Radiesse: Everything You Need to Know About This Filler

Information about the dermal filler Radiesse in New York City with Dr. Andrew Jacono

What Is Radiesse?

Radiesse is an injectable cosmetic treatment that fills and volumizes certain areas of the face. It also stimulates the body’s production of collagen, a molecule that produces new, healthy skin cells over time.

Radiesse is made of calcium hydroxyapatite (CaHA) gel. CaHA itself is composed of phosphate and calcium ions, which are naturally produced in the body. Calcium hydroxyapatite not only adds volume to the face but boosts collagen production as it is gradually dissolved and absorbed.

What Is Radiesse Used For?

Radiesse is primarily used to treat wrinkles and folds around the mouth. It can also fill in deep laugh lines and scars. Calcium hydroxyapatite gel works its way under the skin and into the face’s tissues. This plumps and tightens the skin, and also makes it appear smoother.

Thanks to the science behind Radiesse, the results of treatment last for a very long time. One treatment session can last for well over a year, and sometimes beyond two years. This is considerably longer than other facial filler options making it a perfect option for a liquid facelift.

Where Can Radiesse Be Injected?

Radiesse can be injected into a number of facial areas. It is mainly used in the cheeks, the laugh lines, and on and around the lips. It can treat pre-jowl folds and chin wrinkles.

Radiesse is also used for non-surgical liquid rhinoplasty procedures, smoothing the appearance of nasal humps. It is a versatile cosmetic injection solution with many possible applications.

Radiesse can also be used for non-cosmetic purposes. For example, it can be injected into the hands to restore volume lost to disease or physical trauma. It is an excellent option for people who have lost fat in other areas of the body.

Which Lasts Longer: Radiesse or Juvéderm?

All dermal fillers, regardless of their composition, offer temporary results. This is because the body naturally absorbs and metabolizes the injected filler over time. Still, most dermal fillers last for a long time before their results eventually fade.

Juvéderm, a facial filler made of hyaluronic acid, is an effective aesthetic treatment option that has similar goals to Radiesse. Generally, it lasts for up to one year. Different types of Juvéderm, like Juvéderm Voluma XC, may last for up to 2 years, though this depends on the patient.

Radiesse, on the other hand, lasts between 18 and 24 months and possibly longer depending on the patient. This is because it volumizes the face while simultaneously increasing collagen production within the body.

Does Radiesse Build Collagen?

Radiesse works differently from the majority of other facial fillers. Most dermal injections use compounds that temporarily add volume and tighten skin tissue, which makes patients look younger. However, calcium hydroxyapatite, Radiesse’s active ingredient, helps the body produce collagen naturally. This sets it apart from hyaluronic acid treatments with similar goals.

Over time, the body absorbs CaHA, encouraging the body to create its own natural fillers. This makes Radiesse an excellent, and particularly effective, cosmetic treatment choice.

Radiesse: Frequently Asked Questions

What Are the Best Areas to Have Radiesse?

Radiesse works best when treating lines, deep wrinkles, and sunken, hollow areas. The temple and cheek areas are particularly partial to Radiesse treatment, as are certain parts of the chin, mouth, and jawline. When injected by a dual board-certified facial plastic surgeon like Dr. Jacono, Radiesse adds volume and boosts the body’s natural production of collagen. This allows results to last for a very long time.

What Is Dermal Filler Treatment?

Dermal filler injections are a form of non-surgical cosmetic procedure. They smooth wrinkles, fill in fine and deep lines and restore volume to areas that have lost definition. The overarching goal of any dermal filler treatment is to make the patient look younger, fresher, and more alert.
If a patient does not want to undergo a more invasive cosmetic procedure, dermal fillers are a wonderful alternative. They are quick, relatively painless, and demand no downtime. Though their results are temporary, they can provide relief from glaring aesthetic problems for one to 2 years.

Are Dermal Fillers Safe to Use?

Dermal fillers are a safe alternative to surgery, and very infrequently cause serious complications. Radiesse, in particular, has been FDA-approved for subdermal implantation for the correction of moderate to severe facial wrinkles and folds. It is therefore a reliable treatment option.

What Are the Side-Effects of Radiesse?

Radiesse, like any injectable cosmetic treatment, has some common minor side effects. These include, but are not limited to:

Swelling
Itching
Pain
Bruising
Redness

Rarely, nodules can form beneath the skin, which may require corticosteroid or surgical treatment. Radiesse may also cause facial asymmetry, though this is very unlikely to occur. Any symptoms that are particularly concerning, or worsen over time, require immediate attention.

Dr. Jacono is an expert with Radiesse and prides himself on delivering the safest and most comprehensive treatment possible.