Sculptra™ - Related FAQ's

Q:My friend had Sculptra and it really helped fill out her indented cheeks. She has one area that looks swollen and when you touch it there is a hard “pea”. What is this?

A: Sculptra can form nodules from a collection of excessive concentration of Sculptra and its natural body collagen formation. Usually these are felt but not seen. When they become visible, then it is worthwhile treating them. Sculptra is not a solution. It is a mixture and the particles can settle out. During the treatment, the Sculptra has to be diluted, and the larger dilutions cause less lumps, but a greater volume of treatment needs to be rendered to make up the same amount of Sculptra that is delivered. Typically, patients that feel a bump or two don’t mind putting up with this since the aesthetic results are so good. If however, the lump is visible, it should be treated, but there is no excellent treatment. Sometimes they can be injected and massaged away.

Q: When will I see my results from Sculptra?

A: As Sculptra is not a filler but a volumizer as a result of collagen stimulation, there is no immediate result. The swelling you immediately see, which often looks nice having temporarily corrected the depressions in the face, goes away in a day or so. After weeks to months, through the three treatments (each done about six weeks apart) there is stimulation of your collagen production and some patients see results after the first treatment, but most see some after the second to third treatment. So there can be more than two months of a delay before you see the improvement starting.

Q: If I had Sculptra in my cheeks a week ago, is it normal to have puffiness of my jaw now?

A: Sculptra is a powder to which liquid, such as water and Lidocaine is added. The liquids are absorbed but some drain by gravity to the lower structures before they are fully absorbed.

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