You have been informed on some of the features, benefits, and possible risks involved with Sculptra and have had your questions answered to your satisfaction. Some of the possible risks include:
1. After the injection(s), some common injection-related reactions probably will occur. These may include swelling, redness, pain, itching, discoloration and tenderness at the injection site. These typically resolve spontaneously, usually within 1 to 15 days after injection.
2. Because Sculptra is injected in a solution containing water, there will be an initial swelling (edema) that will be noticeable for at least several hours and perhaps as long as several days. This effect is temporary and does not affect the long-term tissue response.
3. Induration, or a feeling of fullness or thickness, can be felt in the injection areas. This is a normal response of the treated tissue to the process of inflammation and new collagen formation. Simply massaging the treated areas gently 5 times per day for 5 minutes after the injection can help minimize induration.
4. One possible delayed side effect is small bumps under the skin, termed micro-nodules, which may be non- visible or visible and may be felt in the areas of treatment. Usually these bumps may only be felt when pressing on the skin. Micro-nodules tend to occur within the first 3 to 12 months after the treatment. They usually do not require treatment and usually do not have any symptoms.
5. Visible bumps may occur in rare instances and they be associated with redness, tenderness, skin discoloration or textural alteration. These bumps, which may be termed granuloma, may or may not require treatment, including, but not limited to, injection, freezing or excision.
6. Other rarely reported adverse events include: injection site abscess, allergic reaction, skin hypertrophy (exaggerated reduction of collagen and tissue elasticity) and/or atrophy (reduction of collagen and tissue elasticity), malaise, fatigue and swelling (edema
7. The use of anti-inflammatory drugs, anti-clotting agents or aspirin might cause bleeding or increased bruising at the injection site.
8. Pricing for a Sculptra starts at $1500 per session and includes 2 vials of Sculptra.