Biostimulators · Sculptra · Radiesse
Biostimulator care, before & after.
Collagen rebuilt from within for results that continue to develop well beyond your appointment.
Appointment
30–60 min
Downtime
Minimal
First changes
4–6 weeks
Full result
3–6 months
Lasts
18–24 months
Pre-Care
Before your visit
A few small things in the days before your visit make a meaningful difference in how smoothly the treatment settles.
Do
- Arrive with clean, makeup-free skin. Well-hydrated tissue accepts biostimulators more evenly.
- Hydrate well the day before and the morning of your appointment.
- Bring a current list of medications and supplements. Fish oil, vitamin E, ginkgo, St. John's Wort, and high-dose vitamin C can increase the chance of small bruises at injection sites.
- Tell us about any recent illness, dental work in the past two weeks, recent vaccination, or active autoimmune flare before your visit.
Avoid
- Alcohol for 24 hours before. It increases bruising.
- Blood-thinning supplements for 3–5 days before, if your physician approves pausing them.
- Scheduling within two weeks of dental work. Bacterial seeding is a documented risk with biostimulator injections.
- Booking if you have an active skin infection or open wound at the intended treatment area.
Leading up to it
01 1 week before
Pause fish oil, vitamin E, ginkgo, and similar supplements, with your physician's approval.
02 48 hours before
Stop alcohol and keep activity moderate.
03 Morning of
Cleanse, hydrate, eat, and arrive with a current medication list.
The result is your own collagen, built slowly, held long.
Post-Care
After your visit
The first five days shape the long-term result. Sculptra and Radiesse each have their own aftercare rhythm. Follow what your provider reviewed with you in the room.
Do
- Sculptra: massage the treated area firmly for 5 minutes, 5 times a day, for 5 days, the "5-5-5" rule. Your provider will demonstrate the technique before you leave. This step distributes the product evenly and reduces the chance of nodule formation.
- Radiesse: your provider has already massaged the treatment area to help distribute the product evenly. Routine massage at home is not typically necessary unless specifically instructed. If your provider recommends it, gently massage the treated area as directed.
- Stay well-hydrated and keep the skin clean and cool for the first 24 hours.
- Resume your normal skincare routine after 24 hours, and sun protection every day.
Avoid
- Intense workouts, saunas, hot yoga, and direct heat for 24 hours.
- Facials, facial treatments, or anything that applies firm external pressure to the treated area for 24 hours.
- Sleeping face-down the first night. Sleep on your back if you can.
- Scheduling dental work in the two weeks following your visit.
The days after
01 First 24 hours
Gentle movement only. No heat, facials, or workouts. Begin the Sculptra massage cycle if that's your treatment.
02 Days 1–5
Mild swelling and tenderness at injection sites is normal and resolves over a few days. Continue Sculptra massage.
03 Weeks 4–6
First structural changes begin. Softer contours, smoother surface. Collagen is building.
04 Months 3–6
Full result develops. Most patients complete a treatment series of 2–3 sessions; we'll plan the cadence together.
Your skincare
What to keep, and what to set down for a day.
Keep using
- Gentle cleanserMorning and night, nothing abrasive or exfoliating.
- Broad-spectrum SPFEvery day. Protecting newly stimulated tissue matters.
- Hydrating serum or moisturizerHyaluronic acid or peptide. Support the skin barrier as collagen remodels.
Pause briefly
- RetinoidsSkip the night of your visit; resume after 24 hours when skin is calm.
- Exfoliating acidsAHA / BHA. Hold for 24 hours.
- Facial toolsRollers, gua sha, and devices. Wait at least 24 hours, and avoid the treated area while tenderness remains.
What’s normal
- Mild swelling and tenderness at injection sites for 1–3 days.
- Pinpoint redness or a faint bruise that resolves over a few days.
- Immediate volume from Radiesse. What you see in the first week is largely the product itself, with collagen building behind it over the months ahead.
When to call us
- Firm lumps or nodules that develop weeks after treatment and do not resolve, rare but documented with biostimulators, and treatable when caught early.
- Increasing redness, warmth, or swelling beyond five days, or any sign of infection at the treatment site.
- Unusual or severe pain, skin blanching, or changes in skin color are uncommon but should never be ignored. Contact our office immediately or seek emergency medical care if these symptoms develop.
Next visit
Questions between visits?
Call us, or book a touch-up review. We want to hear from you.
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