Radiesse is composed of calcium hydroxyapatite. It is a semi-permanent filler and is considered a volumizer. It stimulates collagen production and is used to smooth out wrinkles and folds, such as smile lines, droopy angles of mouth and marionette lines. It can also be used to contour droopy jowls, create a more pronounced cheekbones, fill in sunken temple areas and get rid of skeletal hands. Radiesse has been in the US market for many years and has been used in millions of people. Radiesse is not for everyone, so it is very important to consult Dr. Behnam to see if you are the right candidate for Radiesse.
What is Radiesse?
Radiesse is made up of calcium hydroxyapatite. In other words, Radiesse is liquid calcium suspended in a gel. Radiesse is a volumizer and is intended for deep skin folds. In contrast to collagen, no skin testing is required. Radiesse injection is quick, typically 5 to 10 minutes in the doctors office. After Radiesse is injected, the gel get absorbed with time and collagen stimulation occurs, resulting in long term correction. Radiesse typically last about 6 to 12 months in most people.
How is Radiesse different than Restylane and Juvederm?
Restylane and Juvederm are composed of stabilized hyaluronic acids whereas Radiesse is composed of calcium hydroxyapatite suspended in a gel. Hyaluronic acid is a natural composition in the skin and calcium hydroxyapatite is a natural composition of bones. One of the biggest difference between Radiesse and other fillers is that it stimulates collagen production over time, resulting in a result that will last months longer than its competitors.
Is Radiesse mixed with numbing medication?
Yes. Radiesse is mixed with Lidocaine and then injected. This allows a more comfortable injection experience.
I have very deep folds around the mouth, which filler is recommended?
For deep folds around the mouth, thicker filler materials like Radiesse, Perlane or Juvederm Ultra Plus are recommended.
What are the most common side effects of Radiesse?
Swelling, redness, slight discomfort and bruising are the most common side effects associated with Radiesse. These are all transient and will resolve in a few days.
Can I have Radiesse and other fillers done on the same day?
Yes. Radiesse is injected in a deeper plane compared to Juvederm or Restylane. Thus, Radiesse and other fillers may be injected on the same day without much interference.
Can I have Radiesse and Botox done on the same day?
Yes. Radiesse is a semi-permanent filler that stimulated collagen production used for deep folds and wrinkles on the face. Botox is a muscle relaxer used to relax the muscles in the frown area and smooth out wrinkles. There is no interference between the two products and both may be used on the same day.
What are the areas treated by Radiesse?
- Smile lines
- Marionette lines
- Droopy jowls
- Pre-jowel sulcus
- Cheekbones
- Sunken temples
- Skeletal hands
- Chin
- Eyebrows
- Nose
What are the areas that should not be treated by Radiesse?
Radiesse should not be injected into lips and frown lines between eyebrows.
I have no cheekbones, can Radiesse help me?
Yes. Radiesse can be injected in the cheekbones to restore it and produce a high cheekbone. Cheekbones are very important as they illuminate a more youthful and younger appearance. As we get older, we lose fat, muscle and bone in upper cheek areas. Along with the help from gravity, the skin pulls down and the face begins to lack the vibrant glowing cheek structure that we had in our 20s. Radiesse is a filler that can be injected that helps to replenish this volume loss and helps fight gravity. Benefits of Radiesse for the cheek area is that it’s a thick material, making it an ideal filler for a volumizer. It is also a semi-permanent filler, meaning that it will last months longer compared to the competition. Finally, Radiesse stimulates collagen production, helping to maintain the result for longer periods of time. Other fillers that can work in the cheekbone area include Perlane, Juvederm Ultra Plus and Sculptra.
Are the results from Radiesse immediate?
Yes. You see the result immediately. However, there are sometimes much swelling associated with Radiesse, so one must give it a week for the swelling to resolve.
I have a flat chin, can Radiesse help me?
Absolutely. This is a very common problem amongst males and females. Radiesse is typically injected directly over the bone area in the chin. This will give paitents a more pronounced chin.
I have skeletal hands, can anything be done?
As we age, we lose fat and muscle in our hands, leading to hands with very prominent blood vessels. This is called the skeletal hands. Radiesse can be injected and replenish the volume that has been lost. The entire procedure takes about 10 minutes and the results are very satisfying.
I have hollowed temples, is Radiesse a good option?
Just like the cheek, the combination of muscle, fat and bone loss will lead to hollowness in the temple areas. This hollowness is more prominent in some patients than others. Fillers can be used to fill in the hollowness. Although Radiesse can be used, Dr. Behnam now prefers Sculptra in the hollowed temples. Sculptra is a longer lasting product than Radiesse and gives a very satisfying outcome in the temples.
Can Radiesse be injected in the eyebrow area to give a lift?
Yes. Radiesse can be injected in the lateral eyebrows to give it a lateral lift.
How long does Radiesse last?
Radiesse has FDA approval for 1 year and in clinical experience it lasts between 6 to 12 months. Radiesse is composed of calcium hydroxyapatite suspended in a gel. Once the gel dissolves, collagen stimulation occurs, resulting in continued and extended improvement of wrinkles and folds.
Does Radiesse stimulate collagen production?
Yes. Radiesse is a semi-permanent filler that stimulates collagen production. Sculptra is the only other filler in the US that will stimulate collagen production.
I have folds around my mouth, why inject Radiesse into the cheekbone area?
As we age we lose fat, muscle and bone in the cheek area. This mean that the scaffold that is holding the skin up disappears with time, thus the skin begins to sag. Gravity also helps this process as well. The sagging cheek skin contributes to the folds around the mouth. By injecting the cheekbone areas, this pulls up the skin that is sagging and improves the appearance of smile lines around the mouth.
What is the advantage of Radiesse over Sculptra?
Radiesse and Sculptra are both volumizer fillers, which means that they are intended to fill in areas that have experienced loss of volume. Radiesse gives an immediate instant result whereas Sculptra is a collagen stimulator and takes months for the effects to be seen.
Does Radiesse hurt?
There is some discomfort when Radiesse is being injected. Radiesse is mixed with Lidocaine, making it less likely to hurt when injected. Also, Dr. Behnam applies topical numbing on the face prior to injection, making radiesse injection very tolerable.
How can I avoid a bruise when getting Radiesse injections?
Food, alcohol, medications, and vitamins can thin out blood and cause you to bleed. Please avoid the following products for several days before the procedure.
Omega-3 Fish oil Saint john’s wort Aleve, Aspirin, Ibuprofen, Advil Alcohol Garlic
Where can I find Radiesse injection in Los Angeles, California?
Dr. Behnam, U.S. leading dermatologist and recognized nationally by Newsweek as top 10 Physicians and Surgeons in the US, is a Board Certified Dermatologist practicing in Santa Monica, CA. Dr. Behnam is a Radiesse Los Angeles expert, located in Los Angeles, California.