“Stay away from sculptra, it has ruined my eyes”
Sculptra: NOT worth it
Pain: Uncomfortable
For a quick touch up under my eyes for Bags supposedly a better otion than surgery, It has been over 2 years and my Eyes look like crap. I had to have surgery to remove the sculptra because it hardened and turned into lumpy nodules. My eyes uses to be my best feature and now my worst.
I am a 38 year old male who's social life is all but over. I have tried setroid injections, surgery to remove the sculptra but he could not get it all out. I am going to have to have some type of surgery in order to correct the unevenness of my messed up eyes but the New Dr.said they won't ever be the same.
STAY AWAY FROM SCULPTRA. I have written them many emails and they have never responded. They need to be held accountable.
I am sure I am not the only one.
Unhappy in Atlanta GA
Aug 9, 2009Comments and replies (23)
1 post
9 Aug 2009
I'm so sorry you're going through this, and I hope you can get some relief soon. And thanks for sharing your story. Sculptra will definitely not be an option for me.
337 posts
10 Aug 2009
Hi there EVG - it was very brave of you to post photos. I am experiencing a botox disaster at the moment (which I hope will be temporary) and I do not have the courage to put up photos of it! I did not know much about Sculptra so I had a look on the internet and I can see that it is different from the hyaluronic acid dermal fillers (Restylane/Juvederm) because it is a synthetic poly-L-lactic acid. Were you just one of the unlucky ones who got the nodules? There is another RealSelf member (ANAN) who is going through a similar experience with Radiesse. We have spoken on the phone. Bad cosmetic results really profoundly affect your life, don't they? It is a very lonely experience. I hope you have someone you can share it with. I have couple of really good people in my life who are getting me through. It's so hard because you didn't want many people to know you were having the procedure done in the first place! What is the percentage of people who develop nodules with Sculptra? They note it as a 'rare' side effect. These days I am pretty convinced that 'rare' = 'under-reported'. If enough people report it, eventually the status will have to be changed from 'rare' to 'common' side effect. In your case, even if it is truly a rare side effect, it is a serious one! Were you warned properly of this side effect? Have you reported your adverse outcome to the FDA? The link for online reporting to the FDA is: https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/medwatch/medwatch-online.htm Please keep us updated as to how you are doing. This forum is excellent to let you vent your frustrations to people who understand.
337 posts
10 Aug 2009
If I may ask, is the 'after' photo recent? Has there been any improvement since then or is this the final result?
15 posts
10 Aug 2009
Thank you for coming forward! You are NOT alone. There are many of us who have been harmed. Go to sculptradamage.com and post your story. the woman who runs the site has been harmed terribly, along with the rest of us. Unfortunately the all mighty drug company won by getting "Sculptra Aesthetic" approved for cosmetic reasons here in the US in the last couple weeks - after using us as lab rats. All for $$. More will be hurt. I hope Sanofi and it's henchmen will have to pay the piper for releasing this vermon onto the world. Too many have already been disfigured and made ill. It's terribly sad that the US FDA is allowing this with all the pertinent information they have on this drug they call a device. They are too swayed by lobbyists, and the power of the drug companies in politics. Please - to all reading this - keep in mind that this is not a filler - it is categorized an implant! Few docs will tell you the truth because the drug company will tell them it's safe, and frankly, they want your $$. Thank you again for coming forward.
7 posts
12 Aug 2009
OMG this is awful, i had sculptra 8 weeks ago, so far i have not exp any of this, but i am now very frightened
91 posts
16 Aug 2009
Thank you so much for posting your photos before and after. Gives courage to those of us who feel it is "our fault" that we didn't know better. So naive and taken advantage of due to trust of that term MD - board certified plastic surgeon facs or dermo. This goes so much deeper than our grauloma eyes can see.
1 post
16 Aug 2009
I had 3 treatments of Scupltra about 2 years ago and was very pleased with the results. My doctor advised not to inject under the eye. She said sculptra can never be used for lips either. She also stated that it is imperative to massage face (injection sites) several times a day to avoid nodules. I used the oil I was given and heeded her directions. The results were fantastic. Sorry your results were so poor. I think anyone considering sculptra, juvaderm, etc.. should first and foremost do a lot of research and find a competent doctor. I tried restalyn at another location and the person doing the injection was actually a nurse and very heavy handed. The result was terrible bruising and injection off center. The problem is so many incompetent personnel at the other end of the needle.
91 posts
22 Aug 2009
Thousands of Europeans for years prior have probably been injected, certainly. That doesn't speak for their outcomes.
337 posts
25 Aug 2009
This reply is for Jer because I know that Michelle P is already well aware of everything below! The FDA approval of Sculptra Aesthetic for general cosmetic use does NOT mean that there are no side effects. In other words, FDA approval does NOT mean safety for all users. For the FDA approval of Sculptra Aesthetic see: http://www.fda.gov/MedicalDevices/ProductsandMedicalProcedures/DeviceApprovalsandClearances/Recently-ApprovedDevices/ucm176124.htm Note that Sculptra is considered to be a 'medical device' (ie an implant) NOT a filler. It would appear that this important distinction is not made clear to users and potential users of Sculptra. Further, while it is accepted that the cosmetic effects of Sculptra are not permanent, it would appear that for those unlucky enough to develop the nodules/lumps/granulomas, the damage can persist for a long time and relief is hard to find. Your point about thousands of Europeans using Sculptra/New Fill for many years is actually irrelevant. The real question that should be asked to anyone considering Sculptra is: given the severity and nature of the adverse reaction, if there is even the slightest chance that this could happen to me would I take the chance for a cosmetic procedure? I don't want to speak for them, but I would strongly suggest that if they had been properly advised of the risk of developing persistent, painful and disfiguring granulomas which would cause problems for years and years then Michelle P, kooie etc would have said a resounding 'no thanks'.
91 posts
26 Aug 2009
No, No, No. I was not warned of any risks whatsoever. This is like the Wild West, there are no rules an MD is required to follow. They aren't even required to report the harm caused to an in shock "patient" to the FDA. FDA website - The patient harmed should know Sculptra is a medical device, (thank you Tried But Failed, you really are a quick study, good going). The FDA website for a patient reporting is a bit tricky, since it seems to be designed for an MD Reporting. Just skip the questions that could only be answered by the injecting MD and keep on going with filing your Adverse Events Report. Hopefully, eventually someone might pay attention.