Radiesse is an injectable filler that addresses the signs of aging. Radiesse is used for smoothing moderate to severe facial wrinkles and folds, such as laugh lines, as well as correcting volume loss in the back of the hand, neck and decolletage and skin laxity. Once injected, the Radiesse works with your body to stimulate the production of your own natural collagen for results that last a year or more in many patients.

Radiesse is made of tiny biodegradable calcium-based microspheres (calcium hydroxyapatite) which are suspended in a natural, water-based gel. These calcium-based microspheres are similar to minerals that are found naturally in your body, so allergy testing is not required. The calcium microspheres act like a scaffold and they stimulate your body to produce new collagen and elastin within the scaffold. Over time, your body naturally breaks down these tiny microspheres and the gel and leaves behind only your own natural collagen.

Radiesse has the unique ability to both immediately restore lost volume and stimulate your body to produce its own natural collagen for long-lasting results. Most dermal fillers (eg. Juvederm, Revanesse) are composed of hyaluronic acid, a sugar-based gel that provides volume and which your body breaks down in 6-12 months.

Not only does Radiesse provide immediate correction, the natural results of this dermal filler may last a year or more in many patients.

A single syringe of Radiesse costs $750. It treats a larger area than a standard syringe of dermal filler (1.5ml versus 1.2ml). Radiesse can be injected full strength for contouring (such as jawline) or diluted for more superficial treatment of the skin. When diluted it will typically treat a 10cmX10cm surface of skin.

Just like any injection, you may experience mild irritation, swelling, itching, redness, bruising or tenderness at the injection sites. These typically resolve on their own. If any of these side effects persist, contact your healthcare professional immediately. Your Aesthetic Healthcare Professional will discuss warnings and precautions with you.

Treatment with Radiesse is not reversible. Unlike hyaluronic acid dermal fillers, there is not an enzyme that will dissolve Radiesse. However, the filling effect of Radiesse lasts only a few months, and then your own natural collagen will slowly replace the gel. Consequently the filler has no risk of migration, or delayed hypersensitivity, and it always look natural because it is your own natural collagen.

Because Radiesse is biostimulatory there is a risk of stimulating a lot of collagen which may lead to lumps or nodules rarely. There can be addressed with certain injectable medications but this side effect is extremely rare. Radiesse cannot be dissolved so if there is a vascular occlusion during injection it is more difficult to dissolve than HA dermal fillers. However, Radiesse is typically used in a dilute formulation and therefore the risk of occlusion is much less. Occlusion is treated with the same protocol as with HA fillers and outcomes are similar. Risk of occlusion is extremely rare. It is most important to have your dermal filler treatment done by skilled and experienced nurse injectors or NPs, MDs.

Radiesse should not be used in patients with severe allergies, a history of anaphylaxis, or history or presence of multiple severe allergies or hypersensitivity to any of the ingredients in RADIESSE® Filler. Radiesse is contraindicated in women who are pregnant, breast-feeding or attempting to become pregnant.

Radiesse can be used in combination with other stimulatory based therapies to improve results. For example, energy-based devices like Sofwave ultrasound skin tightening is a treatment that stimulates collagen and elastin production improving skin tightness and elasticity. Pre-treating with Radiesse followed by Sofwave 8 weeks later provides a synergism to therapy that maximizes clinical results. The link below takes you to a video from the makers of Radiesse demonstrating how Radiesse works:

https://www.merzaesthetics.ca/solutions/radiesse/?gad=1&gclid=CjwKCAjwuqiiBhBtEiwATgvixAzBNt5biY