Sculptra in Gangnam: How Many Vials, How Many Sessions, and When Does It Show?

Quick answer: Sculptra isn't a filler that fills on contact. It's an injection of PLLA particles, and as they break down, new collagen may form, so the result builds slowly over several weeks. A course is up to 4 sessions, at least 3–4 weeks apart. At REPIC Clinic in Gangnam, Seoul, a half vial starts at 600,000 KRW per session (November 2026, VAT not included).

I'm Dr. Jay (Yongheon Ha), a doctor at REPIC Clinic in Gangnam. Sculptra consults almost always come down to three questions. How many vials? How many visits? When will I see it? Where there's a number, I'll give it. Where the answer depends on your face, I'll explain how we decide.

What exactly is Sculptra?

Sculptra is an injection of PLLA (poly-L-lactic acid) microparticles. It comes as a freeze-dried powder in a vial and is diluted before use. In Korea it's approved for "temporary improvement of facial wrinkles in adults." The US label explains the mechanism like this: as the particles break down, new collagen may form at the injection site. If a hyaluronic acid filler is like pouring soil into a hollow, Sculptra is more like planting seeds and waiting. That's why the result arrives late. Slowness isn't a defect here. It's how the product works.

It looked full right after. Why did it disappear a few days later?

Because what you saw wasn't Sculptra. It was swelling from the dilution fluid injected with it, and that swelling fades within hours to a few days. There's no instant volume. People who don't know this often feel "it's already gone." It isn't gone. It hasn't started yet.

So when does it start to show?

Gradually, over several weeks. In the cheek-wrinkle trial on the US label, improvement rates were 68% at 1 month, 90% at 2 months and 96% at 3 months. What those numbers really tell you is the direction: month two adds to month one, and month three adds to month two. Got a wedding or another fixed date? Count backward from it and start with plenty of margin. This isn't a last-minute injection.

How many vials and sessions will I need?

Up to 4 sessions per course, at least 3–4 weeks apart. That's the current US label; the older label said 3 sessions was typical. It's also why our Sculptra packages come as 1 session or 3 sessions.

The number of vials varies from person to person. I look first at whether the face has lost volume or has sagged. Sculptra suits lost volume, but if sagging is the main issue, filling alone won't fix it. Then I look at skin thickness. Thin skin is a known risk factor for nodules, so for thin skin I plan smaller amounts split over more sessions. Some people ask to put in a lot at once and be done quickly. I don't recommend that. Too much product is also a known nodule risk factor.

If you're visiting Seoul, keep in mind that a 3-session course means coming back at least 3–4 weeks apart each time. Tell us your travel dates at the consultation and we'll plan around them.

How long does Sculptra last?

Clinical trials confirm 24 to 25 months. In the nasolabial fold trial, improvement held up to 25 months after the last injection, although the deepest-wrinkle group didn't hold. The cheek-wrinkle trial reported a 77% response rate at 24 months. Nothing beyond 3 years has been studied. So I don't tell patients "it lasts X years." I quote what the studies show and decide the rest by watching how your face changes.

How common are side effects and nodules?

Swelling, tenderness, redness, pain and bruising are common. In the approval trials they were reported in the 60–90% range, mostly settling within 7 days. It's an injection. Plan your schedule assuming it may show for a few days.

Nodules, the thing people worry about most, are not rare. Injection depth and volume drive the risk. The known risk factors are shallow injection, thin skin, the eye area and too much product. Apart from thin skin, those are all things the injector controls. There are also rare risks you should know about: granulomas that can appear months to a year later, and, if product enters a blood vessel, skin necrosis and vision loss.

Aftercare is simple: cold compresses for the first 24 hours, and makeup is fine after a few hours. Avoid strong sun and heat until the swelling is gone. If you're flying home soon, tell us your departure date at the consultation and we'll schedule the treatment around it.

Who shouldn't get Sculptra?

It's contraindicated if you're hypersensitive to its ingredients, have a history of severe allergies, or tend to form keloids or hypertrophic scars. We don't treat during pregnancy or breastfeeding. People under 18 and those with autoimmune or bleeding disorders weren't evaluated in the approval trials, so if that's you, tell us at the consultation. If the area to be injected is inflamed, we wait until it settles. Anticoagulants and antiplatelet drugs can increase bruising, so let us know what you take. We don't inject Sculptra into the lips.

Some people aren't a medical contraindication but still aren't a good fit: anyone who needs a visibly different face within days. Sculptra doesn't do that. If you need correction right away, Radiesse or a hyaluronic acid filler is the right conversation to have first. Honestly, when I recommend Sculptra to someone who can't wait, they end up disappointed before the result has even arrived.

How much does Sculptra cost in Gangnam? (November 2026)

REPIC Clinic Gangnam prices for Sculptra as of November 2026 are below, VAT not included. Korean and international patients pay the same.

Body Sculptra is 990,000 KRW for 2 vials (abdomen) and 2,800,000 KRW for 6 vials (body), VAT not included. Listed treatment time is 25 minutes for the face and 40 minutes for the body. Whether a half or full vial suits you is decided after the exam. See the Sculptra package page and our full price list.

How we do it at REPIC

Diagnosis, plan, treatment, follow-up. First we tell lost volume apart from sagging and check skin thickness. That tells us whether Sculptra fits, and if it does, half or full vial, which layer, and how to split the amount. The doctor injects personally. You can't see a Sculptra result on treatment day, so before each next session we check how much it has built up and set the amount again then. We don't push the first plan through unchanged.

Related reading

• Sculptra vs Radiesse: slow build or instant correction
• How to choose a collagen booster
• Does Radiesse define the jawline right away?

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This article is general information and does not replace a medical consultation. Results vary from person to person.