What has Sculptra and Radiesse done to my face shape? I'm only 30 but feel my face is ruined. (Photos)

Question

The last Sculptra I had was my 2nd vial 20 months ago and Radiesse 17 months ago. MRI shows product still in face. Cheek shape has changed and is like a cat shaped face - cheeks pumped upwards and sideways. When will my cheeks return to normal? Can they ever when they've been injected in the wrong place so many times? One surgeon has told me I will never go back to baseline. It's nowhere near going down and it's been nearly 2 years. Can any surgery bring back my old face shape if all else fails?

Jason Emer, MD · Answer

If you're unhappy with your results with Radiesse & Sculptra, venus legacy and 5/FU steroids can give improvement. I recommend getting a formal evaluation with a facial sculpting expert. Best, Dr. Emer

Michael Tomcik, MD · Answer

Hello.  Thank you for your great question
Based on your pictures, I do not recommend surgery. I recommend more time and patience. Longevity of fillers generally depend on different factors, such as, area (movement/muscle activity), metabolism, amount used. Radiesse can last for up to 2  years. sculptra is filler that works gradually, and is volume and treatment dependent, but also should last about 2 years. In the future, make you that you and your practitioner agree on the desired outcomes of your treatment. From your picture, you look great, however whats important is how you feel about your appearance. Performing these procedures take artistic skills and not all practitioners are artist.The good news is, based on the procedures you listed, all will eventually be reversed. I hope this helps to answer your question. 
Best, Dr. Tomcik

Jeanine B. Downie, MD · Answer

Hi there, it is difficult to assess exactly what is going with your cheeks because there was no baseline photos.  Sculptra and Radiesse are long lasting and should eventually go back to baseline. I would bring baseline photos and consult with a board certified dermatologist to see if there are an interventions that could be done to soften your cheeks. Good luck, Dr. Downie

Christopher Dannaker, DO, MPH, FAAD · Answer

Dear Mari:
Thank you for your question regarding Sculptra and Radiesse injected into your cheeks.  You need to see an expert injector, preferably a board certified dermatologist.  Also your pre-treatment pictures need to be reviewed and compared.  Im assuming the MRI showed calcium in the dermis, the residual from the Radiesse.  Radiesse will last about 1- 1 1/2 years so it's correction is probably gone but the calcium remains for 2-3 years (at least on MRI) which some feel helps stimulate more dermal collagen.  Your lips also appear augmented (perhaps though this is natural to you) which can also contribute to a "cat-like" appearance.  If you have filled the lips, you need to reevaluate your goals and carefully consider what it is about your appearance you do not like.  The lighting you took pictures in seems to enhance the tapering of your lateral face and may be exaggerating the cheek augmentation, leaving us to again recommend a one on one evaluation with a physician.  I would be very careful before embarking on any attempt to dissolve the Sculptra effect as at this point it is simply the thickened dermal collagen that is giving you the apparent enlarged cheek appearance.  You are very young to have had both Radiesse and Sculptra.  If you are very fit with extremely low BMI and body fat content, it is possible that this has removed fat from your face, thus indicating volume augmentation was appropriate.  When this occurs, we often augment the lateral aspects of the face, not the midline.  Finally, one would verify with your former treating physician that you indeed received the products you mentioned and to verify the quantity (vial/vials of Sculptra used).

What has Sculptra and Radiesse done to my face shape? I'm only 30 but feel my face is ruined. (Photos)

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