Is there a way to remove a delayed side effect of Sculptra that I may be experiencing?

Time is your best friend. Surgery will not necessarily eliminate all the lumps and bumps. Steroids may be of some benefit but are not recommend in the peri-orbital area. 

I am sorry to learn of the difficulty you are experiencing. If these are effects of Sculptra speak to your physician as there are procedures that can be performed to make you feel more comfortable. Direct massage of the area can have limited success but the sooner it is initiated after the injection the better the chance of success. Injection of Saline by a qualified physician can have the ability to break up granules. "Needling" the granules can break them up as well. Other fillers like Restylane can be used around the granules to camouflage them. Depending upon size the granules can be surgically excised. Lastly I would not use a blepharoplasty alone as a method to remove these grains.

The most important way to prevent nodule formation around the eyes with Sculptra is to avoid injecting Sculptra close to the eyes in the first place. Once the nodules have developed, they may be difficult to eliminate, but can be helped with a variety of treatment options. Steroid injections, massage, saline infiltration, or even excision can be used, depending on the severity and location.
If the nodules are present within the soft tissues of the lower eyelid, then they may be accessible during a blepharoplasty, but this would depend on the nodules and the patient. It might also depend on if there is another indication for a blepharoplasty, and what incision might be needed. 
A consultation with a facial plastic surgeon, plastic surgeon, or oculoplastic surgeon could be very helpful.
All the best,

Sculptra was originally used for patients with HIV lipodystrophy and is made up of poly-L-lactic acid.  Sculptra has the potential for lasting longer than some other fillers, but it has some significant side effects

-Nodules and Granulomas- Can occur with use of Sculptra.  Knowledge of Sculptra and facial anatomy as well as mixing constitution have resulted in decreased incidence of nodules occurring.  

-Infection- Since Sculptra is replaced ultimately by your body's response to it its incidence of infection is very low

-Overly filled appearance- In some patients the response to Sculptra can be vigorous and patients can note an overly full look to the area injected.  Since Sculptra is not reversible, patients must wait for this product to dissipate which can be years.

Overall, in properly trained hands with an experienced injector, Sculptra can add significant amounts of volume to patients and is a useful filler.

There are certain procedures that can be done that may be able to help your situation.  I would recommend that you see your dermatologist or plastic surgeon.  

Dear Pretty:

Nodules from Sculptra? No problem.

First, you should be examined by a board-certified dermatologist, plastic surgeon, or Oculoplastic surgeon to make an accurate diagnosis. In decades of using Sculptra I have not seen granulomas form, but have treated them in patients who have been injected elsewhere. Because of my experience, I believe it is related to how, how much, at what depth and where it is injected — hopefully never under the eyes at any amount or depth, by the way.

Next, you can decide if you want to treat them Even so, a little steroid mixed with 5FU injected into them should take care of the problem. You should also know that they eventually resolve on their own.

All the best, Sheryl Clark MD FAAD

Sculptra, in general, is a safe product to increase facial volume; however,  unlike most dermal fillers, extra care, skill and expertise is required to achieve optimal results with few side effects.  Sculptra was initial approved by the FDA in 2004 for the treatment of lipoatrophy associated with HIV patients. It wasn't until 2009 that Sculptra received approval for its use as a cosmetic filler and at that time only for use in the nasolabial folds and lines on the face.  Its early use required placement similar to that of dermal fillers which led to many of the problems you have read, including granuloma formation, commonly described as bumps under the skin, which could occur shortly after treatment or even months later. Subsequently,  techniques were developed by experienced injectors which minimized the development of these side effects.   Most commonly, side effects include those similar to dermal fillers such as temporary lumps and bumps,  bruising,  redness,  swelling,  etc.  These problems usually resolve quickly.  Occasionally,  with the newer techniques,  a granuloma or inflamed bump,  can occur,  but treatment is available and resolution usually occurs in a short time.  The most important consideration when choosing sculptra as a filler, is to receive the product from an experienced injector and not just an injector of typical dermal fillers, but a physician who has used Sculptra in his or her practice for some time and can show you good results from previous patient treatments. 

As an oculoplastics surgeon very familiar with both Sculptra and eyelid surgeries, it is honestly tough to know for certain the "diagnosis" of your bumps.  By your description of them being present transiently, on and off, they could be nodules related to Sculptra, (in which case they will eventually go away forever),  or they could be some cystic skin lesion unrelated to the Sculptra (in which case they might simply go away on their own, or can be surgically excised in a no downtime procedure).  I recommend you see an ophthalmologist who is an  oculoplastics specialist, because only if the diagnosis is made correctly can you know with certainty what your options are.
I hope that helps!!  Debbie Kessler Hudak, MD, MHA  Oculoplastics Surgeon, All About Aesthetics, PC, Raleigh, NC

Complications can occur following any injectable therapy.  Preventing collagen bumps from Sculptra injection is the best treatment for these usually palpable, but not visible bumps.  Ensuring the treating doctor has allowed the Sculptra to reconstitute over a long period of time, in a larger dilution volume, and then injecting deeply in the tissue minimizes the chance of developing a collagen papule.

If a papule forms, the good news is they disappear with time.  If active treatment is desired, dilute steroid injections, injectable 5-fluorouracil, oral antibiotics, and light therapy may be considered among other possible treatments.

Complications can absolutely occur. Sculptra can form bumps or nodules months after treatment.  The best way to treat a Sculptra bump is to avoid causing them.  When Sculptra is reconstituted (it comes dry in a sterile vial) properly, injected into areas such as cheeks and nasolabial fold, massaged vigourously at time of treatment and several times a day for 5 days after treatment the risk of bumps declines significantly. In expert hands the benefits outweigh the risks.