Sculptra
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“Caused a Lot of Lumps”

unregistered guest
Comments (73)
Updated 3 Oct 2007
Posted 3 Oct 2007
Update
Not Worth It
Spent: $2,000 in Australia
We have had the product in australia for a few years , my mum and i were treated and seemed fine and then we developed all these lumps under the skin that were painful and they happened at least one year post treatment......have heard of other cases as well........... dont think its worth it

This review is the subjective opinion of a RealSelf member and not of RealSelf, Inc.

Vote: 19 members found this review helpful

Comments (73)

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louise (unregistered guest) 28 Jan 2008
Hi, can anyone help, regarding lumps under the skin, post scultra treatment. is there treatment I can have getting rid of these lumps. I am at a loss, i loved the effect, did everything that was reccomended to combat side effects, to no avial. I am considering microabrassion to lessen the apearence of these bumps. Please help, i am confussed. Louise from Wales
Suzy Q (14 posts) 17 Feb 2008
Dear Louise I had the same effect after Sculptra was injected in Australia and spent a number of years and many dollars trying to fix. I tried a series of steroid injections into the lumps also tried needling the lumps (which were rock hard!) but all to no avail. Had to eventually have them removed surgically and now am about to undergo laser skin resurfacing treatment to remove the scars......no easy fix I'm afraid except to say I wish I'd never allowed the product to be used on me !!! Suzy Q
Dr. Verebelyi (5 posts) 9 May 2008
Injections of sterile water with deep massage often will break these little collagen lumps up over a month or two. Also, over several months to a couple of year they will improve without any additional treatment. Doing a small incision and removing the lump is also an option if you do not want to wait and scaring is normally minimal.
Christine Oliver (1 post) 7 Jun 2008
My physician said that after each treatment I was to massage the area for 5 minutes each day 5 times a day for at least 5 days. He said it would prevent the bumps from developing. Although it was a bother I did it and have not had any bumps so far. I go in for my 2nd session this Thursday.
Jim_James (2 posts) 3 Jul 2008
I'm sorry to hear that you didn't get the results that you expected but, if you had massaged the area a minumum of 5 times a day for 5 minutes each you wouldn't have gotten this. I massaged my entire face every hour until I went to bed when I couldn't. I did deep massage and had not of this lumps and bumps that I read about. I've had 11 treatments so far and will continue with them until I get the complete results I want. I hope you can get this corrected. So you will be completely satisfied Jim
ringside (7 posts) 7 Jul 2008
Hi Jim, I was actually diligent about this... and am still massaging, praying that it will relieve the density of the lumps...I'm happy for you that your procedure was so successful!
Gail M Humble MD (2 posts) 21 Aug 2009
Absolutely I can help. The nodules that used to be reported with treatments with Sculptra are now pretty much a thing of the past. Most of these nodules tended to be do to varying expertise in injection technique. Out of all of the fillers out on the market today< Sculptra rquires the most training and commitment on the performance of the physician If your nodules have not alreaady diminished at the time of this writing they can be treated with a combination of subscission and injection with Kenalog. The other treatment consists of adding 5Fluro Uracil to the keenalog prior to injections. On histologic exam these nodules are either due to too much product being placed in one area (this is the most common) or a true (but rare) granulomatous reaction My partner and I did the original FDA trials and we have been working with this product for over ten years. I serve as consultant and lead investigator for Sanof-Aventis. Gail Humble MD
francesca (unregistered guest) 23 Feb 2008
I had sculptra done by my plastic surgeon in Italy. It was my first time with fillers. My original request to my doctor was to have hyaluronic acid done for some little wrinkles on my upper lip and lines around my mouth. My doctor firmly suggested using sculptra instead hyaluronic acid. Whilst I was not very convinced as I had read that semipermanent fillers have their negative side effects my doctor was extremely convincing. He explained differences between hyaluronic and sculptra and how the last is long lasting and it develops with time continuously improving in appearance. And as I was a little paranoid and worried being sculptra a semipermanent filler not dissolvable and very solid. He guaranteed 100% safety and astonishing results already after 4 months. And the more I did it the better. Thanks God I did it only 3 times. Results were ok first 2-3-4- months then lumps started to form. I informed my doctor about the 2 painful big little-bone shaped lumps one on each border of the top lip and two little ball-shaped between lip and nose, and one little in my cheek. He keep saying they will go away keep massaging put a little cortison cream on it for a few days and it'll be fine. I have done all he told me with no results. I went back and I requested a shot of cortison in my cheek but no result either. All I am getting from him it's a cold shoulder and lip service. I know he has no answer for me but does not want to admit and told me he did not want to inject too much cortison into lumps as it destroys the purpose of sculptra. He wishes! Long story short my lumps are very painful at times more swollen and one in particular very visible. Don't get sculptra done!!! Don't make my mistake. By the way my wrinkles are still very visible and improvement may be 10-20% improvement. My big regret is not having trusted myself and being firm when I asked for hyaluronic. Now I regret spending all that money and being in this black tunnel situation. Francesca
Sarah from RealSelf (5 posts) 18 Apr 2008
Francesca - please consider posting your experience by Writing a Sculptra Review. Other readers would love to hear about your results.
Bonnie Connor (unregistered guest) 9 Mar 2008
