Key points
- HA filler adds volume with immediate results, suits targeted reshaping, and can be dissolved with an enzyme.
- Sculptra (PLLA) does not fill immediately; instead it gradually stimulates the skin to produce its own collagen. It needs 2–4 sessions, and results last about 2 years.
- Ellansé (PCL) gives immediate volume from its carrier gel, which is then gradually replaced by collagen around the particles. The S version lasts at least 18 months and the M version at least 24 months.
- Sculptra and Ellansé cannot be dissolved with an enzyme, so they are not suitable for first-time patients who are still unsure, or for areas that demand high precision.
Side-by-side comparison
| HA filler | Sculptra | Ellansé | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Made of | Hyaluronic acid gel | Poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA) particles | 30% polycaprolactone (PCL) particles in 70% CMC gel3 |
| How it works | The gel itself adds volume | Stimulates skin cells to produce collagen1 | The gel gives immediate volume, then collagen forms around the particles3 |
| Results seen | Immediately (allow about 2 weeks for swelling to settle) | Gradually, over several weeks to several months | Partly immediate, then gradually stabilises |
| Number of sessions | Usually one, then top-ups over time | 2–4 sessions, 4–6 weeks apart1 | Depends on the area and the plan |
| Duration | About 6–18 months visibly5 | About 2 years or more12 | S version ≥ 18 months · M version ≥ 24 months3 |
| Can it be dissolved? | Yes, with the enzyme hyaluronidase | No1 | No |
| Suited to | Targeted reshaping: under-eyes, lips, chin, nasolabial folds | Overall facial hollowing, early skin laxity, loss of firmness | Nasolabial folds, temples, facial contour; structural work where long-lasting results are wanted |
| Areas to avoid | Depends on assessment | Cases needing an immediate change in shape | Lips, glabella (between the brows), around the eyes and under the eyes3 |
HA filler: immediate and reversible
Hyaluronic acid filler gives results as soon as it is injected, so it suits work that requires control over shape, such as the under-eyes, lips or chin. A key advantage is that if you are unhappy with the result or a problem arises, it can be dissolved with an enzyme. Read more in our article on dissolving filler.
What many people don't realise is that the gel can still be detected on MRI long after it stops being visible.5 Every top-up should therefore be based on a fresh assessment.
Sculptra (PLLA): letting the skin build its own collagen
A 2025 review in Aesthetic Surgery Journal explains that PLLA triggers a controlled inflammatory response that leads fibroblasts to produce more type I collagen. This process takes time: collagen gradually forms between weeks 6 and 16, and can remain stable for up to about 24 months.1
- Usually 2–4 sessions, 4–6 weeks apart, with results lasting about 2–3 years, depending on the individual and the treatment plan.1
- A 2025 systematic review found results lasting up to 25 months.2
- It cannot be dissolved with an enzyme; the particles are gradually broken down by the body over time.1
It suits people whose whole face is starting to look hollow or lax, and who are happy to wait for a gradual result. See details and prices on our Sculptra in Udon Thani page.
Ellansé (PCL): immediate volume and long-lasting results
Ellansé consists of 30% polycaprolactone particles in a 70% carboxymethyl cellulose gel. The gel provides immediate volume and is absorbed over 2–3 months, during which collagen forms around the particles, so the result is maintained.3
- The S version lasts at least 18 months and the M version at least 24 months.3
- A small study of 9 patients treated in the cheek area, measured with 3D imaging, found that volume was still increased at 2 years.4 The sample is small, however, so the findings should be interpreted with caution.
- The authors recommend avoiding the lips, the glabella and the periorbital area, including under the eyes.3
Which should you choose?
| If you want | We usually start with |
|---|---|
| A visible change in shape straight away, in a specific area | HA filler |
| Your first treatment, with the option to reverse it if you don't like it | HA filler |
| Firmer skin across the whole face, gradually | Sculptra |
| Restored facial structure that lasts a long time | Ellansé or HA, depending on assessment |
| Under-eyes, lips | An HA filler suited to the area |
In practice, many plans use more than one type in the same face, with each placed in the layer that suits it, following the principle of layered injection.
Safety
- Lumps or nodules under the skin: these can occur with collagen stimulators. For PLLA, a 2025 review reports that they have become much less common with higher dilution volumes and improved technique.1 For Ellansé, post-marketing data from 2009–2017 showed about 1 adverse event per 1,769 syringes.3
- Vascular occlusion: this is a risk with every type of injection, and products that cannot be dissolved with an enzyme are harder to correct. The doctor therefore needs a thorough knowledge of anatomy and must choose the correct layer. Read more in our article on filler safety.
- An unsatisfactory result: HA can be corrected by dissolving it, whereas with Sculptra and Ellansé you have to wait for the body to break them down. Choosing correctly from the start is therefore important.
How we use them at Vinfinity
- Read the face layer by layer first to see whether the issue is structure, volume or skin quality.
- Match the product to the layer and the goal, not to the brand name.
- First-time patients usually start with HA, which can be reversed.
- For long-term plans such as The Architect Rebuild, collagen stimulators and HA are placed in different layers within 12 weeks.
HA filler starts from THB 9,990 per cc, and Sculptra is THB 24,995 per vial. See everything on our Prices page. Ellansé is priced after the doctor's assessment.
References
- Haykal, Haddad, Cartier, Avelar. Poly-L-Lactic Acid in Aesthetic Dermatology: A Decade Beyond Volume Restoration Toward Regenerative Biostimulation. Aesthetic Surgery Journal. 2025;45(10):1065–1072. doi:10.1093/asj/sjaf121
- Ferreira ACM, Silva LR, Espasandin I, et al. Efficacy, Durability, and Safety of Collagen Biostimulators Based on Poly-L-Lactic Acid (PLLA) and Calcium Hydroxyapatite (CaHA) in the Face: A Systematic Review. Aesthetic Plastic Surgery. 2025. doi:10.1007/s00266-025-05412-8
- Christen MO, Vercesi F. Polycaprolactone: How a Well-Known and Futuristic Polymer Has Become an Innovative Collagen-Stimulator in Esthetics. Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology. 2020;13:31–48. doi:10.2147/CCID.S229054
- Angelo-Khattar M. Objective Assessment of the Long-Term Volumizing Action of a Polycaprolactone-Based Filler. Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology. 2022;15. doi:10.2147/CCID.S385202
- Master M, Azizeddin A, Master V. Hyaluronic Acid Filler Longevity in the Mid-face: A Review of 33 Magnetic Resonance Imaging Studies. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Global Open. 2024;12(7):e5934. doi:10.1097/GOX.0000000000005934
This article is for general education and is not personal medical advice. Results vary from person to person. Always consult a doctor before deciding on any treatment.