clinical trial of poly-l-lactic acid (sculptra aesthetic) for the treatment of cellulite of the buttocks and thighs

Conditions: Cellulite

Summary: clinical trial is to assess the safety, efficacy and patient satisfaction associated with the treatment of cellulite of the buttocks and thighs with injectable poly-l-lactic acid (plla), or sculptra® aesthetic

enrolled subjects will be randomized to 2 treatment groups: "right side treated" and "left side treated". all subjects will receive three, single-sided injections of sculptra aesthetic, performed 1 month apart. treatments will be provided to one side randomly assigned to either "right side" or "left side". the non-treatment side will receive bacteriostatic water, injected in the same manner as sculptra aesthetic. up to four (4) vials of sculptra aesthetic, diluted at 16 ml, will be used per treatment session.

Eligibility criteria:
inclusion criteria: * healthy adult females age 30 to 60 * both buttocks and/or both posterolateral thighs with a score of mild (1-5) to moderate (6-10 according to the hexsel, dal'forno \& hexsel cellulite severity scale (css), and a laxity score using the hexsel, dal'forno \& hexsel cellulite severity scale of 1 (slight) or 2 (moderate). must be the same score on both sides of the same area (ie: if 1 on one buttock, must be 1 on the other buttock but can be a 2 on the thigh, as long as the other thigh is also a 2) * must be willing to give and sign an informed consent form and photographic release form. * must have had a stable body weight for at least 6 months prior to study entry. * must be willing to maintain usual sun exposure, diet, and exercise routines for the duration of the study. * subject agrees to avoid tanning or use of sunless tanner during the entire course of the study. * negative urine pregnancy test results at the time of study entry (if applicable). * for female subjects of childbearing potential, must be willing to use an acceptable form of birth control during the entire course of the study. all systemic birth control measures must be in consistent use for at least 30 days prior to study enrollment participation. * a female is considered of childbearing potential unless she is postmenopausal, without a uterus and/or both ovaries, or has had a bilateral tubal ligation. * acceptable methods of birth control are: oral contraceptives, contraceptive patches/rings/implants, implanon®, depo-provera®, double-barrier methods (e.g. condoms and spermicide), abstinence and/or vasectomies of partner with a documented second acceptable method of birth control, should the subject become sexually activity. * must be willing to comply with study treatments and complete the entire course of the study. * cellulite that improves when the skin of the buttocks or thighs are stretched or distended superiorly. exclusion criteria: * use of any of the following for the treatment of cellulite on either thigh or either buttock within the timelines identified below or intends to use any of the following at any time during the course of the study: * liposuction during the 12-month period prior to study treatment. * injections (eg, mesotherapy, dermal fillers, biostimulatory fillers, clostridium collagenase histolyticum); radiofrequency device treatments; laser treatment; buttock or thigh implant treatment; cryolipolysis; or surgery (including subcision and/or powered subcision) during the 24-month period before injection of study treatment. * any investigational treatment for cellulite on a buttock or thigh during the 12-month period before the injection of study treatment. * endermologie or similar treatments during the 6 month period before injection of study treatment. * massage therapy during the 3-month period before injection of study treatment. * creams (eg, tretinoin, celluvera™, trilastin®) and/or home therapies to prevent or treat cellulite during the two week period before injection of study treatment. * subjects with scarring in treatment areas. * has any of the following local conditions in the areas to be treated (both buttocks or both thighs): * history of lower extremity thrombosis or post-thrombosis syndrome. * vascular disorder (eg, varicose veins) * a subject with tattoos or permanent implants in the treatment areas. * a subject with history of or the presence of any skin condition/disease in the treatment area that might interfere with the diagnosis or evaluation of study parameters (i.e., atopic dermatitis, eczema, psoriasis). * subject who spray tanned or used sunless tanner in the treatment area 4 weeks prior to study treatment. * a subject with an active bacterial, fungal, or viral infection in the treatment area. * a subject with a significant history or current evidence of a medical, psychological, or other disorder that, in the investigator's opinion, would preclude enrollment into the study. * any history of bleeding or coagulation disorders. * history of lidocaine sensitivity deemed by the investigator to preclude patient from enrolling in the study. * a subject planning any other cosmetic procedure to the study treatment area during the study period, other than the treatment that will be performed by the investigator. * presence of incompletely healed wound in treatment area. * non-ablative laser to the treatment area in the last 3 months. * a female subject who is pregnant, nursing an infant or planning a pregnancy during the study. * current participation or participation within 30 days prior to the start of this study in a drug or other investigational research study.