Get the real deal on beauty treatments—real doctors, real reviews, and real photos with real results.Here's how we earn your trust.

See All Reviews
See All Reviews
POSTED UNDER Sculptra Reviews

Sculptra Nightmare!!!

UPDATED FROM Lrb95138

Sculptra nodules

These photos are of Sculptra nodules that developed approximately 18 months after I had my injections. It has now been four years and I still have one granuloma that doesn’t seem to budge. Due to Kenalog Injections I also have some skin atrophy in my cheeks. Ladies, be careful with this drug! It cannot be dissolved and the granulomas take years to resolve.

Replies (5)

I'm sorry you're going through this. You can resolve the skin atrophy which I had from a steriod injection as well. 4 to 6 saline injections weekly does the trick of as the theory goes diluting and washing away the steriod crystals. Mine was completely resolved in 6 sessions otherwise the atrophy takes forever to resolve.
thank you for sharing, I was really thinking of getting this done, but I will not take a chance now thanks to you. So sorry it never turned out right for you
Don't do it! I had my temples filled and it drained under my eyes where I am hollow. This was three years ago and my under eyes ae still puffy!!!
I had the same thing happen in my temples. An Eastern medicine doctor recommended an infrared sauna and it worked. I had to do it 2x a week for 8 weeks but I haven't had any issues for more than a year.
Any resolve yet? Did you get steroid injections?
I have NOT had to do any steroid injections. The infrared sauna worked. I am using trace minerals several times a day and sauna sessions just once a week now. They have resolved and haven't returned in over two years now.
Hi. My face was wrecked by sculptra. Can you elaborate on the trace minerals you are taking? do you have an infrared sauna or did you go to one at a spa or something? thank you
How are you? Is it better yet? It’s a terrible product. I’m sorry this happened to you.
My face is also wrecked ! You can see the sculptra outline because this idiot told me not to massage it . It goes up on the side of my nose . Lower face is fat and I’ve aged 10 years . I’m going on almost two years . Face gets discolored. My under yes look horrible .
Same under eyes look like they have fluid under them they sometimes look grey and yellow it’s been 19 months. My whole face looks discolored . Face looks boxy and bottom half looks heavy . This aged me 10 years .
Hi, I had my first Sculptra one month ago, same thing happen to me, my left side under eye look fluid and still look yellow, ,blue and gray. My injector told me warm compresses , I still do massage twice a day. I’m so worried if fluid won’t go away.
I had sculptra last week- massaged my face for 5 days as instructed - I’m really scared that this could happen to me, now. Jesus!
you’re probably fine. my injection was too superficial. thats how it migrated to the thin skin under my eyes. if this works out for you don’t do
it again. seems that cumulative injections increase bad outcomes. good luck!
I agree with cumulative sessions. I was happy with first one 2 vials I wish I’d said no to second 6 weeks later. I will never touch this again
Thanks- don’t think I’ll do Sculptra again.
You have to massage especially the first few days not sure why they would tell you not too
I have the same thing. I am only 28 years old. I have been on predisilone and am starting on 5-FU injections and Methotrexate what did you do?
I had the same thing happen in my temples. An Eastern medicine doctor recommended an infrared sauna and it worked. I had to do it 2x a week for 8 weeks but I haven't had any issues for more than a year.
Can you tell me how you’re doing now ?
Did you have a reaction or just full face? I’ve had a reaction after second session and just want this stuff gone! I looked good after 1 treatment my nurse said I needed 2 - how did the IR sauna help your face?
I used a NIR (red light) panel for the past few nights - I believe it helps with healing.
Hi, how did the infra red sauna help? I have been overfilled and have big cheeks now it looks awful. I am so upset. I just wanted a lift and my face has reacted vigorously to it. I'm almost 3 months since first session. I just want my old face back. Does it go away?
I have private messaged you
UPDATED FROM Lrb95138

Granulomas resolved after 2 years

Though I can still feel a few under my skin, the big lumps are finally gone. It took years of treatments ( steroids to dissolve them and fillers to hide the atrophy)
Ladies, Permanent fillers are very risky! Don’t do it.

