Sculptra Aftercare

The 5-5-5 massage rule

Massage matters more than anything else for a smooth result. It spreads the product evenly and lowers the chance of lumps forming.

• Massage the treated areas for five minutes, five times a day, for five days.
• Use gentle but firm pressure, and follow the method John shows you.
• Other than during your massages, try not to touch or press the treated areas.

Straight after treatment

• On the day of treatment, hold an ice pack wrapped in a clean cloth against the area for 10 to 15 minutes at a time, a few times.
• Take paracetamol for discomfort. Avoid ibuprofen and aspirin unless John tells you otherwise, as they can make bruising worse.

The first few days

• Avoid hard exercise, saunas, hot showers, sunbeds and alcohol for 48 hours.
• For the first few nights, sleep with an extra pillow so your head is raised, to keep swelling down.
• Drink lots of water.
• Keep your skin clean and wear SPF every day.

What’s normal

• Slight swelling for two to three days, and redness that fades within a day.
• Tenderness and possibly bruising, which fades within a week.
• The fullness you see at first fades as the swelling goes down. After that, collagen builds slowly over the following weeks and months.

Longer term

• Come to all your follow-up appointments. That’s when John checks your progress and decides whether you need more sessions.
• Ask John before having any other facial treatment, such as laser or chemical peels.
• Protect your skin from the sun and keep to a healthy routine.
• Sculptra can’t be dissolved the way hyaluronic acid filler can, which is why sticking to the massage routine is so important.