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Sculptra, while only FDA approved for treatment of facial fat loss, or lipoatrophy, in HIV position people, is also widely used as a cosmestic treatment for wrinkles, creases, facial lines and other signs of aging that might show on the face. Whatever your reason for the treatment, this guide will walk you through how to prepare for Sculptra.
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Introduction
- Sculptra, like Botox, is a dermal filler used to ease the signs of aging on your face. Sculptra is made of poly-L-lactic acid (PLA) which derives from lactic acid, a naturally occuring substance in the body. Like other dermal fillers, Scupltra treatments are fairly simple, but knowing what the treatment is, what medications you should stop, what the possible side effects are and what the recovery process looks like will make you that much more relaxed as you go in for your Scupltra treatment.
Step 1: Treatment details
- Sculptra treatments are administered at your local doctor or dermatologist's office.
- Upon arrival, your face will be cleansed of make-up and the areas that will be injected will be cleaned with antiseptic.
- Your doctor may provide a topical or local anesthetic.
- Sculptra will be injected under the skin (not into it) in small amounts with a fine needle. Multiple injections given in a patterned manner are used to evenly fill out your face.
- An ice pack will be applied to reduce swelling.
- The injected areas should be thoroughly massaged to help spread the product evenly.
- Treatment will most likely need to be additional settings.
Step 2: Medications
- You should avoid any medications that can prolong bleeding, including aspirin and non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDS) for approximately 10 days before and 24 hours after yout treatment to help reduce the risk of bruising and bleeding at the injection site. You should also avoid St. John's Wort and high doses of Vitamin E. If you are on any prescription medications, speak to your doctor to determine if you should continue taking them as normal.
Step 3: Possible side effects
- Sculptra is not side-effect free, though most of them are fairly mild.
- The most common side-effects are injection-related at the places that were injected and include bleeding, tenderness or pain, redness, bruising, or swelling. These side effects typically last anywhere from 3-17 days.
- A rarer side effect is small bumps under the skin near the injection sites. They may only be obvious to touch and should go away in about 6 months to a year.
Step 4: Recovery process
- A fairly painless procedure, Sculptra does not entail a long recovery period. You can return to your normal activities immediately following a treatment session, though there are some things you should do in the days following treatment.
- Massage the treated area(s) several times a day for several days.
- Apply an ice pack for several minutes at a time for the first 24 hours following treatment.
- Avoid excessive sunlight.
- It will take a bit of time for the reults to become apparent and multiple treatments might be necessary.
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