What are the risks for Sculptra butt lifts?

I have unfortunately had many patients come to me after having their high hopes for buttock/hip augmentation crushed by measly Sculptra results or other "fillers" such as Renuva and Juvederm, etc. Other than the fact that these are not FDA approved for buttock/hip injections, here are some critical points of awareness: 1) they all are temporary, lasting 1.5 - 2 years at very most, 2) if done correctly dermal fillers like Sculptra ir Renuva are cost prohibitive for 99% of potential buttock/hip augmentation patients. In order to create a significant/noticeable result with a dermal filler, at least 200 mls of active product (not just “total ccs of fluid injected” of which contains mostly saline not Sculptra) must be injected into each buttock cheek for a total of 400 mls. At $1000 per ml, this equates to a minimum price of $400,000.00. Thus if your doctor is recommending to put in ONLY 20 or 40 mls of these fillers you will pay $20,000-$40,000 and get an insignificant miniscule result! (eg. like a “drop in the ocean” effect), 3) Do not let anybody tell you that the product is so special that it's going to magically grow over the following months or years...this just doesnt happen to any noticeable degree!, 4) dermal fillers, when injected in large quantities, have a relatively high infection rate, guaranteed tendency to migrate away from the original area they were injected into, and almost always stimulate a lot of inflammation with a subsequent and disastrous amount of scar tissue/hardening, and 5) the one very serious complication that can rarely ( less than 1%) happen is "embolism" in which some of the filler gets into the blood stream and travels up into the lungs, heart, and/or brain causing serious problems, including death.

I have successfully used Sculptra in individuals who have little body fat and have achieved good results. See video below. I have used Sculptra to correct asymmetry after a BBL. I have also used Sculptra in patients undergoing gender reassignment. The most common risks of Sculptra injections are bleeding (easily manageable), bruising, infection, skin discoloration, and allergic reactions.

If you ever wanted to redefine and improve the shape and appearance of your backside Sculptra butt injections are a simple and effective way to achieve that. Sculptra unlike other fillers increases volume as it induces collagen production. So the solution itself is not the one that produces the added volume. The process relies on the body's natural collagen production. It induces the body to produce collagen. Bruising and tenderness for 1-2 days are possible.

Hi,
Thanks for your question. In my practice, I primarily offer Sculptra for non-surgical buttock augmentation. This is an off-label use, and I explain this to my patients. I use a cannula for injection since it is blunt and carries less of a risk of damage to surrounding structures. As with any medical procedure, there are risks of Sculptra BBL. Risks include, but are not limited to bleeding, bruising, swelling, allergic reaction, nodule formation, need for multiple procedures, contour irregularities, asymmetry, infection, accidental blood vessel injection, and unsatisfactory appearance. There is generally significant cost involved; it may cost equal to or more than fat grafting to the buttocks, but it does not have the same downtime. People generally require multiple treatments to begin to see a difference. Sculptra works by stimulating collagen production. It is important to note that this procedure is not right for everyone. Patients who want a substantial volume increase will likely not be happy. There are superficial blood vessels in the buttock; they are generally small. Vascular occlusion (blockage) can occur when a filler or Sculptra gets into the vessel; this can cause wounds and skin necrosis. I recommend that you seek treatment with a trained plastic surgeon to be fully evaluated, have your concerns heard, and to be informed of the risk, benefits, and alternatives.

The biggest risk is that you will spend thousands of dollars and not see any noticeable results.

Considering that a proper gluteal augmentation typically requires 500 to 1000 mL of volume using fat transfer fillers don’t stand a chance of delivering volume at a price point where people who work for a living can afford.

Intra- arterial injections can give areas of local necrosis. Intravenous injections will lead to fillers being diluted in the vascular system.

Pulmonary emboli have not been described from using fillers that I am aware of.

Best,

Mats Hagstrom MD

Dear CA,
Great question!
Different injector surgeons have different techniques.
For my patients multiple options are available for buttock enhancement.
Fat transfer by far is the most popular way to get more volume, at a fraction of the cost of synthetic fillers. When pairing fat transfer with liposculpting of the lower back the results are much more impressive.
Sculptra alternatively can be used to give smaller volume enhancement and is non surgical.
Either procedure requires a skilled qualified provider, sensitivity to the bodies natural anatomy and an artistic eye.
Best. Dr.Brecht
Seattle, Wa