Are My Complications Normal 2 Weeks Post Sculptra? (photo)

Question

Sculptra done 2 weeks ago, 2 vials total. I hated the look, fat cheeks. My left side was a lot more swollen than the right. Went to ask about it and they said it was just from swelling, and that is looked fine. Also more was injected in that side, apparently to make my face uneven I guess? It seemed to go down a bit after the week, but now the swelling is back on left side. There feels like there is pressure, itching, and puffy, no more definition. I am not getting more but how do I fix?

Michael I. Echavez, MD · Answer

Without knowing the specifics about your particular treatment, it's difficult to answer your question. It would be helpful to know exactly which areas were injected and how much was used in each area as well as the dilution used to reconstitute the product. With any type of injection, including Sculptra, it is not unusual for one side to be more swollen than the other. Normally, this will improve over time. It can take one to two months to see the final result from a Sculptra treatment, so I would recommend waiting until then to judge your appearance.

Babak Azizzadeh, MD · Answer

After two weeks the swelling should have gone down. If there is itching as well, you could either have an allergic reaction or an infection I would consult with your primary MD and either start on an antihistamine or an antibiotic.

Sabrina Fabi, MD · Answer

Swelling is common after Sculptra, and without evaluating you, it is difficult to say whether what you are experiencing is normal. Typically results come on after 6-8 weeks, so 2 weeks after injection is typically to soon to judge the true effects from the treatment.

Sam Naficy, MD, FACS · Answer

It is difficult to answer your question without really knowing what areas were injected with Sculptra. It is common to have swelling at this time and this swelling should continue to improve. If however you experience swelling with fever, chills, pain, etc., you should consult your physician.

Nana N. Mizuguchi, MD, FACS · Answer

Sculptra is reconstituted with bacteriostatic water, then injected. For the first 24 to 72 hours one will see fullness in the area of injection secondary to the water used. After the 72 hours, fullness that is seen is probably because of edema secondary to the trauma of injection. You may have a deep bruise that you cannot see superficially, that should resolve with time. Two weeks is not enough time for Sculptra to stimulate enough collagen growth to be seen by the naked eye. Try not to worry about the asymmetry at this point. It should resolve. I would recommend continuing with consecutive treatments of Sculptra to work toward your goal of improving the skin and volume in the face.

Are My Complications Normal 2 Weeks Post Sculptra? (photo)

Answers (10)