Sculptra: Stories

After reading all of the comments here, I am certain the small lumps under my eye is from Sculptra. I had 1 vial done in 2010 and the lumps have appeared a year and half later. They have not got any bigger or are noticable. However, I wanted to see if anyone experienced them to continue to grow? I'm nervous!

I had Sculptra injected three different times, a few weeks apart, with a total of six vials in my entire face. The dermatologist, Tiffani Hamilton, of Alpharetta , Ga was the dermatologist performing the injections. I was never informed that Sculptra was not approved by FDA for injections in all areas of the face. I was simply told that the doctor was an 'expert' with the product and I trusted her credentials. A few weeks after receiving the treatments, I developed 9 lumps on my forehead, nose and chin. When I called Ms. Hamilton's office, the nurse informed me that I apparently didn't massage my face as was recommended by the office and that over time the lumps would dissolve. Not only did I have the lumps, but my face seemed so out of proportion. I couldn't stand the way I looked. I wrote the company and received a vague letter saying they filed my complaint. The shape of my face has returned to "normal' OR pre Sculptra treatment, but I still have the lumps. I've gone to plastic surgeons and have had them injected with Kenalog and other solutions, but nothing has worked. How is it legal for doctors to continue to inject this substance in areas that are not approved by the FDA? I seriously don't think the doctors care about the patients, they are simply focused on the profit. I'm appalled that it's permitted in a the US.

The lump in my left cheek keeps getting bigger. When it starts to grow, I feel pressure in my face and some discomfort. Sometimes itchiness for a few days. The scary thing is that there is pressure around my left eye and the vision is temporarily blurry while the lump is growing. And I feel generally crappy. Has anyone found a surgeon who can safely remove the lumps? I'm very concerned that this will continue growing and permanently affect my vision.

@ SculptraMess did a plastic surgeon inject you? what did the Dr do to help you when u got the lumps? how are the lumps now? are they big? what do they feel like?

Amen!

It has been over 2 year, 28 months since I had Sculptra injected into my cheeks. I had 2 sets of injections. About 4-6 weeks ago I noticed lumps in my right cheek. With in another 2 weeks I had lumps in both cheeks and the right cheek is now so noticeable that my face is disfigured. I am now 50 years old and along with just dealing with normal aging I now am disfigured. I'm just sick about it. I am posting this as I hope that others will learn from my terrible mistake.

I feel and look the same It will be 2 years since my injections.I am a mess. You cannot sue the drug company. They put this product through the FDA as a Class 3 medical device/ implant also they never tell the plastic surgeon about the total amount of cases of adverse affects until they contact the company due to a problem They also do not how to treat it the symptoms. They only show how others doctors have treated the lumps Look up and google Poly L lactic acid Scary I have been in contact with women and men who have been suffering for years and the product cannot be removed until it turns into a granuloma.Sanofi Adventis will not help they are clueless what to do they refer you back to the md yes I know many who have sued their doctors because the company states they must have injected the product too superficially and not into the dermis, or the product was constituted incorrectly etc you would think the American Association of Plastic Surgery would do something How many surgeons need to be sued WHEN IT IS THE PRODUCT. I was was injected with a Sanofi Rep teaching my Doctors the proper technique !Joke !!! and now I look like this horrific!!! it only gets worse !! sorry I couldnt be of more help I am living this nightmare !!!

I had sculptra injected about three weeks ago. Lumps started appearing almost immediately. The worst was an unsightly lump of edema high on my left cheekbone. I was told it would get better, but it has not, and now there is a pea sized lump beneath it that seems to be the source of the aggravation. I also have a large ridge that runs from my left ear to the top of my cheekbone near the corner of my eye, a lump that is causing a small "jowl" near my mouth and a large cluster of lumps on my right cheekbone near my ear.

The worst thing is the bump on my cheekbone, which is very noticeable and unsightly. I am devastated and horribly self-conscious.

The doctor is treating me like a hysterical lunatic, insisting that I'm over-reacting and that "this shouldn't be happening" so early. BUT IT IS!!! Clearly, my body had a strong immune response to this foreign invader. Does anyone know a good plastic surgeon in Florida who is experienced with dealing with this stuff? I tried to call another doctor in my area, but was told I had to go back to my original doctor.

I have started meditating twice a day so I don't have to resort to anti-anxiety medication. It seems to help, but I find it hard not to obsess on this horrible calamity.

I would be very interested in participating in a class action suit. Has any tried suing their doctor's office for malpractice?

We must stop this nightmare.

My, my! I just had my first injection a week ago on both sunken cheeks. Just read these horror stories and do not know what to do next.

Call the FDA center for medical devices.. this should be regulated as a drug because in order to "stimulate collagen" the entire immune system is effected. PLLA has been shown to be immunogenic. it causes more than localized collagen prodiction, it also sets into motion a frustrated immune response triggering autoimmune disease and reactive arthritis. call David Buckles PhD, FACC Acting ombudsman FDA/CDRH at 301-796-5447 10903 NEW HAMPSHIRE AVE WO66-5432 SILVER SPRING, MD 20993 you would never know it because they dont give law abiding tax paying citizens answers. the fda parrots back what big pharma selected to share. it eas a trojan horse with s long history of serious adverse events in Europe and noe here in the US and around the world. simply put our lives mean nothing when sanofi aventis did their profit calculations.

2+years later i still have inflammatory modules. sculptra is impossible to remove. Awful stuff.

One year two weeks later...everything is the same as when it started! The lump is still the size of a pea, only more noticable now since the rest of the "dispersed" sculptra begins to dissipate. This lump is still painless, still the same size, and still just as disturbing psychologically as it was on the day it was noticed. Just thought i'd give an update/no progress report. Kinda sad that the beenfits of facial volume were shorter lived than the adverse event...apparently for some they go away and for others they don't. If there is anyone out there who had anything that was sculptra lump related to dissipate please share that information. Hope is whats left because i have no trust in doctors anymore, for various reasons.

Wow, I saw your pic's & having just had a consultation with my Doctor, who recommended Scuptra which sold me,I'm now un-sold. My Doctor has Sculptra in her face as well with no problems 7 showed me pic's of a pt she did that were fabulous.I asked alot of questions. She told me the product or beads within the soloution desolves over a period of time, but the reaction to them causes stimulation of collegen.Looking at your photo's reminds me of the problems associated with silicone injections. You've maybe had an a-typical immune response but why chance it. BTW,I'm so sorry you've suffered with this Eric. There must be some way to correct it,lasers? New things on the horizon? Best, Cindy

I am looking for a dr who can try to perform a miracle to make my face look better. Alrhogj the sculptra is allegedly gone there us scar tissue and my eyes are uneven. I know Dr's search this site so I want someone to contact me with a solution. If anyone has any ideas please let me know. I don't want to go back to the other dr because he would like to treat with laser for $6500 which will do absoloutely nothing. He did a great job with the aculptra removal for $8600 but I need a specialist. Dr 90210 does not do eyes I have already contacted him. Lol all we can do is laugh and try to get through this nightmare. Cheers Eric