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POSTED UNDER Sculptra REVIEWS

Stay Away from Sculptra, It Has Ruined my Eyes

ORIGINAL POST

For a quick touch up under my eyes for Bags...

AtlantaGuyAugust 9, 2009
$25,000

For a quick touch up under my eyes for Bags supposedly a better otion than surgery, It has been over 2 years and my Eyes look like crap. I had to have surgery to remove the sculptra because it hardened and turned into lumpy nodules. My eyes uses to be my best feature and now my worst.

I am a 38 year old male who's social life is all but over. I have tried setroid injections, surgery to remove the sculptra but he could not get it all out. I am going to have to have some type of surgery in order to correct the unevenness of my messed up eyes but the New Dr.said they won't ever be the same.

STAY AWAY FROM SCULPTRA. I have written them many emails and they have never responded. They need to be held accountable.

I am sure I am not the only one.

Unhappy in Atlanta GA

AtlantaGuy's provider

Pradeep K. Sinha, MD

Pradeep K. Sinha, MD

Board Certified Facial Plastic Surgeon

AtlantaGuy rating for Dr. Sinha:

Overall rating
Doctor's bedside manner
Answered my questions
After care follow-up
Time spent with me
Phone or email responsiveness
Staff professionalism & courtesy
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Replies (86)

Signe
August 9, 2009
I'm so sorry you're going through this, and I hope you can get some relief soon. And thanks for sharing your story. Sculptra will definitely not be an option for me.
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tried but failed
August 10, 2009
Hi there EVG - it was very brave of you to post photos. I am experiencing a botox disaster at the moment (which I hope will be temporary) and I do not have the courage to put up photos of it! I did not know much about Sculptra so I had a look on the internet and I can see that it is different from the hyaluronic acid dermal fillers (Restylane/Juvederm) because it is a synthetic poly-L-lactic acid. Were you just one of the unlucky ones who got the nodules? There is another RealSelf member (ANAN) who is going through a similar experience with Radiesse. We have spoken on the phone. Bad cosmetic results really profoundly affect your life, don't they? It is a very lonely experience. I hope you have someone you can share it with. I have couple of really good people in my life who are getting me through. It's so hard because you didn't want many people to know you were having the procedure done in the first place! What is the percentage of people who develop nodules with Sculptra? They note it as a 'rare' side effect. These days I am pretty convinced that 'rare' = 'under-reported'. If enough people report it, eventually the status will have to be changed from 'rare' to 'common' side effect. In your case, even if it is truly a rare side effect, it is a serious one! Were you warned properly of this side effect? Have you reported your adverse outcome to the FDA? The link for online reporting to the FDA is: https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/medwatch/medwatch-online.htm Please keep us updated as to how you are doing. This forum is excellent to let you vent your frustrations to people who understand.
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tried but failed
August 10, 2009
If I may ask, is the 'after' photo recent? Has there been any improvement since then or is this the final result?
Teresa Boxell
August 12, 2009
OMG this is awful, i had sculptra 8 weeks ago, so far i have not exp any of this, but i am now very frightened
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BellaMarie
March 31, 2012
did u ever develop any bumps ? how is it now 3 year later?
PrettyInShockingPink
August 16, 2009
Thank you so much for posting your photos before and after. Gives courage to those of us who feel it is "our fault" that we didn't know better. So naive and taken advantage of due to trust of that term MD - board certified plastic surgeon facs or dermo. This goes so much deeper than our grauloma eyes can see.
UPDATED FROM AtlantaGuy

I will submit an offical rating once we have a...

AtlantaGuyFebruary 11, 2011
I will submit an offical rating once we have a meeting with Dr. Sinhato see what he is willing to. I had a surgery from another Dr to remove the remainder or most of the sculptra in Oct 2009 and after the long healing process the bags are so much worse but at least most of the sculptra is out. I am hoping Dr Sinha will keep his word from our conversation a few months ago and do whatever it takes to lift these bags. I do not believe the redness will ever go away. Sculptra is NOT meant for under the eyes.

Replies (27)

Alora
February 17, 2011
Dear Atlanta,

I read your story and I am so sorry for what you have gone through. I do think that you are looking much better now after your procedures--I wish you the best.

I have a question: where exactly was the Sculptra injected? Was it injected directly under your eyes, above the periorbital bone or below it, more in the upper cheek area?

Thanks
Simba1234
March 6, 2011
Eric. You look so good now. What a relief for you..
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Laura Tucson
March 6, 2011
Hi Eric and everyone,
I have not have any facial surgery, but I do use the Facercise of facial exercises and they work really well. I know it's not fast or just a pill, etc., but these exercises work. The creator is Carol Maggio and she is over 60 and looks 25, seriously!
I just think it is a great alternative to surgery and you can't harm yourself doing these exercises. Here's the URL:
www.facercise.com.
Honestly, I have no association with this, just a happy user. Example: I am 53, and at a fair there was a lady guessing ages and if she was off more than 8 years, you won a prize. She was doing really well until she got to me. She guessed my age at 35! This is a true story!
alliesmom
March 7, 2011
Carolyns facial fitness? There is a lot of ladies on these forums that have bought it.
I am using it too.

