Collagen treatment
Sculptra
Gradually rebuild lost facial structure using your own collagen.
- Treatment time
- 45–60 minutes per session
- Results
- From 4–6 weeks; builds over 3–6 months
- Longevity
- Typically 2 years or more
- Downtime
- Minimal — a few days of mild swelling
- From
- £600
About Sculptra
Sculptra is a collagen stimulator made of poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA), a material used safely in dissolvable stitches for decades. Rather than filling a line or hollow directly, it's injected into the deeper skin where it prompts your own fibroblasts to build new collagen over the following months. The volume and firmness that result are your own tissue.
The change is gradual and natural — friends notice you look well rather than that you've had something done — and it lasts longer than hyaluronic acid filler, often two years or more.
Before & after
Key Benefits
- 01Rebuilds your own collagen for natural, gradual volume
- 02Restores hollow cheeks, temples and lower-face volume loss
- 03Improves skin thickness, firmness and texture
- 04Long-lasting — results often two years or more
- 05Subtle change that develops over months
- 06Treats the whole face rather than a single line
Is this treatment right for me?
Sculptra suits people with generalised volume loss, thinning skin or a gaunt look who want a natural, long-lasting result and are happy for it to develop gradually. It isn't right for lips or the immediate under-eye, and it needs a commitment to the massage routine afterwards. John will assess whether Sculptra, hyaluronic acid filler or a combination best fits your face.
You may be suitable if…
- Your face has lost volume across the cheeks, temples or lower face
- Your skin has thinned or lost firmness
- You'd like a gradual, long-lasting, natural result
- You can commit to the post-treatment massage routine
Your consultation will consider…
- Where volume has been lost and how much collagen stimulation is realistic
- Skin thickness and any history of keloid scarring or autoimmune conditions
- The number of sessions — usually two to three
- Whether hyaluronic acid filler is a better fit for any specific area
What to expect
Before treatment
You'll have a consultation with John to plan the areas and number of sessions. Avoid alcohol, aspirin, ibuprofen and blood-thinning supplements for a week beforehand where safe, and don't book within two weeks of dental work.
During treatment
The product is prepared in advance and mixed with local anaesthetic, so the treatment is comfortable. After cleansing and numbing cream, John places the Sculptra in the deeper layers of the skin using a cannula or needle across the planned areas, then massages it thoroughly to distribute it evenly. A session takes around 45–60 minutes.
After treatment
You'll see some fullness immediately from the water the product is mixed with — this settles within a couple of days, and the true result then builds gradually. John will show you the massage routine: five minutes, five times a day, for five days.
Watch
Results & longevity
Sculptra works slowly by design. Any fullness you see on the day is the carrier fluid and disappears within a few days; new collagen then builds gradually, with a visible change from around four to six weeks and continuing improvement over three to six months. Most people need two to three sessions, four to six weeks apart, for a full result. Because the volume is your own collagen, results are long-lasting — typically two years or more — after which a single maintenance session usually suffices. Age, skin condition and lifestyle affect how long results last.
Recovery, side effects & aftercare
Downtime is minimal — most people return to their day straight away. Mild swelling, tenderness and occasionally bruising are normal for a few days, and the massage routine is an important part of aftercare.
Side effects
Swelling, tenderness, redness and bruising are the common effects and settle within days. Because Sculptra stimulates collagen, small firm areas or lumps can occasionally form beneath the skin, particularly if massage is missed; most resolve on their own and John can treat any that persist. Uncommon risks include infection or an uneven result while collagen builds at different rates. Unlike hyaluronic acid, Sculptra can't be dissolved, which is why placement and technique matter.
Aftercare
Massage the treated areas for five minutes, five times a day, for five days — this spreads the product evenly and is the single most important thing you can do for a smooth result. Avoid strenuous exercise, saunas, hot showers, sunbeds and alcohol for 48 hours. Keep the skin clean and use SPF daily.
Please contact the clinic if you notice a lump that's growing, spreading redness, increasing pain, or skin colour change.
- Downtime
- Minimal — 1–2 days of mild swelling
- Redness
- Mild, settles within a day
- Swelling
- Mild for 2–3 days
- Bruising
- Possible, fades within a week
- Normal activities
- Same day; no strenuous exercise, saunas or heat for 48 hours
Frequently Asked Questions
How is Sculptra different from filler?
Filler adds volume directly and is visible immediately. Sculptra stimulates your own collagen, so the result builds over months and lasts longer — usually two years or more — with a more natural, diffuse effect.
When will I see results?
From around four to six weeks, improving over three to six months. The fullness on the day of treatment is temporary carrier fluid and isn't the result.
How many sessions do I need?
Usually two to three, four to six weeks apart, then a single maintenance session every couple of years.
What is the 5-5-5 massage rule?
Massage the treated areas for five minutes, five times a day, for five days after each session. It distributes the product evenly and reduces the chance of small lumps.
Can it be reversed?
No — Sculptra can't be dissolved like hyaluronic acid filler. That's why John places it conservatively and builds up over sessions.
Can it be used in the lips or under the eyes?
No. Sculptra isn't suitable for the lips or the immediate under-eye area; hyaluronic acid filler or polynucleotides are used there instead.
Does it hurt?
The product is mixed with local anaesthetic and numbing cream is applied, so it's well tolerated. The area can feel tender for a few days.
Your Practitioner
John Dixon
Founder & Aesthetician
John founded Trusted Touch Aesthetics in Fulham and specialises in facial balancing, wrinkle reduction and skin rejuvenation. He is CPD-regulated and fully insured, and is known for taking the time to assess your face properly, explaining every option honestly and never over-treating — the aim is always a natural result that still looks like you. Clients regularly mention his calm manner, attention to detail and the aftercare follow-up that checks in on how you're healing.