Sculptra: Stories

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Horrible Experience

  • posted 5 years ago
  • updated 1 year ago

I wish I would have seen this website prior to...

I wish I would have seen this website prior to getting my Sculptra injections. I had injections done under both eyes. First in November 2007 and again in January 2008. After the first injection, I developed a pea sized lump under my left eye. My dermatologist told me it would go away. I had the second injection performed and now have large lumps under my left eye and a medium lump under my right eye. My dermatologist has been using the V-beam laser on these bumps with a little bit of success. To anyone considering Sculptra - Do not use it!!!! I am extremely self concious now - I hate the side effects of Sculptra. I have reviewed websites on Sculptra and they speak of small lumps that will go away. Well mine are not small and they have yet to go away! None of the websites or pamphlets talk about the large lumps that you may get and the fact they may never go away. By the way, I was extremely diligent in massaging the injection sites. I followed the after care instructions and I still had horrible side effects!

Here is my update:  I am 21 months out from...

Here is my update:  I am 21 months out from having Sculptra injected under both of my eyes.  I followed the after-care instructions, and I massaged down to the exact minute.  In fact, I didn't stop massaging until approximately 3 months ago when I realized that the bumps weren't going away, and all I was doing was irritating my skin.

After numerous V-beam laser treatments failed (my derm was giving them to me at no-cost), I finally decided to have a facial plastic surgeon perform a subscision procedure.  I had two subscision procedures performed 4 weeks apart, and there has been a significant amount of change in the bump size.

I hope this gives some of you hope that your horrible experience may be reversed.

It has been 4 years since I had Sculptra injected...

It has been 4 years since I had Sculptra injected under both of my eyes and 2 years since the subscision procedure.

The subscision procedure was a success as I am lump/bump free.

In case anyone was wondering, the subscision...

In case anyone was wondering, the subscision procedure consisted of the doctor numbing my face (it still was not a pain free procedure), and using a needle to break down the Sculptra lumps/bumps.

I can only compare it to using a needle to scrape at a ball of hardened sand. And just to clarify he did not cut anything out of my face.
Great review?

My Doctor:

My rating:

I would recommend my subscision Dr. as he was very compassionate and was willing to perform the subscision procedure.

Comments (22)

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Sharon Dallas 7 May 2013
I'm so sorry that this happened to you, but if you read the Sculptra site, it makes it pretty clear that it's not to be used around eyes or in lips. Did your doctor not know this?
BubbleB40 30 May 2012

I have the same problem only under the right eye..My e-mail adress is t***********.net please let me know the name of the doctor so I may vistit with him as well...Thank u so much...

debhon 26 Mar 2012
Also, post-subcision, in your 2nd to last photo, I still see the lumpiness. How long after subcision did the lump go away?
Sandchic 3 Apr 2012
Once the swelling went away after my 2nd subcision procedure, my lumps were gone. Hip, hip, hooray!
jostarr 29 Apr 2013
Please give me an update. Living same situation April 29 th 2013. I had sculptra injected in 2009.
Joanie21431 29 Apr 2013
Hi jostarr, Not sure what your situation regarding Sculptra is. I may have missed your story. Could you let me know. thanks.
jostarr 29 Apr 2013
2009 got Sculptra a little below my cheek bones for my cheeks were a little flask we can say. On left side like a pea size bump and right side small red kidney bean type size bump. This has been there all the time since but that is a result of my collagene working so hey there it was good. Well Last week took blue pills for cold soar that I had on my left side of nostril. It was intoleratable to much burning & wanting to scratch. That is a first because usually when I get a cold soar its on the side of my mouth. and I use Zovirax cream and I'm good. But for my nose needed to take those pills. (Valacyclovir ) Its in french though. French were I live Well now my bumps are more see-able per say. and my skin is a little red. Maybe cause I'm just looking all the time and perplext. So, whent to see the doctor who did the injections. He's not my family doctor he's a cosmetics doctor that does stuff like botox etc.. Not surgery's etc. He was baffled and needs to call Aventis/Dermik there the Sculptra producers. He will come back to me on friday with info. He suggested injecting small doses of steroids to reduce the collagen. etc. I'm scaired to be played in the face. Would rather do something with someone that has done this to a patient. Feel more comfortable with someone that knows what to do. Saw my family doctor last tuesdayshe reffered my to see a plastic chirgeon and I do have an appointment april 30 for a consult. but if he doesn't know about Sculptra well I'm scared that if he removes it it will be like just taking a kiss off or something I want to make shure that it is not dangerous to make it grow more etc now Im just guessing I aint no doctor... I would feel safe to get it removed in the most safest matter.
debhon 26 Mar 2012
Sandchic,

I injected juvaderm under eyes and have the same experience as you. Your eyes pre-subcision look exactly like mine and the multiple doctors I have seen don't want to remove it surgically. How much did your subcision cost? Perhaps I would fly to California and have your doctor do it.
Sandchic 3 Apr 2012
My subcision was $600.00 per session, and I had to have two sessions.
Sandchic 16 Feb 2012
You are right! Sculptra is not to be used around the eye area! When my doctor suggested using Sculptra, I had never heard of the product.