I will never put any injection in my face again and I think once I get in the habit of doing them more often and on a daily basis I do believe they work.
Good for you that is a great story
679311anon
March 29, 2011
How much of your result can be accounted for by an incompetent physician who injected Sculptra into the wrong area? From my research it shouldn't be injected that close to the orbital bone because there is very little tissue coverage for it to sit in and stimulate the collagen production. I understand that there can always be bad batches with medication, but usually with bad technique accounts for the majority of bad results.
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uniquelynoone
April 2, 2011
Thank you so much for sharing your story and I pray for you and that your situation can be corrected over time. I'm sure you've helped save lots of people from having this awful procedure.
UPDATED FROM AtlantaGuy

For a little touchup and $25k worth of surgeries...

AtlantaGuyNovember 21, 2011
For a little touchup and $25k worth of surgeries to fix this I am still not satisfied. Sculptra should never have been injected under my eyes

Replies (30)

Monrie
November 23, 2011

How long after the injections did you develop the lumps under you eyes?

AtlantaGuy
December 13, 2011
2 weeks
Monrie
November 25, 2011

Coincidentally, I just had Sculptra injections on November 21st and I'm looking a bit hideous at this time. I had it placed around my cheeks, nasolabial folds and the hollows of my eyes. I was badly swollen but now I'm only mildly swollen. Not much brusing to speak of, thank goodness, but the swelling has sunken to the bottom of my face. I was wondering, if the fluid can fall into the lower cheeks, what's stopping the Sculptra? One more question for the Doc I suppose. Anyway, I'm so sorry for your expierence, I know what it's like when a procedure goes horribly wrong. On the upside tho, you look like your face is much better in your after photo.

Randall651
December 12, 2011
You should not be using Sculptra below your eyes and your doctor should know this. Did he/she have any training??
AtlantaGuy
December 13, 2011
Yes I know that but apparently my double board v=certified plastic surgeon did not know that. If you read all of the abpve posts I am sure you will get the jist of what has been going on for the past going on 5 years
Lacking knowledge
December 12, 2011
"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. So you just need ""2 to 4cc"" for the part.
sculptradamage
May 6, 2012
It "stimulates" fibrotic scar tissue by causing a foreign body immune systemic response. It is highly variable and uncontrollable.
sculptradamage
May 6, 2012
Sculptra is a lie. I did not go to Jims butcher shop. Ii was disfigured and made sick by a double board certified FACS PS. Did you ever talk to these people? Their egos will not allow them to consider themselves anything less than experts. It "stimulates" fibrotic scar tissue by causing a foreign body immune systemic response. It is highly variable and uncontrollable.
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Lydia E. Dugan
May 6, 2012
I am sorry to hear that sculptra is highly variable and uncontrollable. But, it is IMPERATIVE to know your doctor! Know your doctor! Often easier said than done, of course.
sculptradamage
May 7, 2012
Ok next time i will have a few over for dinner and see if they want to bring former patients and we can "now" each other. The dr is certified tells you what he thinks you believe them. There will be no next time so scratch that dinner party.
Megan P
May 8, 2012

Sculptradamage, its understandable you are upset, but please be respectful of other community members. Lydia's point is a valid one & didn't deserve such a rude response.

sculptradamage
May 8, 2012
Really Megan? I find it very offensive when people who really like sculptra (kudos for them) tell those of us who did all of the right things that it is still our fault because finally we did not "know" the board certified PS who improperly injected a class 3 medical device that is known to cause a continuous granulomatous inflammatory response for years. I am on 4 years now and it is still there. This is not my fault and I am paying the entire consequence for this Drs bad day, and or incompetence. You go to a DR because they are supposed to be EXPERTS. They are obliged to warn you. All of these people can still develop systemic immune system illness. They are happy with their sculptra, good for them. Atlanta Guy and myself have suffered and lost greatly because our bodies are responding differently then the happy 60%, We are the unhappy people who could have never known about sculptra if a responsible dr had used restylane or something that actually goes away, if there are problems they are not lasting 4 or 5 or more years. I do not think it is inappropriate to question a remark saying I did not properly "know" the board certified PS who screwed up. You can check the practice, check his or her certification, check if people you know used him or her, but once that Dr holds up the syringe the whole situation is out of your control. where it goes is up to the Dr. how much is up to the Dr. How does Lydia "know" her Dr so well?
AtlantaGuy
December 12, 2011

You are correct for facial wasting for cancer patients also. But not for under eye or regular cosmetic procedures.

Lacking knowledge
December 13, 2011
Sculptra now FDA approved for "cosmetic use" in 2008
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mBwyBhckWVk
AtlantaGuy
December 13, 2011
Well my procedure was done in early 07. So I was not informed of the potential granulomas it caused.Sculptra was and is not meant for cosmetic purposes under the eyes.
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