Question
Does Sculptra need to be diluted before it is injected into my face?
I read a comment by someone who complained because Sculptra was injected under her eye undiluted. I don't understand this. Wouldn't it be a rip off if someone diluted your filler injection?
Answers (1)
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1
17 months ago
Sculptra is "reconstituted"
Sculptra (injectable poly-L lactic acid, made by Dermik) comes to the doctor in little bottles with a freeze-dried, powdery substance inside the bottle. In order to inject it into your face, sterile water has to be added to the vial to reconstitute it, returning it to a liquid state from a solid (i.e. powder).
The amount of sterile water that is added varies slightly, depending on the preference of the injector, but is usually 3 to 5 mL (based on the manufacturer's guidelines). Some may reconstitute with more than 5 mL, which could yield more subtle, less effective results. If it's too concentrated, you may increase your risk for nodules or bumps.
Once the liquid solution is prepared, it has to sit for at least 2 and up to 24 hours. It is no longer good 72 hours after it has been reconstituted, which is why it is packaged and shipped as a freeze-dried material.
Comment on this
87 posts
6 Sep 2008
I really do appreciate the md's who respond and (with photos) to real self's, real user's questions. Often the questions asked are about problems which resulted from a procedure and asking how to help resolve. Seems it does take a md with some conviction and hopeful solutions to respond. Thank you folks.
17 posts
11 Sep 2008
Sculptra comes as a lysophilate, which means it comes as a powder. My partner and I have worked with Sculptra for 9 years and did the initial FDA study. Our office is actually in the package insert. During the time we have worked with this product our reconstitution technique has changes. In the beginning we diluted to only three ccs of bacteriostatic water. We found our nodule rate (the main complication with Sculptra) ran about 26%. We have since changed the dilution and added lidocaine. Presently when we train other physicains we recomend they have a total dilution of 8ccs. This means 150mg is divided into 8ccs. 6cc of this dilution should be bacteriostatic water and 2ccs should be lidocaine (without epinephrine in our office). A dilution greater than this may be suggested in other body areas other than the face. We use 10cc dilution in the hands and chest. Remeber is the dilution is too great the results will not be as good.