Sculptra Dilution time frame?

The beautiful thing about Sculptra is the results and longevity. However, this is the "rose bush" side of Sculptra because the complications can be difficult and hard to treat. I reconstitute Sculptra for a minimum of 5-7 days prior to injecting. Best to have a longer reconstitution time and avoid problems or "sculptomas".  

Sculptra should be diluted at least 24 hours in advance in my opinion.  In my practice I dilute at least 72 hours in advance to avoid any risk of lump/nodules.  The chance of this is minimal if the dilution is 9 cc or greater.  Best, Dr. Emer.

While the FDA label for the product says one thing, the product should ideally be pre-mixed for at lease 24-48 hrs prior to injection.  That allows the product to hydrate completely and helps to avoid nodules.   The label also says to mix the product up with 5cc of sterile water per vial, but it is also recommended that the dilution is more.  In my practice, I tend to mix the vials up about 72 hrs prior to injection.  I use a 9cc dilution, but anywhere from 7-12cc per vial (depending on the area to inject the product) is generally accepted.  It is most important to talk to your doctor and get the vials to him, prior to your appointment for injection.

In my opinion, it is best to dilute Sculptra a while before injecting it.  This time frame can vary by physician, but the manufacturer recommends diluting 2 hours prior to use.  I find it is usually helpful to dilute more than 2 hours before injecting.  I would not recommend diluting Sculptra 10 minutes prior to use.  It is very likely that your physician has vials that have been prepared prior to your arrival and he is just switching them out.  You could just ask his office about this to check.  

Sculptra is Poly-L- Lactic Acid injections, designed to treat hallow cheeks, temples, and nasolabial folds. It works by stimulating collagen production in the dermis to create more volume overtime. Treatments done once a month for up to 6 sessions.
Each vials of Sculptra contains 7-10 ml depending on how the provider likes it blended and prepped a minimum of 24 hours prior to treatment. Always discuss desired outcome with your Expert Injector.  

Sculptra is best diluted at least 24 hours before use. I have it mixed for several days before treating patients.. You need to contact your treating doctor and find out the specific answer to your question about how he is diluting it.

It takes time for the Sculptra to dissolve into the tissues.Ten minutes is not enough.Best to ask about the preparation with a phone call.

Dear nullibist:It is unlikely he would be able to inject Sculptra 10 minutes after dilution, as the dried material does not mix with the diluent immediately. For quite a while after mixing, the Sculptra particles are still clumped and separate from the diluting liquid.He is probably swapping out premixed vials for your vials. Not sure why he doesn't order it, but if you are having the treatment becasue of a medical condition, it may be required by your insurance plan that you obtain Sculptra from the pharmacy yourself. If so, it makes sense and I can't see any harm to you. He would be protecting you from having to make two visits to his office.All the best,Dr. Clark

Although company guidelines allow for as little as 4 hours of preparation time, experinced injectors know that the longer Sculptta "cooks" the less the chance of nodules, and the better overall distribution of Sculptra. So even though 4 hours of wait time is not against the rules, it's best to give it more time.I am an experienced, top 100 sculptra injestor in the world and I will never inject anyone with less than 24 hour preparation time, but preferably 48 hours or more. In a high volume practice like ours, this is never a problem, as we have many vials ready to go for all patients. People who don't inject much Sculptra may want to do it "on the fly", and that should tell you to go elsewhere. Best if luck!

The original recommnedation was to dilute 4 hours before use. However, most experienced injectors do this 4 to 5 days in advance.