that reputation through under-dilution and shallow placement. With current technique, high dilution, deep placement and post-treatment massage, visible nodules are uncommon. Small firmness that can be felt but not seen in the first weeks is normal and resolves. A persistent visible lump is treated with injection or, rarely, minor removal.

Can I have Sculptra if I already have filler?

Yes. Sculptra is placed deeper than most filler and the two do not interfere. Dr. Kuzel assesses what is already present and plans around it.

Sculptra or Juvederm?

Sculptra restores diffuse volume gradually and lasts longest; hyaluronic acid filler shapes a specific structure immediately and is reversible. Many patients have both: Sculptra for the foundation and a small amount of filler for definition.

Can it be reversed?

No. Sculptra stimulates your own collagen and cannot be dissolved like hyaluronic acid filler. That is why patient selection, dilution and depth matter, and why treatment is performed by a physician.

Who performs the injections?

Dr. Paul Kuzel, MD FRCPC, a board-certified dermatologist and the founder and Medical Director of Rejuvenation Dermatology Calgary South, performs all injections personally. He sees patients in English and Czech.

If you want to go deeper.

Grouped by what you are trying to find out.

Begin here

Book a consultation.

Book a consultation with Dr. Kuzel. No referral is needed, and the first session is usually performed at the first visit.