Can Sculptra Results Show After Only 5 Days?

Question

I had 1 vial of Sculptra done 5 days ago. I know the swelling is to last for days but, though my face was swollen right after, it was back to my pre-treatment face two hours later. I did ice it. As of yesterday my face has become slightly but visibly fuller. My tear troughs are less visible and my nasolabial folds are much smoother. I've checked this in every type of light. Could this simply be delayed swelling or swelling from massaging it? I metabolize quickly. Will results be shorter?

David Shafer, MD, FACS · Answer

At just five days after your Sculpta injection, it is very unlikely that you are already seeing results.  You are likely seeing swelling from the injection or from the massage as you suggest.  It takes months and several treatments to see a full result.  Sculptra is a great product, but does not produce immediate results.  The tradeoff is that it will produce results that are more long lasting than most of the other "fillers."

	 

	Good Luck.

Sonia Badreshia-Bansal, MD · Answer

Thank you for your question. I would not anticipate seeing results from Sculptra in 1-2 weeks. Time is needed for collagen to build and 1-2 weeks is just not enough time to see anything significant. some residual swelling can account for the change. I hope this helps!

Sabrina Fabi, MD · Answer

Sculptra works by stimulating new collagen production. It typically takes at least 1 month to create enough collagen to have a clinical result, so after 5 days this is unlikely related to the treatment and just swelling that will go away. No studies have been done to determine whether fast metabolizer’s results are shorter, as Sculptra stimulates your own collagen it is not a synthetic filler, so you are not necessarily “metabolizing” it, but if you do lose weight secondary to your high metabolism, you will continue to lose fat in your face, just not the new collagen per se.

Sam Naficy, MD, FACS · Answer

It is likely that what you are describing is swelling after your Sculptra injections.  The results of Sculptra often become apparent usually after the second treatment session.

Justin Yovino, MD, FACS · Answer

The results you're seeing is swelling. It takes many weeks to build collagen and therefore see results. Sculptra is a great bioactivating agent and is a nice compliment to other facial rejuvenating procedures.

Jonathan Kulbersh, MD · Answer

The fullness you experienced 5 days after your treatment is likely due to swelling, which may sometimes be delayed. If you metabolize quickly, the results will not be much shorter. But they may be on the shorter side of the range given for the expected result.

	Sculptra will not give an immediate result because it takes time for your body to create new collagen. Generally, patients will begin to see improvement within a month of their initial treatment. After three months, the results will be even better. Did you have any other filler injected in the tear trough or nasolabial folds? Massaging the filler will not cause it to act quicker, and I would advise against doing that in the days after your treatment. I hope this helps, and good luck to you.

Michael I. Echavez, MD · Answer

It takes at least a month to see the stimulatory effect from a Sculptra treatment. Any effect that is seen before that time is only due to the volume of fluid injected or swelling from the treatment, and is temporary.

Kimberly Finder, MD · Answer

It takes weeks to months to see results from Sculptra. In the first few days there is swelling from the liquid need to get the Sculptra injected, as well as some minor swelling from the process of placing the Sculptra. And there may be some swelling from the massaging that we ask our patients to do after the placement. It's said that good things are worth waiting for.

Craig Mezrow, MS, MD, FACS · Answer

Sculptra typically takes 6-8 weeks to work.  For the first several days the facial fullness is due to the liquid injected and swelling.

Grant Stevens, MD · Answer

The fullness that you are seeing is more likely caused by the massaging that you are doing...  positive results can not show up that quickly with a volumizer like Sculptra. 

	Dr. Grant Stevens         Marina Plastic Surgery Associates             Marina del Rey, CA The Institute

Can Sculptra Results Show After Only 5 Days?

Answers (12)