I had one injection of sculptra two years ago. I was happy with the results and followed instructions to massage constantly. I returned for a follow up with a complaint of a hard granule inside my cheek that you can feel . I was told it would not grow up to be anything. I also called the company who makes this and they claimed there have not been complaints or information concerning a granule. I believe that they know and this information should be given as a possible side effect. Removal of this is out of the question as I heard you are left with a indentation. Legal research is what I am looking into now against the drug company who make's this.
Kris (unregistered guest) 9 Mar 2008
I have the same problem with a nodule on my cheek that is not small. It is very noticable. I have others that bother me, but this particular one is big. I have not been back to the dermatologist who injected it because I figured that it would do no good. I think after reading this I will go back and see what she says. I am not happy. I am now wondering when this will go away if ever. It been over a year. I keep thinking it would go fown, but it has gotten worse over time. Lumps were a possible side effect, but this lump wasn't there six months ago, it's as if granulation is forming.
Susanne (unregistered guest) 10 Mar 2008
I had sculpta injected under my eyes I think 3 times- It was like 3 years ago- I finally went back to the dr b/c I swear the lumps are getting bigger and theres more than before- the last time I saw her she said oh they go away within a year- well they have gotten worse Susanne
Suzy Q (14 posts) 26 Mar 2008
Keep us informed as would LOVE to sue the pants off the company for what I 've been through!! Although I do believe there is a statute of limitations on such things? Good luck!
GUEST (1 post) 12 May 2008
I am considering Sculptra for sunken cheeks, I am 43 but have always been thin would look better with more volume in my cheeks. I have booked an appointment for the first session of Sculptra injections in a weeks time but have been searching the internet an have read horror stories of lumps forming. I am now confused and do not know what to do. Any advice would be (SO) much appreciated.
Riani Jonck (1 post) 24 May 2008
I also has sculptra 2 years ago. Needless to say i have a huge lump in the corner of my mouth, and a lot in my upper left lip and two huge ones between my eyes. What it is strange is that i was not injected with sculptra in these areas. I had restylane and botox injections respectively in these areas several times before, without any lumping . The lumps started 2 days after i received the sculptra injections.I have already tried to remove it surgically from my lip, but the surgeon was scared to remove all because she was concerned that i will lose a lot of volume in my lip.Before the op the lump in the corner was small, now it has grown big.I have seen several respected plastic surgeons for their opinions. For the latter, I flew overseas to see a very well known LA surgeon. He advised me to hang in for another few month and then have it removed. A local one said it was caused by a lowered immune system and extreme stress, to forget about it and it maybe will go away. But none of them knows the product. I am very agry, and apart from all the expenses, i would love to sue this company, or at least force them to have it removed from the market.There are a lot of women suffering, i think we must stick together and sue them!
ringside (7 posts) 3 Jul 2008
I had this procedure done several months ago...the pain was horrendous... I developed a huge hematoma over my upper lip and couldn't leave the house for 2 weeks...... Now I have some lumps under my eyes (injected there as well) .. I would NEVER do this again and recommed that you research some other methods... this is bad stuff..
ms-lead (103 posts) 6 Sep 2008
Two years.
ms-lead (103 posts) 11 Sep 2008
Don't do it. Please. Spare yourself.
ms-lead (103 posts) 28 Oct 2008
You can go to the website PubMD for medical studies (not the legal information you need). National Library of Medicine. Type in polylactic acid, adverse effects, Sculptra, you will find several studies from what sure seems to be various reputable sources. The good news, recently a female injected with this filler was kind enough to email me, gave me the info on how to contact an md who successfully removed every bit of these side effects (that she must have imagined since the drug company has no knowledge of them), one little draw back, his practice is half way around the planet.
ms-lead (103 posts) 29 Oct 2008
You can go to the website PubMED for medical studies (not the legal information you need). National Library of Medicine. Type in polylactic acid, adverse effects, Sculptra, you will find several studies from what sure seems to be various reputable sources. The good news, recently a female injected with this filler was kind enough to email me, give me the info on an md who successfully removed every bit of these side effects (that she must have imagined since the drug company has no knowledge of this problem) one little draw back, his practice is half way around the planet. Oh this stuff hurts so badly to boot.
kooie (41 posts) 26 Feb 2009
Bonnie are you still around? I have read a lot of your posts and I am going through the same thing as you. I hate sculptra.
njgirl (12 posts) 26 Feb 2009
Hi Kris: Are you still experiencing problems? If so, write me back -
smith2009 (2 posts) 23 Nov 2011

I don't suppose you will still be using this forum, but just in case, can you remember the name of the MD who successfuly treated the sculptra lumps? Thank you

BrittB (3,836 posts) 26 Nov 2011

Hi smith, 

Are you dealing with Sculptra lumps? 

Thanks,

-Britt

smith2009 (2 posts) 27 Nov 2011
Hi Britt, have tried massage. Recently had juvederm ultra put through the tear trough to try and disguise the lumps. Made them look worse I think. Have just had radio frequency to try and dissapate the juvederm, and had steroids injected under each lump. Still a little bit swollen, but doesn't look as if has made any difference as the lumps seem to be re appearing. Very unhappy.

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