Silly me for trusting a doctor who has many, many years of medical education and training! :)

I did later find out, however, that the Sculptra pharmaceutical reps were promoting the off-label use of Sculptra in the eye area. Shame on those reps!

As you can tell by my pictures, I learned a very tough, but valuable lesson. And lucky for me I was able to get it fixed.

Good luck with your treatment, and please feel free to contact me again!
Hixson7162 16 Feb 2012
I had my first Sculptra yesterday. It was very painful!! They used some numbing cream that didn't work so well. She said she will try something different next time to help with the pain. I will give one more try but if its as bad as it was yesterday, I'm done. My reading of Sculptra states that it's not to be used around the eyes.
6748anon 18 Mar 2011
My sympathy to all the people who have the unfortunate experience of lumps caused by fillers. It causes extreme self paranoia and awareness.
I did the same thing four years ago, I have been told by two plastic surgeons that there is nothing that I can do. It may go away one day. I've been told that it does not look too bad... I see it and am stuck with the results.
Dru11 18 Aug 2009
hi, ugly sculptra inflammatory nodules led to infection and now i have been diognosed with maxillary osteomyelitis. this sculptra was injected 2/20/08. i have been in pain ever since. i am now looking at the nest year of surgery and antibiotic treatments. sculptra is a dangerous product.
PrettyInShockingPink 15 Jan 2010
Dear Dru, Sculptra is classified as a medical device. I do not know why it isn't a drug. The information the manufacturer supplied on Wickipedia just changed once again...
Whuppy 22 Mar 2012
Sculptra is classified as a medical device - as it has a mechanical mode of action. It does not have a pharmacological mode of action on the body.
Essentially this means that Sculptra - stimulates the body to produce collagen - thus the body fills itself. Rather than chemically inducing something.
You will find that all Dermal Fillers (Radiesse, Juvederm, Restylane) are the same.
Dru11 30 Dec 2012
sculptra stimilates the IMMUNE SYSTEM, a systemic response and should be classed as a drug/device combo. no immune response no fill, too much immune response = sick and disfigured. sculptra = Crap
Sandchic 14 Apr 2009
It's been a while since I've posted and apparently there have been some major changes to this site. My lumps are better, but are still very noticeable. I have undergone 12 V-beam laser treatments, with some success. The lump under my right eye is barely visible, but the lumps under my left eye, although smaller, are still very visible. A year and a half has passed since my first injection, and I am still devastasted by the effects. (Especially when I catch my reflection under florescent lighting). At this time I am going to seek the consultation of a plastic surgeon as I see no other option to get rid of these lumps. P.S. There is no way I would allow anyone to inject Kenalog into these lumps - - The horror stories from that are extreme!
tried but failed 11 Sep 2009
You courage in posting photos is commendable, especially as they are a visible warning to anyone considering Sculptra. I am so happy for you that your photos show so much improvement. Unless you knew what you were looking for, it is not noticeable at all. Really. What a long, long time for this to be a part of your life. Good luck and hopefully you are close to the end of this terrible experience. Cheers
Sandchic 25 Oct 2009
Wow! Thank you so much for your reply. You actually brought a smile to my face and that's hard to do when we're talking about Sculptra! Thank you for your support!
Danrose 2 Mar 2010

Sandchic, My name is Danny and my wife - Rosemarie - had Sculptra treatment done under her eyes about 1 year ago. She has two bumps under her left eye since then and has done everything other than laser and subscision. We live in Jacksonville, FL. She has been so depressed about this and her DR. just keeps saying - there will go away! I am hoping you can find the time to please email us to give her advice and hope. Thanks very much for your consideration and for sharing your story which is so much like what she is experiencing right now. Danny7

Joanie21431 21 Oct 2012
Fu5 and Kenalog injections have been recommended to help reduce the inflammation of salivary glands caused by Sculptra. what are the Kenalog horror stories? I am terrified of steroids but have been dealing with the constant flow of excessive saliva for over 8 months and am depressed and suffering from frequent panic attack.
R Nelson 28 Dec 2008
Hello, Is your lump any better?

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