Sculptra Aftercare

SCULPTRA AFTER CARE/ INFORMATION
Please note that Sculptra is a powder which must be reconstituted and suspended in sterile water before injecting
it into the skin. Therefore, it is important to remember that immediately after your treatment; you will feel full in
the areas treated which is a direct effect from the water injected into those areas. This fullness will completely
disappear over several hours once the treatment is completed and the areas treated will then look exactly the
same as they did prior to having the treatment. Collagen stimulation will naturally start to occur approximately 8-
12 weeks after the treatment and will reach a peak within the first 6 months. Please do not equate the lack of
immediate result with a treatment failure – the results are delayed and will be slowly increasing over time.

GENERAL ADVICE:
- During the first 24–48 hours after treatment you may experience redness, swelling and tenderness in the
treated areas. These reactions are normal and resolve quickly and spontaneously over the next 2-4 days.
You may apply light water-based or mineral makeup where necessary.
- Bruising at the site of injection is also possible and clears completely in 1-10 days. Please see your
aftercare pack instructions for advice and therapies to help with any bruising.
- Swelling and bruising can give the appearance of ‘unevenness’ in the area treated. This will settle once the
swelling and bruising has gone.
- Avoid alcohol, caffeine, hot drinks and spicy food for 24 hours, as these may exacerbate bruising and
swelling.
- Avoid medications such as aspirin or nurofen for 1-2 weeks as they are blood thinning agents and they
may exacerbate bruising (if these medications have been advised by your GP please check with your GP
before stopping them).
- Avoid supplements such as multivitamins, fish oils, glucosamine and Vitamin B or Vitamin E for 1-2 weeks,
as they are blood thinning agents and may exacerbate bruising (if these supplements have been advised
by your GP please check with your GP before stopping them).
- Avoid exercise or excessive exertion for 24 hours
- Avoid excess sun exposure, or sauna use for 24 hours
- Drink plenty of water for 2-3 days after the procedure as this will help promote the collagen stimulating
effects of the treatment.
- Apply cold compresses as required to the area injected for up to 6 hours after the treatment. This will
prevent or help to alleviate any bruising. It will also help to reduce any swelling. Do not apply ice as this
will suppress the effect of the collagen stimulators. If there is no excessive swelling or bruising in the area
treated avoid applying cold compresses but drink only COLD drinks for 24 hours.
- You can use Arnica cream and/or arnica tablets (available from the clinic or local pharmacy to help
alleviate any bruising. NOTE: bruising can last 1-10 days. They are TEMPORARY and will completely
disappear over time with no effect on your treatment. Once bruising has formed (within the first 48
hours) it is better to apply warmth to the area to encourage the body’s natural reabsorption of the bruise
away from the skin.
- If you have suffered in the past with cold sores on the skin or lips, please advise your cosmetic
practitioner prior to treatment, as this viral infection may be re-activated by some injectable treatments.
You can take L-lysine daily (available from the pharmacy for 2-3 days ) prior to and after your treatment if necessary. If cold sores develop, you may also wish to take a more
effective medical treatment such as Famvir (3 tablets taken all together in one single dose with food on
the day of the treatment) or Valtrex (1 tablet taken twice daily). Please contact your GP or the clinic for a
prescription. Please see our FAQ sheet on “COLD SORES” for more advice.
- Firmly massage the entire area 3 x daily for 10 minutes for 10 days or 5 x daily for 5 minutes for 5 days
with your fingers and a greasy moisturizer or Arnica cream. Small rice grain sized collections of collagen
can occasionally be felt after 3-6 months as the collagen stimulating effect of this treatment reaches a
peak. Very rarely larger collections of collagen can be felt but not seen and these will generally be
reabsorbed and reduced over a 3-4 month period.
- If you suffer any allergic responses, prolonged generalised symptoms or if any lumps/unevenness persists
after 5-7 days, please contact your cosmetic practitioner for advice.
- If you feel that further enhancement of an area is required, please contact your cosmetic practitioner for
a follow-up appointment or advice as to when a further treatment can be carried out. Please note that all
further additional treatments and product used will be charged accordingly.
IMPORTANT NOTE:
In some treatments there is a small risk that the injectable will press on small blood vessels causing a
reduced circulation of blood to the skin. This can lead to tissue damage and possibly scarring. If you
experience prolonged pain in the area injected and/or a change in skin colour (paleness, white or dusky
grey discolouration as opposed to the purplish/red colour of a bruise) within 24 hours after your
treatment, please contact your cosmetic practitioner immediately for advice.