Taula de Continguts
- What a biostimulator is and what each one contains
- The questions we ask in consultation
- Decision table: what usually points towards each option
- What to expect over time: gradual changes
- Side effects and when it is not the right time
- How we work at Santé Madrid
- Care after the session
- Frequently asked questions
Choosing between Sculptra, Radiesse or Lanluma does not depend on which one is "best", but on what your skin needs, in which area and with what expectations about timing. All three are collagen biostimulators used in aesthetic medicine in Madrid, and at Santé Madrid we work with all three, but the choice is made by the medical team after assessing you. In this guide we explain how that decision is reasoned in consultation: what each product contains according to its manufacturer and the literature, which questions we ask, what usually points towards one or another, what pace of change is reasonable to expect and when it is better to wait or rule the treatment out.
Key points
- Sculptra and Lanluma are made of poly-L-lactic acid; Radiesse is made of calcium hydroxylapatite microspheres in a gel.
- The decision is based on the medical assessment: skin thickness and quality, type of laxity or volume loss, the area to treat and your health history.
- Changes are usually gradual and appear over weeks or months; it is not an immediate, final effect.
- There are situations in which treatment should not be done or it is better to wait, such as an active infection in the area or pregnancy.
- No single product works for everything. Results vary from skin to skin, and the treatment is performed by the medical team after an assessment.
What a biostimulator is and what each one contains
A biostimulator is an injectable product designed so that the body itself produces collagen in the treated area, rather than simply adding volume like a classic filler. The three we compare here reach that goal with different materials, and that difference in composition is the starting point of any conversation in consultation.
Sculptra is made by Galderma. The manufacturer explains that it is composed of poly-L-lactic acid, a synthetic polymer, and that it works by stimulating collagen production over a series of sessions (Galderma, Sculptra).
Lanluma is also poly-L-lactic acid. Its website, by Sinclair, describes it as a CE-marked biostimulator that is reconstituted with sterile water and that the body reabsorbs over time, with versions for the body and for the face (Lanluma).
Radiesse is made by Merz. A review published in Aesthetic Surgery Journal describes it as calcium hydroxylapatite microspheres suspended in a carboxymethylcellulose gel, which provide some volume from the start and also stimulate collagen over time (review on Radiesse, 2023).
The questions we ask in consultation
Before talking about products, the medical team tries to understand what concerns you and what lies behind it. The same sentence, "my face looks more tired", can correspond to thinner skin, to volume loss in the midface or to laxity along the jawline, and each situation is approached differently. These are the questions that usually guide the assessment:
- What is your skin like? Its thickness, its elasticity and whether there is sun damage or acne marks.
- What predominates? Whether it is mainly skin quality, volume loss or laxity, and to what degree.
- Which area do you want to treat? Face, neck, décolletage or body areas, and whether any of them is among those the manufacturer does not recommend.
- What pace do you expect? Whether you have an event coming up or can wait for changes to appear little by little.
- What does your health history say? Allergies, scarring, clotting problems, autoimmune diseases, pregnancy or breastfeeding, and previous injectable treatments.
A consensus of Latin American experts on choosing biostimulators agrees that age alone should not decide the product: skin type, the area and the individual assessment carry more weight (consensus on biostimulators, 2025).
Decision table: what usually points towards each option
This table summarises criteria that appear in the manufacturers' sources and in the consensus cited. It is not a recipe: it helps you understand why the medical team may propose one option and not another, and the final decision is always made with you, after assessing you.
| What is assessed | Calcium hydroxylapatite (Radiesse) | Poly-L-lactic acid (Sculptra, Lanluma) |
|---|---|---|
| Composition | Microspheres in a carboxymethylcellulose gel | A polymer reconstituted with sterile water |
| Pace of change | Some volume from the start, plus collagen stimulation over time | Gradual changes as collagen forms |
| Skin type in the consensus | Thicker or sun-damaged skin | Thinner skin or more marked laxity |
| Areas described | Face, neck, hands and some body areas | Midface, neck and, in the case of Lanluma, body areas such as buttocks, thighs or arms |
| Care after the session | Gentle massage for one or two days, according to the consensus, if the team advises it | Scheduled massage over several days, according to the manufacturer |
| Areas requiring special caution | Higher vascular risk areas, which the consensus recommends avoiding | Lip and periocular area, according to each manufacturer's indications |
The skin-type and area criteria come from the 2025 consensus; the Lanluma areas come from its frequently asked questions page, which makes clear that indications vary by country. Between Sculptra and Lanluma, which share the same material, the choice depends on the area, each manufacturer's indications and medical judgement, not on a brand preference.
What to expect over time: gradual changes
The most important idea for realistic expectations is that a biostimulator does not work like a hyaluronic acid filler, which is noticeable as soon as it is placed. Here the change depends on your skin producing collagen, and that takes time and varies from person to person.
