Sculptra® Biostimulation

What to expect

1. Consultation & assessment: Sophie Gatward, NP, reviews your health history and goals, assesses volume loss and skin quality, and explains how gradually Sculptra® works so you can decide if it suits you.
2. Treatment day: The skin is cleansed, numbing is used as needed, and the product is placed with a series of small injections. The appointment usually takes 30–45 minutes, and you'll be shown how to massage the area before you leave.
3. Right after: You may look fuller straight away, but this is mostly temporary swelling and the fluid the product is mixed with. It fades within a few days, which is expected and part of the process.
4. Following weeks & months: Your skin gradually builds new collagen, and results appear slowly over about 2–3 months.
5. Series & maintenance: Most plans involve more than one session, spaced several weeks apart. Results can last up to about two years, and Sophie can advise if and when a maintenance session makes sense.

Aftercare tips

• Follow the personalized instructions you receive at your appointment — they take priority over these general tips.
• Massage the treated area exactly as you were shown, for as many days as advised — it helps the product spread evenly.
• A cool compress wrapped in a clean cloth can help ease mild swelling in the first day or so.
• Skip strenuous exercise, saunas and hot tubs for the first day or two.
• Avoid strong sun and tanning beds until any swelling and redness have settled, and wear a broad-spectrum sunscreen every day.
• Be patient: results build slowly over 2–3 months, so the full effect of each session takes time to show.

Possible side effects

• Swelling, redness, tenderness or bruising at the injection sites, which usually settle within a few days.
• Small bumps under the skin that you can feel but usually can't see. They can appear in the weeks after treatment, so let the clinic know if you notice any.
• Less commonly, lumps (nodules) that are visible or slow to go away, sometimes appearing months after treatment. These may need further medical treatment.
• Rarely, infection — watch for redness, warmth, pain or swelling that gets worse after the first few days.
• Rare but serious: as with any injectable, the product can block a blood vessel. Warning signs include severe or worsening pain, skin that turns pale, white, grey or dusky, or changes in vision — this needs urgent medical care.