Sculptra vs. Fillers

By Dr. Chelsea Fidai

Getting Started on Your Skin Rejuvenation Journey

With the advancement of technology and accessibility to efficient anti-aging treatments, injectable treatments are becoming increasingly popular every day. Now more than ever, you can restore your youthful contours, definition, and skin quality in a matter of minutes, all with subtle, natural-looking results and minimal downtime.

At The Center for Laser and Skin Surgery in the Hermosa Beach and Los Angeles area, we offer both biostimulatory injectables and injectable fillers. Though they have many similarities in producing rejuvenating results, there are some key differences explained in this guide.

Let’s Talk About Biostimulatory Injectables

Biostimulatory injectables are designed to stimulate and increase your natural collagen and elastin production. Collagen, a vital structural component of the body that provides strength, elasticity, and support to skin, bones, connective tissues, and more, slowly goes away over time. Biostimulatory injectables help bring the collagen levels back up to higher levels, gradually restoring the framework in the treated area. A series of 3–4 treatment sessions spaced 6-8 weeks apart is typically recommended. Once optimal correction is achieved—usually within 3–4 months—results are designed to last around 2 to 2.5 years, providing long-term structural support. They don’t produce results immediately, but rather over an extended period of time for subtle, gradual changes and natural-looking results. 

There are a few types of biostimulatory injectables we offer at The Center for Laser and Skin Surgery in the Hermosa Beach and Los Angeles area, including:

• Sculptra, containing poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA), stimulates the body’s natural collagen production to gradually restore skin firmness, volume, and structure over time.
• Radiesse, composed of calcium hydroxylapatite (CaHa), immediately reduces moderate to severe wrinkles and folds while bringing volume to the skin and stimulating collagen production
• Selphyl PRFM, which uses your own blood to produce natural healing and tissue renewal

What’s the Deal With Injectable Fillers?

Injectable fillers, also known as dermal or traditional fillers, are typically made with hyaluronic acid (HA), a natural substance in your body that acts as a powerful form of lubrication and moisturizer, keeping your body youthful-looking and healthy. Injectable fillers are an excellent choice if you want to achieve immediate, short-term results or want to dip your toe in the water for this type of treatment. Because they only offer short-term results, you may need to attend several appointments throughout the year to maintain your results.

With injectable fillers, physical space is filled with a gel, causing an instant boost in volume. They are great for things like precise contouring, correcting asymmetry, and plumping features in areas like the lips and cheeks. They are preferred for immediate lifting of the tissue.  If you’re not happy with the results, you can reverse them by dissolving the hyaluronic acid with hyaluronidase.

The Importance of Long-Lasting Results

For many people, one of the most important parts of getting injectables is long-lasting results, so they choose Sculptra. The subtle improvements over time from your body’s natural increase in collagen production allow the results to appear smooth and consistent rather than stark and sudden. But when you look back at yourself several months or even a couple of years later, compared to before you started treatment, you’ll certainly notice the difference!

Here is what you will notice over time with biostimulatory injectables:

• Increase in skin firmness
• Reduced hollowness without looking overfilled
• Smoother texture
• Gradual softening of wrinkles
• Plumper skin

Focus on What’s Important to You

At the end of the day, the most important thing to us is that your goals are met. If injectable fillers suit your lifestyle, preferences, and individual needs, we would be happy to support you and provide them for you. If you are looking to maintain your youthful contours with natural collagen production with Sculptra, then that’s just as acceptable! When you arrive at The Center for Laser and Skin Surgery in the Hermosa Beach and Los Angeles area for your consultation, you will be able to discuss all of your options, so you can make an informed decision.

Why Choose The Center for Laser and Skin Surgery?

Dr. Chelsea Fidai is a double board-certified dermatologist and Mohs micrographic surgeon based in the Hermosa Beach and Los Angeles area. She strongly believes that exceptional dermatologic care is built on expertise, trust, and a thoughtful physician–patient partnership.

Dr. Fidai has a steady hand, minimizing the swelling, redness, and bruising as you recover. She delivers incredibly natural-looking, subtle results that perfectly match your aesthetic goals, making her the best choice for your injectables treatment. Dr. Fidai stays up to date with her medical equipment and technologies, maximizing the efficiency and effectiveness of your treatment.

Schedule Your Consultation

If you are ready to talk to Dr. Fidai about which injectable is right for you, don’t hesitate to reach out! You can call us at (424) 332-1574 or schedule your consultation here. By the end of your consultation, you will feel confident about which treatment you will get, and your rejuvenating results will be just around the corner!