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Considering Sculptra: Worried About Overcorrection and Being Unable to Reverse Results

Is it possible to do 1/2 vial of sculptra on the first treatment? I'd like to minimize the risk of overcorrection, i.e. i'd rather do 5 treatments instead of 3 but i want to make sure that i get the results i am looking for.

Doctor Answers 5

Half vial sculptra

May 9th, 2011
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You certainly can use a half vial but if you really need sculptra a half a vial will not give you much of a result. Even after one full vial you probably will not see a huge difference. If I were worried about too much correction I would wait a longer time between treatments and when you get close to where you want to be possibly cut down to smaller amounts then. 

Web reference: http://brookwooddermatology.com

Jo Herzog, MD


Birmingham Dermatologist
5.0 out of 5 stars 18 reviews

Avoiding overcorrection with Sculptra

May 9th, 2011
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Scultra is a biostimulator, a filler that induces the body's own collagen production. It is difficult to overcorrect with one vial of Sculptra unless you really don't need correction.  The collagen production happens gradually over several weeks, and results usually become apparent approximately one month after the second correction.

The timing of injections depends on how much correction you need.  For someone who needs a lot of correction, the injections can be spaced 4-6 weeks apart and it usually takes 3-4 injections to correct.

The injections can be spaced six weeks for the second and six months for the third for someone who needs less correction or only two injections may be necessary altogether.

If only 1/2 vial is used for an injection, the other half cannot be either used for someone else or used for you at a later time.

 

Emily Altman, MD

Emily Altman, MD
Short Hills Dermatologic Surgeon
5.0 out of 5 stars 4 reviews

It's Easy to go Slow With Sculptra and Not Cause Overcorrection

May 8th, 2011
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Sculptra is not a filler but a stimulator of your own collagen which then acts to create volume in a gradual, progressive, and predictable manner. Little to no result is usually seen after the first treatment. Unless it is a very small area you are having treated, it is generally more cost-effective to use an entire vial for each treatment. You can always wait longer between treatments to be safe. The final result takes many months to appear. Sculptra causes the new collagen to form which is not apparent for several months and then slowly degrades over time. Patients having one to two Sculptra treatment sessions rated their correction as good to excellent 48% of the time. After three treatment sessions this percentage rose to 50%. After four treatment sessions this percentage rose to 67%. After five treatment sessions this percentage rose to 75%.

 

Web reference: http://www.dorsetstreetdermatology.com/cosmetic-dermatology/sculptra/

Mitchell Schwartz, MD

Mitchell Schwartz, MD
South Burlington Dermatologic Surgeon
5.0 out of 5 stars 10 reviews

Sculptra for facial volume

August 11th, 2011
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Your doctor should evaluate your condition and have a sense as to how much Sculptra you should have at one session. Some people may need one vial and others two, but half a vial is possible if that is all you need.  Usually, if the volume for filling is so little that half a vial is satisfactory,, some physicians might choose to use a syringe of a different filler such as Perlane, Juvederm Ultraplus or Radiesse.

Web reference: http://www.thenyac.com/sculptra/index.html

Ronald Shelton, MD

Ronald Shelton, MD
Manhattan Dermatologic Surgeon
4.9 out of 5 stars 37 reviews

You can use half a vial of Sculptra

May 17th, 2011
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It is not uncommon for me to use 1/2 of a vial per session in those patients that only need a minimal correction. I agree that when using a filler that can hold its effects for many years, it is important to start slow and make sure you are being treated by a physician who is experienced and expert in using fillers.

Web reference: http://www.gbkderm.com/medical-procedures/injectables/sculptra/

Mitchel P. Goldman, MD

Mitchel P. Goldman, MD
San Diego Dermatologic Surgeon
4.8 out of 5 stars 15 reviews

These answers are for educational purposes and should not be relied upon as a substitute for medical advice you may receive from your physician. If you have a medical emergency, please call 911. These answers do not constitute or initiate a patient/doctor relationship.