Why Can't Too Much Sculptra Be Removed with Liposcution?

My face has too much volume after 3 weeks. It looks puffy and swollen like I had my wisdom teeth pulled or something. I am a 52 year old male

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age 45-54 puffiness swollen male 3 weeks post-op removal

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6 Doctor Answers | Asked by scotty501

Doctor Answers (6)
Community Comments (3)

Sculptra cannot be removed with facial liposuction.

As others have stated, puffiness may not be due to Sculptra. Results from Sculptra Aesthetic injections occur slowly over time. Your face builds collagen after several weeks. The onset, degree, and duration of results correlate with your ability to build and maintain collagen. Most patients see minimal change after the first treatment. Typically, 2-4 treatments are required for desired results over the course of several months. Sometimes referred to as a non-surgical facelift... more

Volume over-correction with Sculptra

Liposuction is not performed in the areas of the face Sculptra is typically injected, and the reason for that is safety. The puffiness you are observing may or may not be due to the Sculptra. It's unlikely that so early after a single treatment of Sculptra you would notice dramatic volume change.

Sculptra Remoal

Sculptra cannot be removed because it stimulates collagen production, so the results one sees are from collagen deposition, not fat which is what is removed with liposuction. Luckily the results from Sculptra are not permanent and gradually go away with time. Good luck.

Sabrina Fabi, MD

14 reviews

San Diego Dermatologic Surgeon

www.gbkderm.com

Liposuction is only for fat

Sculptra is a product that very slowly encourages your own collagen to develop. This occurs over usually two or three treatments spread over a few months. At only three weeks it is likely you still have residual swelling, and even water from the injection. This will all diminish. Then you may feel you have lost all your investment! Don't worry; with time you will begin to create a little volume. Liposuction is only for fat, and is rarely done on the face. more

Can liposuction be used to remove too much Sculptra

It can take one to two months to see the final result after a Sculptra treatment, so I would not resort to anything yet at three weeks after your last treatment. Liposuction is used to remove fat. The tissue stimulation from Sculptra does not lead to the production of more fat, but does stimulate the subcutaneous tissue to thicken. This thickened tissue cannot be removed with liposuction.

Sculptra swelling

Swelling from Sculptra can be present for many weeks, so I wouldn't assume your current swelling is permanent. Sculptra is usually injected in the deep dermis/superficial fat junction and it works by causing your body to make its own collagen in the dermis. Liposuction usually removes deeper fat. While liposuction is occasionally performed on the neck, it is not performed on the face given the delicate anatomy and risk of trauma to those structures. more

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Comments (3)

scotty501 27 Feb 2013

I am also taking creatine for body building. Not sure if that contributed to swelling?

scotty501 27 Feb 2013

Thank you Dr Chapoki, I think you are correct. I am at 3 weeks and my face is starting to be less puffy. I did not have the intense swelling the first time i did Sculptra so not sure why i had it this time. Maybe she went deeper or i did not use enough ice.