After 20 years in dermatology, I’ve seen a shift in how people think about aging. We used to ask, “How do I hide these wrinkles?” Now we’re asking, “Can I get my skin to work properly again?” That second question is better. And there’s a treatment approach that answers it.

Last year, 20,535,686 people got non-surgical aesthetic treatments. Of those, 15.4 million chose injectables—that’s up 12 percent since 2022. But here’s what matters, we’re not just doing more treatments. We’re doing different ones.

The new approach uses biostimulators like Sculptra instead of regular fillers. It’s a different way of thinking. Instead of just filling in lines, these treatments get your skin to rebuild its own structure.

Your skin has three layers. The outer one protects you. The middle one, called the dermis, holds your collagen and elastin—that’s what keeps everything firm. The bottom layer adds volume.

After 30, you lose about one percent of your collagen each year. Imagine a building where the support beams slowly rot. Regular fillers are like patching the walls. These new treatments rebuild the beams.

Sculptra is made of poly-L-lactic acid, or PLLA. It’s not a filler that just puffs things up and fades away. It’s a biostimulator that triggers your skin to make new collagen.

When it’s injected, the tiny particles wake up your fibroblasts—those are the cells that make collagen. Your body sees these particles, responds to them, and starts producing the same Type I collagen you had when you were younger. The PLLA breaks down over nine to 12 months, but the collagen it triggers stays. That’s why the results last.

This is where Sculptra is different from other treatments. You need patience. Results show up gradually over three to four months as your collagen production increases.

But here’s the trade: once they show up, they last more than two years. Regular fillers last six to 12 months, maybe a year if you’re lucky.

It helps with more than just volume. I’ve seen it work on wrinkles, sagging skin, large pores, stretch marks, acne scars, and age spots. You can use it on temples, cheeks, jawline, hands, and even the chest.

Most people need two to four sessions, about a month apart. You might get some swelling or bruising for a few days. Nothing major. There’s a “five-five-five rule” you’ll hear about: massage the area five times a day for five minutes, five days in a row. This spreads the product evenly.

What I like about Sculptra is that it doesn’t make you look done. Your coworkers won’t know you got anything. They’ll just think you’re sleeping better or finally taking those vitamins you kept meaning to buy. Your skin looks better because it is better.

That’s regenerative medicine. You’re using your body’s own systems—just giving them a push in the right direction.

Sculptra isn’t a new science. Galderma, which makes it, has done extensive testing. It works across different skin types, which matters in the Philippines, where we have diverse complexions and sun exposure that already stresses our skin.

But like any medical procedure, you need the right person doing it. Find a board-certified dermatologist or cosmetic surgeon who knows injection techniques. They’ll figure out if this is right for you and make a plan that fits your specific situation.

This regenerative approach isn’t just a fad. It’s about working with your biology instead of fighting it. If you’d rather age on your own terms than chase quick fixes, this might be worth looking into.

Your own collagen does the work. That’s the point.