Sculptra is used to help fill in the lines and wrinkles in the face due to aging or fat loss. However, like any cosmetic procedure of its type, Sculptra carries risks of undesired side effects. It is important to understand what these side effects can entail before beginning any procedure.
Irritation of the Skin
The most common side effect that patients of Sculptra are affected by is an irritation of the skin at the area where the treatment was administered. You can experience this irritation in many forms. It can occur as redness, itching, pain, swelling, bruising, bleeding or tenderness. These symptoms usually only last for 2 days to up to 2 weeks. You can reduce these side effects by limiting your exposure to sunlight and UV radiation. In addition, applying an icepack on the treatment area within the first 24 hours can provide a reduction in side effects.
Small Lumps under the Skin
In a small percentage of Sculptra patients?around 9 percent?small lumps can appear underneath the skin. These lumps are often not large enough to be visible and can only be noticed by touching the skin. Sometimes they are accompanied with bruising or discoloration of the skin. This side effect is often not noticed until much later?6 months to a year after your first treatment. The lumps occur because the ingredients in Sculptra have begun to clump together in one place?causing the appearance of a lump. This is typically a result of an over-administration of Sculptra, usually by a cosmetic surgeon not qualified of under-experienced. Finding a surgeon experienced with Sculptra injections can help to minimize your risk of this side effect. In addition, many surgeons recommend massaging the treatment area several times daily. This can help break up any clumping and prevent lumps appearing later on.
Large, Visible Lumps
In even rarer cases, some unfortunate patients of Sculptra have reported larger, disfiguring lumps that appear at the treatment site. These side effects are by far the least common, but the strongest objectors to the use of Sculptra are those who suffer from this side effect.
Infection or Scarring
With any procedure that involves injecting a filler past the skin, Sculptra can cause the development of infection or scarring. These risks are rare and usually depend on many factors, such as the skill and care of your surgeon. This is just one of many reasons you should take care in choosing your surgeon carefully.
Sculptra is a fairly benign substance. The ingredients for which it is based have been used for years in stitching, and are known to be quite safe on the human body. However, you should discuss with your doctor your risks for the side effects that can occur, such as the state of your health, your allergies and other factors that can cause a severe reaction to Sculptra.
