What to do after your treatment
Massage gently: 5-5-5
Massage for five minutes, five times a day, for five days. Gently cover every treated area using the method your clinician showed you.
Soothe the area if needed
A cold pack wrapped in a clean cloth can help with comfort. Use it briefly, without pressing firmly, and never place ice directly on the skin.
Take it easy for the first day
For at least 24 hours, avoid strenuous exercise, prolonged sun or UV exposure, and very hot or cold environments.
Keep the area clean
Other than the recommended massage, avoid unnecessary touching. Wait until the small entry points have healed before shaving or applying creams and makeup.
Some redness, tenderness, swelling or bruising is common in the early stages. These changes usually improve over the next few hours or days. The initial fullness may also reduce before the gradual collagen response becomes noticeable.
Your first 24 hours
Start the massage routine your clinician demonstrated. Use a wrapped cold pack for a short time if the area feels uncomfortable.
Mild fullness, tenderness, redness or tiny spots of bleeding can occur.
Keep your hands, pillowcase and anything touching the treated area clean. Rest with your head slightly raised if that feels comfortable.
Swelling or bruising can look a little more noticeable before it begins to settle.
Avoid strenuous exercise, prolonged sun or UV exposure, and extreme temperatures. Only massage the area as instructed; otherwise, avoid rubbing it.
Mild soreness or temporary unevenness from swelling can occur.
You can gradually return to your usual routine once you feel comfortable and the entry points have healed. Continue the 5-5-5 massage through day five.
Swelling should begin to ease. Bruising may change colour as it fades, which is a normal part of healing.
Cold pack
Wrap the pack in a clean cloth and use it for short, comfortable periods. Allow the skin to return to its normal temperature before using it again.
Medicines
Continue prescribed medicines unless your doctor tells you otherwise. Check with your clinician or pharmacist before taking new pain relief, anti-inflammatory medicines, supplements or bruising products.
The 5-5-5 massage method
Gentle massage helps the Sculptra suspension settle evenly. Follow the personalised instructions from your treating clinician if they differ from this general guide.
- 1
Prepare
Wash and dry your hands first. If you need more slip, use only a massage cream your clinician has approved.
- 2
Cover every treated area
Follow the areas your clinician showed you, moving calmly and evenly so each treated area is covered without overworking it.
- 3
Use smooth, even pressure
Use your fingertips or the flat of your hand with gentle, even circular or sweeping movements. Avoid tools, knuckles, hard pressure or pinching.
- 4
Time the full five minutes
A timer can help. Spread the five minutes evenly across all treated areas.
- 5
Repeat and record
A simple schedule is morning, late morning, afternoon, evening and bedtime for five days in a row.
Five-day massage tracker
Healing and results
The fullness you see straight after treatment is not the final result. Some of it comes from water and normal injection-related swelling. As this settles, your original contour may seem to return for a while before the gradual collagen response begins to show.
Injection recovery
Redness, tenderness, swelling, bruising, itching or small firm areas can occur. These usually improve over the next few hours or days.
Watch the trend
Most early reactions settle within about a week, although some may last 14 days or longer. Please contact the clinic if symptoms are not improving, begin to spread or become worse.
Gradual collagen response
The change is progressive rather than immediate. Review timing is individual, and Australian product instructions recommend waiting at least four weeks before reassessment.
Delayed lumps are possible
Small bumps or nodules can occasionally appear later and may be easier to feel than see. Please do not try to treat them yourself; contact the clinic for a review.
When to contact your clinic
It is always okay to check with us
Please contact the clinic whenever something feels different from the recovery your clinician described. We would much rather check in early and reassure you than have you worrying at home.
- Redness, swelling, pain, tenderness, bruising or itching that lasts beyond 14 days, becomes worse or concerns you.
- Fever, spreading redness, discharge, increasing tenderness or another possible sign of infection.
- A new bump, lump, persistent firm area or noticeable asymmetry, even if it appears weeks or months later.
- Recurring blisters or sores, or significant pain outside the treated area.
Common questions
The early fullness has reduced. Is that normal?
Yes, this can be normal. The early fullness includes water and swelling, which settles first. Sculptra-related improvement is designed to develop gradually.
I missed a massage. What should I do?
Simply continue with your next scheduled massage. Do not use extra force or double the massage time. Contact the clinic if you have missed several sessions or feel unsure.
When can I exercise or use a sauna again?
Avoid strenuous exercise, prolonged UV exposure, saunas and extreme temperatures for at least 24 hours. Wait longer if the area is still red or swollen, or if your clinician advised you to do so.
Sources and evidence
This guide is based primarily on official Australian product information, with additional research for anyone who would like to read further. Your treating clinician’s personalised instructions should always take priority.
Official product information
Galderma AustraliaSculptra patient information↗Galderma AustraliaSculptra instructions for use↗US FDAPatient guide to treatment with Sculptra↗Research on PubMed
Dermatologic Surgery, 2008Minimizing adverse events associated with poly-L-lactic acid injection↗J Drugs Dermatology, 2016Injectable Poly-L-Lactic Acid: Understanding Its Use in the Current Era↗Systematic review, 2024The Potential for Foreign Body Reaction of Implanted Poly-L-Lactic Acid↗AAO report, 2025Vision-Threatening Complications of Soft Tissue Fillers↗Urgent help
Most post-treatment concerns are not emergencies. However, the symptoms below are not part of a typical recovery and require immediate medical attention.
Seek immediate medical attention for:
- Any vision change
- White, pale, grey or mottled skin
- Unusual or increasing severe pain
- Sudden speech difficulty, facial droop, weakness, numbness, confusion, severe headache, dizziness or trouble walking
Call your treating clinic immediately as well. In Australia, call 000 for emergency assistance.