Polyactate injection (sculptra, new-fill) - costs and results

Polyactate is an injectable filler that is used to add volume to faces, particularly those that may be wasted as the result of HIV / AIDS and associated viral and autoimmune diseases as a result of developing AIDS. The drug, known as Sculptra in the U.S. is not approved in North America for cosmetic use, but it is available under the brand name “New Fill” in Europe. It is a relatively new cosmetic surgery technique and it has only been used in Europe for about five years. The results of Sculptra and New-fill are found to be satisfactory.

The FDA has only approved Polyactate (Sculptra) for AIDS patients as the long-term effects of this facial filling technique are not known. It is specifically prescribed by physicians for individuals suffering from lipotrophy. Lipoatrophy is a side effect of many medications taken for AIDS and it can cause the face to look drawn, gaunt and more wrinkled.

The polyactate form of Sculptra to add volume to faces that have lost volume due to weight loss or aging is still undergoing clinical trials in the United States. Mainly, they are trying to determine whether or not the benefits of Sculptra injections are temporary or long lasting. If you have AIDS and suffer from lipoatrophy then you will be more than likely considered to be a candidate for polyactate injections in the United States.

Your doctor will inject Sculptra fillers below the skin surface in the area of fat loss. It is important to remember that Sculptra is not a cure for lipoatrophy. It treats the appearance of the patient by increasing the thickness of the skin and adding fullness to the face. Though Sculptra costs a lot, it is useful for correcting any significant kind of skin depression.

Polyactate, also known as poly-L-lactate is a synthetic material made of water and lactic acid. It is a biodegradable material that is very compatible with human tissues. After the physician injects the water and polyactate material into your face the water is eventually absorbed by the body and the filler material remains. How long it takes for you to notice effects might be dependent on how efficient your body is at absorbing and removing water. However, most patients achieve noticeable results in less than a week.

The operation itself is very simple. It is an outpatient procedure that allows individuals to return almost immediately to their daily routines. Of course just how quickly you can return to your routine can depend on how much Sculptra or Newfill you are having injected into your face. Minor injections (for a single wrinkle for example) heal within hours but larger injections (to fill in gaunt cheeks) may cause pain, redness or bruising. If any of these side-effects are encountered then they are remedied by mild painkillers and the periodic application of an ice pack.

At first sight, the result of your polyactate injections might look a little strange as excess water will be injected into the site as part of the treatment. This is a contingency to allow for the water that may be reabsorbed by the body during the healing process the first few days after the treatment. This might have the effect of temporarily making your face look fatter or swollen. This effect is usually most apparent in individuals who are using injected Sculptra or New Fill to fill sunken cheeks or indentations in the skin tissue. The larger the area that is filled with polyactate, the longer you can expect to look bloated or puffy. In some individuals this edemic look can last weeks, depending on how efficiently your body deals with the injected water. To speed the elimination of water from your body so that the results of the treatment are more immediately evident, your doctor also might prescribe a diuretic.

Like collagen, body fat and other injectible fillers, it may take more than one treatment to achieve the desired effect. The average is two to three treatments before the desired “fill” or “plumping up” is achieved. The good news is that, although not permanent, the effects of Sculptra and New Fill do seem to last about two years. This is a definite boon for individuals who are receiving fat or collagen injections and who need to visit the plastic surgeon as much as eight times a year to maintain a youthful, refreshed appearance (but only in Europe!).

If you don’t have AIDS or the money to travel to Paris to get New Fill injections, it might be worth your while to ask your plastic surgeon if he or she will prescribe polyactate for you “off label.” This is sometimes allowed as long as the brand name Sculptra (which is not yet approved by the FDA for cosmetic use in the US) is not employed for the injection.

If you have AIDS then the price of Sculptra may be covered by your medical insurance. If you are buying it “off label” it can be very pricey. Usually Sculptra or an off label injection of polyactate can cost between $500 and $1000 for 1.0 cc.