Formerly known as Radiance, Radiesse is a dermal filler manufactured by Bioform Medical, Inc. that has been in existence since the mid 1990s.
It is a sterile, latex-free, non-pyrogenic, semi-solid, cohesive, subdermal implant that is also non-toxic, non-allergenic and biocompatible. It is a formulation comprised of calcium hydroxylapatite (CaHA) microspheres suspended in a gel carrier.
Calcium hydroxylapatite is a substance naturally found within the body (it’s the main component in teeth and bones) and Radiesse is the only dermal filler with two FDA approved facial indications within the United States.
This filler is approved for facial lipoatrophy, which is facial fat loss and commonly occurs in people with HIV, as well as for the correction of moderate to severe wrinkles and folds within the skin.
Radiesse: What it Does
Radiesse’s formulation stimulates collagenesis, the production of new collagen, as well as instantly plumps the injected region due to the microspheres.
This combination enables long lasting results of up to 24 months within patients. Longer lasting results are advantageous because the patient will need fewer treatments, which will result in a lower cost.
The Radiesse shot is most commonly implemented in problem areas such as nasolabial folds, marionette lines, bridge or nasal augmentation, cheek enhancement, chin reshaping, jaw line contouring, vocal cord correction, nasal obstruction, facial lipoatrophy, frown lines, laugh lines, and crow’s feet.
Radiesse is not recommended for lip injections as the body does not break down the entire formulation, resulting in lumps from the remaining calcium.
Radiesse also reduces the risk of allergic complications during treatment via its unique formulation. Many patients are often allergic to collagen fillers and other injectables, which are derived from animal fat.
Although calcium hydroxylapatite is found naturally within the body, the CaHA used in the Radiesse formulation is synthetic, thus no allergy testing is required before treatment with Radiesse.
How Radiesse Injections are Performed
The Radiesse treatment procedure is conducted in the doctor’s office.
Local anesthetic is applied to the treated area followed by the Radiesse shot. The shot is administered beneath the skin under the dermis and subcutis layer.
Patients may experience slight discomfort from the needle injection. Pain is minimal with this treatment.
Radiesse treatment does not require any downtime. Upon completion of Radiesse treatment normal activities may be immediately resumed.
After treatment the patient may experience slight redness, light bruising and skin sensitivity. Patients do not experience excessive inflammation or swelling.
Radiesse is also compatible with other various anti-aging treatments such as non-surgical face lifts, microdermabrasion, chemical peels, and laser skin resurfacing.
Results are fully developed within one week of treatment. Many patients see up to an 80 percent improvement immediately after the procedure.
Radiesse can last up to 24 months, but infrequent touchups may be required during this period.
Radiesse Costs
The cost of a Radiesse treatment various on the amount of filler needed and is dependent on the scope of the work that is preformed on the patient.
The typical price for a syringe of Radiesse ranges from $650 to $800.
Radiesse Risks and Complications
One complication associated with Radiesse treatment is the appearance of nodules at or near the injection site.
These nodules require a steroid treatment or in severe cases surgical intervention.
There are other procedural alternatives to Radiesse. Many of these options are slightly less expensive, but also require more frequent injections to maintain lasting results.
This results in an overall higher price for the patient. Some of the common alternatives for minimally invasive procedures are collagen injections, Restalyne, Captique and fat fillers.
BOTOX does not work in the same manner as the collagen fillers and Radiesse injections by adding volume, but rather it paralyzes the muscles where injected.
The paralyzing of the muscles causes the muscles to deactivate, preventing wrinkles and lines from appearing. BOTOX injections typically cost around $400 for one syringe and results last for up to four months.
Are you a Good Candidate for Radiesse?
Consult a doctor with Radiesse expertise to ensure safety and receive optimum results.
When consulting with a doctor there are a few key ideas to keep in mind in order to obtain the doctor best suited for your needs.
Review the doctor’s credentials, education, training, and overall experience with the particular procedure needed. Ask the doctor how much Radiesse will be needed for the treatment and if it can be completed in one visit.
View before and after photos of patients that had similar procedures conducted using Radiesse as well as other alternatives. Discuss with your doctor which treatment will best suit your needs for your particular goals.
Inquire about possible risks and complications with this procedure and ask for a list of pre and postoperative instructions.
Typical Radiesse patients range from approximately 35 to 60 years in age and have mild to moderate signs of aging.
This treatment is useful for patients with deep lines and wrinkles around the nose and mouth. It is also an excellent choice for people with scarring and skin depressions.
The greatest risk associated with Radiesse occurs when patients allow non-licensed practitioners to administer the treatment.
Radiesse should not be used in individuals with hypersensitivity to calcium hydroxylapatite or glycerin and Radiesse can not be injected into blood vessels.
This could result in infarction or embolization. It is also important to be aware that the CaHA particles are radiopaque.
This means that the particles are clearly visible during a CT scan and it is important to tell your primary care professional as well as radiologist if you have had a Radiesse injection.
Free Consultation with a Board Certified US Surgeon
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