Collagen Banking: Beauty’s Latest Quiet Investment

At the AART of Sculptra event, Galderma Aesthetics showcases its latest approach to personalized regenerative treatments

Many things have been said about collagen. Beauty enthusiasts have tried a variety of methods to increase it, prevent its loss in the skin, and maintain healthy collagen levels, from supplements and serums to regenerative therapies. And now, there’s “collagen banking.”

New York-based board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Lara Devgan describes collagen banking as a means to maintain the skin’s collagen production while also preserving what’s already there through methods that take a more personalized approach for each patient. From topical off-the-shelf products to long-term treatments like Galderma Aesthetics’s recently evolved Sculptra, regenerative biostimulator injectables are no longer just skin deep; in fact, they can go even deeper.

Unveiled at The Fifth in Rockwell, Makati, Galderma staged a keynote presentation detailing the importance of collagen banking and its influence over the brand’s Sculptra treatment. Led by GAIN country mentor trainer Dr. Puttipong Poomsuwan, he reiterates the purpose behind the brand’s approach to regenerative aesthetics, all while showcasing how its adopted AART (which stands for Assessment, Anatomy, Range, and Treatment) method places personalization at the forefront. “Patients today want results that feel personal and natural, something that enhances their features over time rather than changing them all at once.”

How do regenerative treatments work?

Through Sculptra, facial plastic surgeon Dr. Poomsuwan claims that such treatments are first meant to show their results from within. “It’s the first and only FDA-approved poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA) facial injectable treatment that helps stimulate the skin’s own natural collagen production to help restore facial volume, skin firmness, structural support, overall skin quality for natural-looking results,” he shares.

Believed to sustain its results for up to two years, Dr. Poomsuwan also clarifies how the treatment is not meant to substitute or create excess amounts of collagen in the skin, but to simply fortify what the body is already capable of producing. “Sculptra can enhance a patient’s existing volume, [but] for middle-aged patients who have begun to experience more notable volume loss, Sculptra can be beneficial and may offer different benefits than hyaluronic acid fillers, such as gradual results and a longer duration of effect.”

Whom does the new Sculptra apply to?

To that, Dr. Poomsuwan categorizes the method into four distinct use cases: Filling Lift is closer to Sculptra’s inherent use as a regenerative biostimulator by giving support to the patient’s facial structure to create a subtle, volumized look that also contours loosened skin; Renewed Volume was explained as a return to form for those who are looking to add more facial definition or are experiencing a hollowed look due to collagen and excessive weight loss. Slimming Lift, however, is meant to restore the skin’s natural contours for a more balanced appearance, while Youthful Glow addresses those who wish to improve and secure their skin quality.

When should you start your Sculptra treatment?

While it’s often expressed that by 25, collagen production goes down by one percent every year, Dr. Poomsuwan expresses that deciding on the start of such treatments is determined by your current health and habits, but more so through your doctor’s recommendation. To know when you should take that next step, best to consult your trusted health care professional.

Visit the Galderma website to learn the AART of Sculptra. Visit Galderma on Instagram to learn more.