For poly-L-lactic acid, the manufacturer of Lanluma explains that collagen formation begins around weeks 4 to 6 and continues to develop over the following months (Lanluma, frequently asked questions). Galderma also states that Sculptra is planned as a series of sessions over a few months (Galderma, Sculptra). The expert consensus describes that, with poly-L-lactic acid, visible changes in the first months are usually subtle, while with calcium hydroxylapatite a subtle improvement in texture may be noticed earlier (consensus on biostimulators).
That is why overcorrecting in the first session is not advisable: the manufacturer of Sculptra warns that improvement is expected to be gradual (Sculptra, safety information). The number of sessions and the interval are set in consultation, and results vary from skin to skin.
Side effects and when it is not the right time
Like any injectable, biostimulators can have side effects. For Sculptra, the manufacturer lists as most common swelling, tenderness, redness, pain, bruising, bleeding, itching and lumps in the area, and mentions small lumps under the skin that are sometimes noticeable when pressing (Sculptra, safety information). For Radiesse in the face, Merz lists bruising, redness, swelling, pain and itching, among others (Radiesse, safety information). For Lanluma, the manufacturer describes mild swelling, redness, tenderness or bruising for a few days (Lanluma, safety).
Merz also warns that accidental injection into a blood vessel is unlikely but can have serious complications, and that its microspheres can be seen on X-rays and CT scans, so whoever interprets your imaging tests should know about it (Radiesse). That is why the medical team reviews your history before proposing anything.
How we work at Santé Madrid
Santé Clinics Madrid is at C. de Amador de los Ríos, 1, Chamberí, 28010 Madrid, and is open Monday to Friday from 9:00 to 21:00 and on Saturdays from 10:00 to 15:00.
You can start with a free aesthetic consultation with a Beauty Coach, in which we talk about what concerns you and the possible options. As biostimulators are injectable treatments, the indication is made by the Santé Madrid medical team in a medical consultation, which costs €50. In it we review your health history, assess your skin and the area, and explain why Sculptra, Radiesse or Lanluma fit your case or not.
In some cases the plan combines a biostimulator with other treatments from the catalogue, such as hyaluronic acid fillers or HIFU, and at other times the recommendation is to start with another option or to wait. We do not make promises about results: results vary from skin to skin, and we prefer to explain which changes are reasonable before starting.
Care after the session
The aftercare instructions depend on the product, and the team explains them for your case. As a guide, these are the recommendations described by the manufacturers and the consensus cited:
- With poly-L-lactic acid, the manufacturer of Lanluma describes massaging the area several times a day for a few days after the session; the team will show you how to do it (Lanluma, safety).
- With Radiesse, Merz recommends limiting strenuous activity and avoiding prolonged sun or heat exposure for about a day and until any swelling or redness has resolved.
- It is usually recommended to postpone the sauna and strenuous exercise in the first days; the expert consensus also mentions avoiding swimming pools for a short time.
- If you spend many hours in the sun in the city in your daily life, protect your skin and ask the team when you can return to your usual routine.
- Come to the follow-up we indicate and write to us if you notice a lump that does not go away or any change that worries you.
The follow-up is used to see how your skin responds and to decide, with you, whether another session makes sense.
Frequently asked questions
Which is best, Sculptra, Radiesse or Lanluma?
There is no single best one for everyone. Each has a different composition and different indications, and the medical team proposes the option that fits your skin, the area and your expectations after assessing you.
How do Sculptra and Lanluma differ if both are poly-L-lactic acid?
They share the same material, but they are products from different manufacturers, with their own indications and instructions for use. Lanluma describes versions for the face and for the body. The choice depends on the area and medical judgement, not on a brand preference.
When are the changes noticeable?
They are usually gradual. With poly-L-lactic acid, the manufacturer of Lanluma places the start of collagen formation around weeks 4 to 6 and its development over the following months. Results vary from skin to skin.
How many sessions will I need?
It depends on the product, the area and how your skin responds. The manufacturers of Sculptra and Lanluma describe treatments in a series, and the number and interval are set in consultation after the assessment.
Can they be used in the lips or around the eyes?
The manufacturer of Sculptra states that it should not be injected into the red part of the lip or the periocular area, and the manufacturer of Lanluma that it should not be used in the lip or near the periocular area. For those areas the medical team considers other options.
Does the treatment hurt?
The sensation varies from person to person. The manufacturer of Lanluma mentions the use of local anaesthetic, and after the session there may be mild swelling, tenderness or bruising for a few days.
Can I have a biostimulator if I am pregnant or breastfeeding?
In general, no. The manufacturer of Sculptra states that safety has not been established in pregnancy or breastfeeding, so the usual approach is to wait and assess it later.
How much does the consultation cost at Santé Madrid?
The aesthetic consultation with a Beauty Coach is free, and the medical consultation, in which the treatment indication is made, costs €50.
If you are considering a biostimulator, the most useful thing is to come to the consultation with a clear idea of what concerns you and let the Santé Madrid medical team explain which option makes sense for your skin, which does not, and why.
