Jen
Australia
“Caused a lot of lumps”
Sculptra: NOT worth it
Cost: $2,000
Pain: Uncomfortable
Pain: Uncomfortable
Sculptra satisfaction: Poor
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
Oct 3, 2007Comments and replies (67)
15 of 15 people found this review helpful
This review is the subjective opinion of a RealSelf member and not of RealSelf, Inc.
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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
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
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.
unregistered guest
12 Apr 2008
I had sculptra injected almost 2 years ago by a doctor who looks so fabulous I wanted his secret! In the past I have had other procedures done with a natural looking effect and many compliments on how young I look! Now I am embarrassed to be seen! The lumps under my eyes keeps growing, and I am afraid it will affect my vision if I don't remove them. I have been to several doctors for consultations and they all told me something different! Some say they will dissove by themself and others say the only way to get rid of them is to cut them out, which may leave indentations and scars in their place. I am still pursuing answers, one doctor injected 5FU into them which bruised me for 3 weeks and so far I can't tell if it helped dissolve them at all. The most promising consultation was to surgically remove them underneath the eyelid and put tear trough implants in their place to the tune of $8,000 !!! I am considering it, but with my daughter getting married, my money is in short supply. I would sue the doctor, but he is a friend of a friend... If you have had any success with removing them, please let us know... Please stay away from this product and save yourself the misery it can cause!!!!
3 posts
26 Apr 2008
what is 5fu i also have lmps alround my lips i had steriod injections they have helped a little bit but they haave got worse in the oast mnth
4 posts
4 Jul 2008
I have sculptra lumps also...Had two series of injections, first January 2007, next March 2007,,,upper lip , corner of my mouth. 8 Months later the lumps formed. I have been injected with saline and cortisone...massaged. By the way ,,I did everything I was told to do....I called the company that makes Sculptra, spoke to their medical department. They are aware that one of the side effects are lumps...and thus far THERE IS NO SOLUTION TO DISSOLVE THEM. Meanwhile,,I have sunken cheeks that I want to fill up...and this dermatologist told me that sculptra would do it. He himself has sculptra in his cheeks and he looks fabulous. He also said he never does sculptra around the mouth,,,the area is too thin...It should only be injected deeply. The plastic surgeon who did my initial sculptra injections is very well known...and very successful. I am so confused. why didn't he know better. why does a dermatologist think he know' s better. Any suggestions???? thank you
1 post
4 Sep 2008
I had scultra injections almost 2 years ago. For 8 months there was no effect and then I noticed a bump on my cheek. From this it evolved into bumps all over my face. Fortunately most are not visible. I have had cortisone injections which help some but bumps come back and new ones appear. My doctor says they will eventually be absorbed but until then it is a very uncomfortabe condition. Does anyone have any info as far as them eventually disolving or some type of treatment that is more effective.
91 posts
5 Sep 2008
Same problems. Definitely certain, these things, lumps, nodules, foreign body reactions, call it whatever, for me they are not going to magically disappear. The little treatment with some needle to needle them away didn't do a thing. They are not going to be naturally absorbed into my skin. That's my opinion. One did receed, I thought, finally, this stuff is going away, than it formed into a weird circle like thing, with deep lines and discoloration. Than the infected, injected area became a source of daily pain. Some mornings I couldn't even focus on anything else other than the hurt these were causing when the biggest one began to recede under my eye. Guess it was my body's way of saying to me every day, what were you thinking when you gave your trust to someone you didn't know anything about other than they passed medical school exams and had nice impressive looking diplomas on their wall? I have been told to consult with a ps very familiar with PLA, well trained, and the only way to get rid of these "things", call them what you want, is to have them surgically removed. This is a horrible lesson in trusting what you are told by a p.s. is all you need to know to make an informed decision to procede. This apparently by taking one look at my face, wasn't the harmless absorbable type of injections that have been around the states for years and rarely cause problems. Good luck to you and I hope you find a doctor who helps you, remember, one who actually has taken the time to gain knowledge on PLA and how to get it now out of your face without adding to the problems.
4 posts
5 Sep 2008
Since my last letter, July 4, 2008 I am still working on getting rid of my lumps. First of all to those who think they can sue Sculptra, before you get the injections, the doctor gives you a form to sign,,advising you of side effects,,and in tiny print, "in a few cases, lumps may form, (not visibly, but you can feel them"...blah blah. Sculptra is quite aware of the lumps,,,and not responsible. In my research I found out that sculptra should never be injected around the mouth or lip area, the area is too thin. Sculptra is for deep tissue, like sunken cheeks. My doctor in NYC, is a specialist in scupltra. He has injected me twice with kenalog, a steroid. if too much of this is injected, you will put a dent in the bump,,and then no bump, but you have an indentation. So, I did get rid of some bumps,,had some restylane, I look better, but keep focusing on the remaining bumps..The mirror is still my enemy. I really don't want to get them cut out. and,....anyone who says they will dissolve in time is lying. My bumps are almost 2 years old...and still exist. So good luck to everyone...I know how frustrating and depressing this is. Any new information, please feel free to email me....thanks
13 posts
5 Sep 2008
I've periodically posted throughout this site, so I'll put it here too. My lumps are under my eyes. My doctor has treated me with the v-beam laser and the fraxel laser. The fraxel laser completely got rid of the visible lump that was under my right eye. It still feels lumpy, but none can be seen. The lumps under my left eye are stubborn. I will be treated with the v-beam laser again, next week. I can feel the bumps becoming softer and see them starting to dissipate. Wish me luck. Hopefully, I will have some before and after pics that look normal again - someday. If you want to see my horror, send me an email. P.S. I do have some skin discoloration now from the laser treatment, but I must pick my poison ...bumps or discoloration...