{
  "what": "Sculptra is injectable poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA), a collagen biostimulator rather than a filler: its microparticles act as a scaffold that the skin builds its own collagen around over months, while the particles slowly break down. At Dr Sin Yong's practice on Orchard Road, Singapore, he assesses diffuse volume loss, scans earlier filler with ultrasound and places it conservatively in stages. The fullness on the day is mostly the water it was mixed with, it does not lift, and it cannot be dissolved.",
  "key_facts": [
    "Material: a biodegradable synthetic polymer made by Galderma, supplied as a sterile powder reconstituted with sterile water; US FDA approval in 2004 for HIV-associated facial lipoatrophy and in 2009 for nasolabial fold contour deficiencies; called 童颜针 in Chinese",
    "Suits: diffuse, structural deflation of the mid-face, temples and lower face with age or after weight loss, in someone who can wait for a gradual change, attend review and accept that it cannot be reversed",
    "Placement: temples (more dilute, deep over the bone), cheeks (deep subcutaneous plane), pre-jowl hollow, and hands discussed at assessment; not used under the eyes, in the lips, for fine lines or to shape a chin",
    "Does not: lift a jowl or loose jawline, which is assessed for focused ultrasound or the VF Lift – Vertical Facelift; give a change on the day; or last for life",
    "Should not have: hypersensitivity to a component or a keloid or hypertrophic scarring tendency; deferred in pregnancy, breastfeeding or with infection in the area; earlier unknown filler is scanned first",
    "Risks: swelling, bruising, tenderness and temporary asymmetry; papules and nodules were reported in 17.2% of patients in the US pivotal trial, typically months later and mostly resolving; vascular risks attend any product placed near facial vessels",
    "Cannot be dissolved: hyaluronidase has no action on PLLA; lasting nodules are mapped with ultrasound and treated with the Sculpting mode of Time Freeze Laser LCLR®, without an incision",
    "Performed by: Dr Sin Yong personally, planning dilution and plane region by region, under-correcting deliberately and deciding any further placement at review; there is no fixed number of vials for a face"
  ],
  "references": [
    "Vleggaar D, Fitzgerald R, Lorenc ZP. Composition and mechanism of action of poly-L-lactic acid in soft tissue augmentation. Journal of Drugs in Dermatology 2014;13(4 Suppl):s29-s31. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24719074/",
    "Vleggaar D, Fitzgerald R, Lorenc ZP, et al. Consensus recommendations on the use of injectable poly-L-lactic acid for facial and nonfacial volumization. Journal of Drugs in Dermatology 2014. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24719078/",
    "US Food and Drug Administration. Sculptra Aesthetic (injectable poly-L-lactic acid): summary of safety and effectiveness and labelling, P030050/S002, 2009. https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/cdrh_docs/pdf3/P030050S002b.pdf",
    "Fitzgerald R, Bass LM, Goldberg DJ, Graivier MH, Lorenc ZP. Physiochemical characteristics of poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA). Aesthetic Surgery Journal 2018. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29897517/",
    "Wortsman X. Identification and complications of cosmetic fillers: sonography first. Journal of Ultrasound in Medicine 2015;34(7):1163-1172. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26112618/"
  ],
  "owner_url": "https://drsinyong.com/sculptra-singapore/",
  "doctor": "Dr Sin Yong, aesthetic physician, Orchard Road, Singapore",
  "updated": "2026-10-31"
}