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What is the Recovery Time from Sculptra?

asked 1 year ago by Shely in Charlotte, NC
Latest answer by Lori Stetler, MD
Question viewed 966 times
Tags: downtime, recovery

What is the average recovery from Sculptra?

23 answers to What is the Recovery Time from Sculptra?

+1

Sculptra - Only "recovery" if there is unexpected bruising

Sculptra is similar to most other injectables and seldom has any actual recovery time. You can easily go about your daily routine immediately after the treatment.  The only potential negative response is sometimes minor swelling or some scattered bruising. When bruising occurs, you might find you need some type of camouflage. Generally, most patients have very little bruising unless they were taking certain supplements or pain relievers within 10-14 days of treatment. The bigger... more
Rebecca Fitzgerald, MD

Los Angeles Dermatologist

www.rebeccafitzgeraldmd.com

+2

Recovery time vs Down time

If you mean how much time do you need to stay home or out of the public eye (down time) the answer is no time at all. As most of the fillers available today, sculptra  requires no  limitation to your activities or schedule. Recovery time may be different if you mean how long to see the results? Within 24 hours, the volume of water used to reconstitute the product will be gone. It gradually causes collagen to build up and replace the volume lost to aging or other factors.... more
Beverly Johnson, MD

Washington Dermatologic Surgeon

skinhairnails.com

+2

Downtime with Sculptra injections...

Average recovery time for after being injected with Sculptra is completely dependent on the patient and injector. If a patient bruises it can take typically 7-10day for resolution. I like to recommend patients to stop taking aspirin, ibuprofen, Aleve, Advil, multi-vitamins, vitamin E, ginkgo Biloba, and fish oil tablets at least 1-2 week before the procedure. Typically, downtime is very minimal with Sculptra treatments.
Grant Stevens, MD

Los Angeles Plastic Surgeon
+1

Sculptra Recovery Time Minimal

Most patients experience some swelling after Sculptra that usually resolves within a few days to a week. Some patients may experience bruising which is usually minor clearing within a few days. Occasionally, bruising can be more significant requiring a week or more to clear. Patients should avoid products containing aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen, vitamin E etc. to reduce the chances of bruising.
Lori Stetler, MD

Dallas Dermatologic Surgeon
+1

No recovery, maybe a little down time

Shely, There is no actual recovery as you will not feel weak, be in pain or feel sick after this procedure. Maybe a little numb in the face  like after the dentist. You might have a little "down" time as you can bruise so don't do it the day before a wedding. You can minimize chances of bruising if you avoid supplements that contribute to this like ginko , garlic, ginseg, fish oil and aspirin like producys. Of course prescrition blood thinners as well.  more
Jo Herzog, MD

Birmingham Dermatologist
+1

Sculptra recovery limited to minor swelling and occasional bruise

Recovery from Sculptra is essentially non-existent unless you get a bruise.  You may have minor swelling for a few days which usually isn't noticeable to others.  If you get a bruise, you may be able to cover it with make-up.
Lawrence A. Osman, MD

Woodland Hills Dermatologic Surgeon
+1

Sculptra Today , Back to Work Tomorrow

As you can see from the responses by experienced Physicians, Sculptra injections require no additional time off of work or social activities compared to other fillers.  Swelling is often a soft appearance which fits in with a patient's eventual goal of restoring volume.  Take steps to avoid bruising as others have mentioned and most importantly, follow your massage routine as directed by your physician.  I have been treating patients for the past 5 years with sculptra and... more
James Newman, MD

Bay Area Facial Plastic Surgeon
+1

Sculptra

The actual injection of Sculptra takes about 15 minutes.  There is really not much recovery needed.  You will be good to go.  There will be some swelling and perhaps a bruise may occur.  The saline component will get absorbed and go away leaving the product in the soft tissues.  Now it take 6-8 weeks for the body to build up its own collagen.  At that point the results will become more evident.
Jay H. Ross, MD

Tampa Plastic Surgeon
+1

There are two phases with Sculptra

There are two phases with Sculptra. There is volume created from the product itself, which goes away within 48-72 hours, and then there is collagen building up over the next several months. The only real recovery is from the procedure itself, which could result in temporary bruising from the needle. Some patients don’t bruise at all and others have to wait a week or so before the bruising goes away. It depends on how you bruise and how the procedure was done.
Joseph A. Eviatar, MD

Bronx Oculoplastic Surgeon

www.ChelseaEye.com

+1

Sculptra Recovery Should be Quick

Sculptra is a "volumizing agent" injected in a sterile water suspension. Mild swelling may be present for a day or two until it dissipates. The actual collagen volume production occurs in the month after the injection and is gradual in onset.  The recommended treatment dose per session is up to two vials per session. In my experience, the most noticeable benefit occurs after the second session (total of four vials), so patience is required when having Sculptra.  The... more
Stephen Prendiville, MD

Fort Myers Facial Plastic Surgeon
+1

Recovery Sculptra

Following a sculptra treatment, patients will see some swelling and fullness that will disappear over 2-3 days. Then as the body starts to develop collagen in-growth, improvements will be seen.  This typically takes 4-6 weeks.
Marc Schneider, MD

Fort Myers Plastic Surgeon
+1

Sculptra often a "no downtime" procedure

It often requires some convincing, but I often counsel patients that following their Sculptra injection, they will actually want to be seen--because they look better immediately.  Sculptra, after it is reconstituted, is similar in consistency to water.  It is injected deep under the skin in the fat or muscle layer.  It should NOT be overcorrected, thus patients should leave the office as a more youthful appearing version of themselves--they should not look puffy--that... more
Melanie D. Palm, MD

