How can kenalog, 5FU, and collegenase be used to reverse the effects of Sculptra? And what is 5FU?

Question

First of all what is 5FU? How can it, collegenase, or kenalog be used to reverse effects of sculptra? What is the best way to find a practitioner who could administer them.

Nelson Castillo, MD · Answer

Thank you for sharing your question and I am sorry to hear that your Sculptra results were not what you anticipated.  Though there is no antidote or reversal agent for Sculptra you can improve any large nodule formation with a dilute kenalog injection.  Collagenase will not be of use while 5FU is a chemotherapy agent that helps prevent cell division.  Hope this helps.

Faiyaaz Kalimullah, MD, FAAD · Answer

Thank you for your question.  I'm sorry to hear that you are unhappy with the results of your Sculptra treatment.  Did you develop lumps or nodules under your skin, or do you not like your results overall?
In general, it's very difficult to reverse the effects of Sculptra once it has been injected.  Sculptra is unlike other fillers, in that its effects are due to its collagen-stimulating abilities rather than the volume and bulk of Sculptra itself.  Rarely, patients can develop nodules or lumps under the skin.  In many cases, these lumps resolve on their own within a few months.  If they are large or persistent, they can potentially be treated with injections of Kenalog (a steroid solution) and 5FU (5-fluorouracil).  5FU is a chemotherapy agent that inhibits cell growth, and can be used to stop excess collagen production, and is often used to treat keloid scars for this reason.  Sculptra nodules may or may not respond to these treatments - every patient is different, and responds differently.  
These treatments are really only for localized injections if you have a specific nodule.  Kenalog or 5FU cannot be used throughout your face to reverse the cosmetic effects of Sculptra.  I would also strongly recommend against using any collagenase products in your face - collagenase has not been studied in the face, and you run the risk of serious side effects due to damage to blood vessels and other vital structures.  Please consider scheduling a consultation with a cosmetic dermatologist or plastic surgeon with extensive experience in Sculptra injections to discuss your concerns.

Summit Kundaria, MD · Answer

retolianna,
Thanks for your question.  5-fluorouracil, also known as 5-FU, is an old chemotherapeutic drug that we also use for scarring.  It inhibits cell division, so it is thought to help prevent or treat scars.  Kenalog is a steroid and it alters the functioning of the cells that "See" it, which is also used to treat scar.  Collagenase is an enzyme that "digests" collagen.  All three of these agents work in different ways to treat scar tissue, whether it is on the skin (like a hypertrophic scar or keloid) or deeper in the tissues.  Scar tissue is made of collagen, so you can see all of these agents work to treat the effects of sculptra, without actually treating the sculptra itself, which is not removable/reversible.  Hope this helps!

How can kenalog, 5FU, and collegenase be used to reverse the effects of Sculptra? And what is 5FU?

Answers (3)

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