Sculptra review: I tried a ‘no-filler’ filler to look less tired – here’s what happened

Missing a certain pep in your skin’s step? We’ve found just the thing

I missed the youthful glow I used to take for granted, so I looked into getting something to counteract that

In case you haven’t heard, 2025 is the year of smart injectables. What that means is choosing options that work for you long term. While I am acutely aware that ageing is a privilege, I have noticed that the first few years of my thirties have been marked with exhaustion across my face.

Maybe it’s journalism, maybe it’s just the quiet terror of being alive — either way, I missed the youthful glow I used to take for granted, so I looked into getting something to counteract that. With that target in mind, I found Sculptra, an FDA-approved biostimulator that produces new collagen in the skin, restoring firmness and smoothing wrinkles for an effect that lasts for around two years. Natural-looking and regenerative, it seemed too good to be true. I had to try it.

What is Sculptra?

Sculptra is a type of filler that has long-lasting effects on the quality and appearance of the skin. Unlike normal filler, which is hyaluronic acid-based, Sculptra is absorbed into the body in just a few hours and continues to work in the skin, triggering cells to increase their production of elastin and collagen. This is what makes it a biostimulator.

The treatment

I attended Sisu Ranelagh for my first session. I’d never had filler before, so I was nervous, but I was quickly assured by Dr Shannon that these weren’t fillers in the traditional sense — Sculptra targets mid-face volume loss and sagging by providing a filling lift effect that is constructed by your own collagen.

“Sculptra is a collagen booster that helps your skin naturally rebuild itself,” she says. “It improves skin quality, elasticity, and firmness while targeting fine lines, texture, and volume loss. The results are super gradual, which makes it perfect for anyone wanting a really natural, subtle look.”

In clinic, I laid out what I was looking to address — total exhaustion; it was mid-December — and while she said I was a little on the young side, she said it would almost certainly help.

After that, my face was cleaned and numbed. Dr Shannon then sketched a map onto the areas she would be injecting — for me, the periphery of my face — and once we began, used verbal cues to let me know where she would inject next.

She quickly worked from one side of the face to the other, always ensuring that I was comfortable and offering breaks if I needed them. The numbing cream was a godsend, but still, at that, some areas were a bit spicy. Overall, it was an easy, 20-minute process. Immediately after the injections, Dr Shannon deeply massaged my face to ensure a smooth distribution.

I was told to do the same five times a day, for five minutes, over the next five days. It felt like a bit of a faff, but it’s actually pretty important as it ensures the even distribution of the injectable to ensure it produces no lumps.

I looked completely normal after the procedure and despite my bad luck with bruising, nothing showed up.

The results

A photo of Kate post-treatment 

One thing to bear in mind with biostimulating treatments is that you’re not going to have the instant gratification of a new haircut or fresh lipstick. It takes time for your body to build the new collagen. In that way, it made the results feel like a happy surprise — subtle and slow, but worth it.

I began to notice a freshness in my skin about four weeks into my Sculptra treatment. And while results can take a full eight weeks to set in, I’ve definitely noticed a difference from my usual mid-January face.

This is definitely something I would recommend to friends and family. I feel fresher, look more alive, and appear glowing.

That said, be prepared to do the work and wait to see results. You may have bruising following the procedure, which means the facial massaging will likely hurt. But for optimal results, you’ll need to push past that.

Thankfully, I did. And I’m very proud of my former self for doing so between work calls.

The details

• How much does it cost? One vial of Sculptra is €550, two is €1,000, at Sisu. Two to three vials are typically recommended for mild to moderate volume loss.
  
• How frequently would I need to do it? Treatments are spaced four to six weeks apart, with total vials distributed across two to three sessions.
  
• Where can I get it? Sisu, the Institute of Dermatologists, Ailesbury Clinic, Med Aesthetics, and many more.

Kate received a complimentary treatment in exchange for a fair and honest review.