Replies (5)

So happy your granulomas have resolved - your skin looks great!!
Wow.. having similar issues.. still trying to figure out what the heck happened! Have had so many treatments.. filler, Vitrase, needle and cannula crosshatching , pico laser, Morpheus 8, some filler and it's become a very long drawn out process... tiny bit better .. but not for one that works in front of a high def camera... you Give me hope...:) Wish I knew your specifics to address my issues with my Dr...
Are your nodules visible or under the skin? I'm asking because I'm considering Fractional C02 for the visible nodules.
Both.. also appeared 15 months post Injection! Truth is I loved the Sculptra but after it began to dissipate the nodules were very apparent! I had the Morpheus 8.. worked for I nodule And for the rest I am currently trying the Aerolase Lighpod Neo 2 treatments and tying 3 months of Minocycline...some are better but it has been a long arduous journey!
Did you massage for 5 days for 5 mins 5 times a day after treatment?
Yes... absolutely... my issues were much larger than massaging! I think You never really know how you body and skin will react.. not at injection time and not 15 months later.. It is slowly resolving.... :)
Curious did you do the messaging of 5 times a day, for 5 days for 5 mins after treatment performed? Concerning the lumps developed long after injections. That is scary, I just had my second does a year apart and now concerned of this.
Don't worry about this. I think it is rare and highly unlikely it will happen to you. I've had sculptra done numerous times over the past 20 years, and this never happened to me. Worry about it could cause you to spiral in your thoughts.
oh my goodness. I had been praying for you since I first saw your post. I am sooo happy for you to resolve this. You look great and young!
UPDATED FROM Lrb95138

Sculptra Nightmare

15 months after my sculptra injections I developed horrible disfiguring granulomas- literally overnight 
Despite Years of regular Kenalog injections my bumps persist 
Ladies, be careful! Granulomas can appear years after injections. 
By the way, I originally submitted this review 2 years ago.. it was removed. Hmmmmm
Though my bumps are better, they are still present!

Replies (5)

Was sick for 6 years, after 10 years my face never got back to normal, didn't have granulomas but inflammation with big swelling on going for 6 years.
Hi I’m wondering if the swelling went away after six years why isn’t your face normal after ten years
The problem its that Kenalog injection produce etrophy in the skin and fat and the result its worth. The solution for this its fat injection to camuflage the area.
Dr Blugerman, I have a very similar nodules like he photo above! I had six vials of Sculptra about 20 months ago and the results were fantastic! I was thrilled! Fast forward 18 months approaching the two-year mark and the nodules have appeared! My board-certified dermatologist will be injecting Saline with lidocaine to avoid the atrophy in the filler area! She will be injecting into the nodule to try to physically break it up for me! Have you ever heard of this? She believes that the filler on the right side of my face has gotten in to the muscle because it is a very thin area and is going to try to break it down that way! I was curious if you had any thoughts on this!!?? Thank you!
Don't inject fat, it creates severe facial deformities. Fat is just as bad if not worse than most other fillers including silicone.
This sounds like the safest rout. Try to maintain the integrity of your skin.
You mention years of Kenalog. Injected steroids cause tissue atrophy/recession, which makes the tissue around the lumps recede, making them more prominent. At this point, you may need fat transfer to the face, to elevate the skin above the bumps. I had granulomas after Voluma - I learned that many granulomas also have a bacterial component; the low grade infection under the skin triggers the immune system to attack the filler. I took oral (versus injectable) corticosteriods, along with doxycycline, for two months; the granulomas smoothed out. I would stop all steroid injections, try a broad spectrum antibiotic, and look into fat transfer to the cheeks. Good Luck!!
Thanks for your comments
Fat transfers are not without risk
Google fat cell “ necrosis” and you will find some horrendous photos...
Fat transfer cannot be undone. Sculptra has taught me that I will NEVER again put any filler in my face that cannot be dissolved
I did see a procedure on TV, where a plastic surgeon made an incision close to the ear (like a facelift) then elevated the skin, and went in with a laser and basically melted the solid lumps of permanent filler, then vacuumed them out, and closed the incision. The area looked about 80% better. If nothing else works, it might be an option of last resort.
Who was this Doctor who used this method? Thanks.
I saw that episode as well. I thought her granulomas were caused by injections of industrial grade silicone which are illegal. He said it was like chipping away at cement. She was not previously injected with sculptor.
Dr. Dubrow, Los Angeles.
Omg I heard he's horrible his local reviews I'm so sorry
I reached out to Dr. Durbow. He said there is nothing he can do for my face besides getting a facelift .
See More Sculptra Reviews
See All Reviews