SCULPTRA
PREPARING FOR YOUR SCULPTRA TREATMENT:
The most common side effects for a Sculptra treatment are swelling and bruising. So, with that in mind, planning your treatment in a timeframe where potential swelling and bruising wouldn’t disrupt your life. Avoid treatments at least 4 weeks from any major event.
If you have an active infection anywhere in the body, you can not be treated and need to be rescheduled.
If you suffer from cold sores more than a few times a year, you may need to be pretreated with Valtrex. Please let us know.
Avoid alcohol, aspirin, vitamin E, fish oil, non-steriodal anti-inflamatory medications like ibuprofen and Advil 3 days prior to treatment to decrease the risk of bruising.
To avoid possible discomfort, you can take 1000mg of acetaminophen (Tylenol) one hour before your scheduled appointment.
You may apply topical Arnica or take oral Arnica as directed 3 days prior to treament to reduce the risk of bruising and after treatment to assist in clearing bruising.
Drinking 8 oz. of pineapple juice twice a day for 2-3 days before and 2-3 days after injections may also help with potential bruising and swelling.
WHAT TO EXPECT AT YOUR APPOINTMENT
One hour before your appointment, you can take 1000mg of Tylenol to help with the potential discomfort. When you arrive at Simplicity Aesthetics, you will have before pictures taken and your skin will be cleansed and a topical numbing cream will be applied. While you are numbing any last minute concerns will be addressed and your Sculptra will be prepared. The numbing cream will be removed and your skin will be cleansed with a medical grade antibacterial cleanser. Sculptra will be injected into the areas of concern and massaged. You will be instructed on how to massage your treatment areas with the 5 x 5 x 5 method. That will conclude your visit.
AFTER YOUR SCULPTRA TREATMENT:
After your Sculptra treatment bruising and swelling are common.
If you have bruising:
Continue using your oral and topical Arnica and drinking pineapple juice. This will help clear the bruising quicker.
Avoid aspirin, ibuprofen, fish oil, ginkgo, St. John’s Wort, turmeric, vitamin E and alcohol for several days to prevent the bruises from getting worse.
Make up can cover bruising. Peach tones work well to cover purple bruising, while green tones can cover reds. There are also makeup kits on the market specifically for covering bruises.
If you have swelling:
You WILL have swelling. Sculptra is injected with a large amount of sterile water. Your body will reabsorb this water within 24-48 hours but you will also have swelling from the procedure that may last up to a week. You can use cold compresses to help.
5 x 5 x 5 massage:
You are REQUIRED to massage your treatment area, even if tender, for 5 minutes, 5 times a day, for 5 days. This is essential to disperse the Sculptra particles evenly into the treatment area.
RESULTS TAKE TIME.
Sculptra is a bio stimulator. It is working hard to stimulate collagen and elastin production in your skin. This takes time and for most people, 3 treatments spaced 4-6 weeks apart. You will start to see the beginnings of your results within a month of your procedure. It definitely takes time but the results are natural and last over 2 years!