San Diego Dermatologic Surgeon
+1

Sculptra injection recovery time minimal

As long as one does not have post-injection bruising, there should not be any downtime at all after a Sculptra injection session. In fact, there will be a nice post-treatment swelling that may last for a couple weeks that will give you a good hint of where we want to be when the production of collagen stimulation is completed several weeks down the line. Most Sculptra physician injectors will use lidocaine with epinephrine (which vasoconstricts) as part of the reconstitution... more
William Ting, MD

Bay Area Dermatologic Surgeon

www.DrWilliamTing.com

+1

Sculptra can cause so swelling, nothing to worry about.

Sculptra usually swells for up to a week after treatment. Most of my patients actually like the swelling since it gives the added volume that we are looking for long term.  Of course this initial swelling is partly due to the water in the injection and quickly goes away.  Bruising can also occur so cover up make up might be needed.  In all most people go about their normal lives immediately.  
Susan Van Dyke, MD

Paradise Valley Dermatologist

www.vandykelaser.com

+1

Recovery time from Sculptra

Sculptra is not an immediately gratifying procedure.  One has to be patient with the results of your body's production of new collagen as a response to the injection of the Sculptra material.  Usually it is done three times separated by six weeks.  The needle is slightly larger diameter than the finer needles of Restylane and Juvederm so there is a greater chance of bruising with Sculptra and in addition, the Sculptra is injected more deeply in the fatty layer than... more
Ronald Shelton, MD

Manhattan Dermatologist
+1

Sculptra Takes Some Time to "Kick In"

Sculptra is a "stimulatory" filler which actually stimulates your skin to produce its own collagen  -- it contains particles of poly-L-lactic acid, sususpended in water. You might have some bruising and swelling for a few days (up to a week).  But the real results of the treatment won't be seen for several weeks later as your body begins to produce its own collagen.  Therefore, don't be disaapointed if you don't see a dramatic result in a... more
Deborah Sarnoff, MD

New York Dermatologic Surgeon
+1

Recovery after Sculptra injection

In most cases, you should be back to normal by the next day after a Sculptra injection. Sometimes a bruise may develop at the injection site but this can usually be covered with a bit of makeup.
Karol A. Gutowski, MD

Chicago Plastic Surgeon
+1

Sculptra Injections made easy

Sculptra involves a series of injections to place the product in the face. There is temporary swelling and sometimes bruising. I use local anesthetic with adrenaline at the injection sites before I do the actual injections. The adrenaline in the local helps to decrease the chance of bruising, so most patients I treat have little or no bruising. It is also helpful if patients avoid aspirin, Aleve, and Advil and products that contain them for 10 to 14 days before the injections to... more
Ben J. Tittle, MD

Dallas Plastic Surgeon
+1

Recovery time after Sculptra

Because Sculptra involves several needle sticks, bruising and swelling can occur. This has not been a sigificant problem in my experience when the injections are down carefully and by someone experieced with this product. After a few days, the "fill" will go away as your body absorbs the liquid. Your body will then build collagen over the next 4-6 weeks, increasing your volume naturally. Depending on how much volume you need replaced, you may need 3-6 treatments done about 4-6... more
Matthew Schulman, MD

New York Plastic Surgeon
+1

Virtually no recovery time for Sculptra Esthetic and Sculptra

Typically if you do not bruise there will be no recovery time.  Bruising can be decreased by stopping asa, and anti inflammatory drugs, etc. In addition it is also dependent on technique.  We ice the areas as we inject and immediately afterward.  This decreases discomfort as well as bruising.  Also, we have steadily increased the amount of Sculptra we give at the initial session as our experience has increased over the past five years.  Few patients get less than... more
Nathan Mayl, MD

Fort Lauderdale Plastic Surgeon
+1

No recovery time, unless you bruise

Sculptra looks good right away, but the improvement wanes over one week, then it improves again several weeks later. Most patients need 2-4 sessions over 6 months and the benefit lasts 2 years or more. Bruising can sometimes be hard to hide, so be prepared for that possibility. talk to your docotr about ways to reduce the risk. You may be a bit sore if the temple area is injected, but it only lasts 1-3 days.
Mary Lupo, MD

New Orleans Dermatologist
+1

Sculptra Recovery Time

Since Sculptra is water-based and causes very little swelling, there is virtually no recovery time. In fact, the majority of my patients are impressed by how good they look after their injections.  Bruising, of course, is possible and unpredictable so you would need to leave time for that possibility as part of your "recovery time". As the water is absorbed over the first few days after the injections you will look the same again until Sculptra stimulates collagen production... more
Mitchell Schwartz, MD

South Burlington Dermatologic Surgeon

dorsetstreetdermatology.com

+1

Recovery time for Sculptra

Usually you may have some slight swelling for 2-3 days after the injections, but it should be mild and actually enhance how your results look. Remember that Sculptra works by helping the skin generate its own collagen around the Sculptra particles, so the process takes some time.  Normally you begin to see results about a month after the second treatment. As with any injections, there may be some bruising.  That takes about a week to resolve.  To minimize the risk of... more
Emily Altman, MD

Short Hills Dermatologic Surgeon

www.advancedskinwisdom.com

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