How Can We Be Sure That 1 Vial of Sculptra is Being Injected?

Sculptra comes as a powder in a vial. You might probably be billed based on the number of vials used. It is usually one or two. The powder must be mixed with both sterile water and a local anesthetic. There has been a trend to increase the amount of fluids used to mix the powder to decrease the concentration of the Sculptra to avoid nodule (bump) formation. A physician could get 5 or 10 ccs of this solution from one vial.  Ask your physician how many vials were used. Sometimes there might be more on one cheek than the other to create symmetry if there was an unbalanced volume noted preoperatively.

You need to find a doctor with a solid reputation in the community so that you can trust what he/she says.  If you are thinking that your doctor is cheating you , you need to find a new doctor.  The integrity of your doctor is of the utmost importance.

It is absolutely reasonable and appropriate to dilute Sculptra with water and with local anesthetic to decrease the frequency of lumps.  I generally do this at least 24 hours in advance of the time of the patient’s appointment.  I have never been asked but I doubt that I would allow a patient to watch me do this.  If there is so little trust on the patient’s part, I agree with an earlier responder that it would be better for the patient to go elsewhere for this filler.