Poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA)

Poly-L-lac­tic acid, or PLLA, is a syn­the­tic, biode­gra­da­ble poly­mer that has long been used in medi­ci­ne, for exam­p­le in absor­ba­ble sutures. In aes­the­tics it acts as a bio­sti­mu­la­tor: rather than fil­ling direct­ly, it prompts the skin to pro­du­ce its own collagen.

Appli­ca­ti­on

The micro­par­tic­les are injec­ted as a sus­pen­si­on into deeper skin lay­ers, for ins­tance at the temp­les, cheeks or jaw­li­ne, and also on the body. The­re they trig­ger a con­trol­led tis­sue respon­se that leads to col­la­gen sti­mu­la­ti­on over seve­ral months. The result is a gra­du­al build-up of volu­me and firm­er skin qua­li­ty, sui­ta­ble for volu­me loss and sag­ging skin.

Good to know

Seve­ral ses­si­ons a few weeks apart are usual­ly nee­ded; the effect deve­lo­ps slow­ly and can last a long time. The initi­al swel­ling straight after tre­at­ment subs­i­des again. Pos­si­ble risks include pal­pa­ble nodu­les, par­ti­cu­lar­ly with incor­rect dilu­ti­on or tech­ni­que. A bio­sti­mu­la­tor with a simi­lar action is cal­ci­um hydro­xyla­pa­ti­te, as found in Radiesse.

Matching tre­at­ment at Swiss Der­ma Cli­nic: Sculp­tra alter­na­ti­ve Radiesse