Radiesse®

How Do Biostimulators Like Radiesse^® Differ from Hyaluronic Acid-Based Fillers?

Not all facial fillers are the same. Radiesse^® is what’s known as a biostimulator or biostimulatory filler, which is what sets it apart from hyaluronic acid fillers like Juvéderm^® and Restylane^®. What you may be wondering is, “How is Radiesse^® different from Juvéderm^®?” or “Which is better: Radiesse^® or Juvéderm^®?”

No one filler is better than the others. The most suitable choice all depends on a patient’s specific needs. Although Radiesse^® is a filler similar to Juvéderm^®, Restylane^® Lyft, Belotero Balance^®, and the RHA^® Collection by Revance, it differs from all of these injectable options in a significant way. Most available fillers use a sugar molecule known as hyaluronic acid as their base. Hyaluronic acid molecules can be linked to create smooth, easily injected gels that encourage hydration.

Biostimulatory fillers like Radiesse^® are not fillers in the traditional sense. Unlike hyaluronic acid fillers, they aren’t designed simply for plumping up skin or concealing volume loss. Instead, Radiesse^® and other collagen stimulators can promote collagen production to address deeper signs of aging such as a loss of bone mass or density and skin sagging or loss of skin elasticity.

How Does Radiesse^® Work?

What is Radiesse^® filler used for? Does Radiesse^® improve skin? Does Radiesse^® produce collagen?

For anyone seeking to sculpt, smooth, and tighten various areas of their face and body, Radiesse^® might be the ideal answer. Instead of hyaluronic acid, Radiesse^® contains a mineral called calcium hydroxylapatite (CaHA), which is made up of phosphate and calcium ions. When in a solid form, CaHA helps to give bones their rigidity and strength. As part of an injected gel, CaHA fills in hollow areas beneath the surface of the skin. This pushes the surface outward, making it ideal for smoothing areas where the skin has sunk into creases or increasing the size and altering the shape of specific features.

The volume enhancement is visible right away, but Radiesse^® also employs a second strategy. The CaHA particles form a sort of scaffold that encourages production of both collagen and elastin. The gel itself will eventually break down, but a supportive network built of new collagen fibers will take its place. This firm structure will continue to give the treatment area shape and fullness. Eventually, the CaHA particles will be absorbed back into the body, but the collagen will remain.

Radiesse^® 101: Why Do We Lose Collagen and Elastin in the Skin?

As mentioned above, Radiesse^® helps the body build collagen–but what is collagen and why is it so important? Collagen is a structural protein, one of the main building blocks of your skin and hair, and the substance that’s responsible for maintaining volume that gives the skin a plump and youthful appearance. If you’re in search of smooth skin, creating more collagen will help to make your skin look healthier and less wrinkled.

Aging is one of the major factors responsible for loss of volume since collagen growth naturally decreases over time. You begin to lose collagen starting in your early 20s, and as the skin becomes thinner and has less structural support as a result, you may begin to notice deep wrinkles and sagging when you look in the mirror.

Aside from aging, there are also environmental stressors—like sun exposure and pollution—that cause collagen to break down. This is why it’s so important to take steps to preserve collagen and encourage the skin to produce it faster.

Elastin is another type of naturally occurring protein that works together with collagen in the connective tissue and has some similarities with the latter. While collagen provides strength and resilience to the skin, elastin is what enables skin to be flexible so it can stretch and return to its original shape or position. Just like with collagen, however, the natural aging process also causes elastin in your skin to deteriorate. Environmental damage from stressors such as UV radiation from the sun’s rays can also speed up elastin deterioration.

Age-related collagen and elastin loss doesn’t have to be “forever.” Although time robs the face, hands, and other parts of the body of youthful volume, Radiesse^® is an in-office treatment that can assist with restoring fuller, more volumized skin.

Is Radiesse^® Worth It?

As of 2024, Radiesse^® is still the only FDA-approved CaHA filler that not only provides volume that’s visible right away, but also supports the production of collagen and elastin for long-term improvement.

What is Radiesse^® best for? What are the benefits of Radiesse^® injections? Does Radiesse^® make you look younger? Injectables are often used for bone recontouring, which is the process of using filler as a type of scaffolding or creating structure to keep skin tight in certain areas. One of the advantages of Radiesse^® is that it is stiffer and has a higher level of viscosity in comparison to hyaluronic acid fillers. Since the chemical structure of this collagen-stimulating injectable is more similar to that of human bones, it provides more effective, durable results and is excellent for bone recontouring in areas such as the jawline, where patients may want to add more definition.

Additionally, this biostimulatory injectable is highly versatile, so it can be used to achieve many other cosmetic goals on the face and body.

Which Areas Can Be Treated with Radiesse^®?

Have you been looking up, “What is Radiesse^® best used for?” or “What is Radiesse^® filler best for?”

Most people get Radiesse^® for the face, especially in wrinkled areas around the nose and mouth. The most common uses are for reducing nasolabial folds and similar lines on the lower portion of the face, restoring a youthful look to hands that have grown skeletal-looking due to volume loss, and augmenting the buttocks. Radiesse^® can also be used to improve deep scars.

Dermatologist Dr. Ellen Turner uses Radiesse^® for a range of applications. Patients who want to address facial lines enjoy its effects, as do those who want to enhance their buttocks. In fact, its posterior-shaping ability is so effective, it has earned the nickname “the injectable implant.”

Who Should Get Radiesse^®?

Who is a candidate for Radiesse^®? Who should not get Radiesse^®? These are important questions to ask if you’re wondering whether this type of filler will be a good choice for you.

The injectable is intended for adults who want to address age-related volume loss without surgery. The best patients are those who know what to expect from their treatment and who maintain a positive outlook.

Patients who have allergies to any component of this injectable, have a history of severe allergies, have a bleeding disorder, or are pregnant or breastfeeding should not have this treatment.

What Should You Do Before Radiesse^®? How To Prepare for Radiesse^® Injections Explained

What are the precautions for Radiesse^®? Very minimal preparation is required prior to injectable treatments. Preparation for this treatment will generally be quick and straightforward. We recommend that patients avoid the use of certain types of skincare products (like retinol) and taking blood thinning medications such as aspirin and alcohol, along with certain types of supplements. These medications can cause excessive bleeding or bruising at the treatment area. Additionally, you should refrain from having cosmetic treatments that could be irritating to the skin.

We will go over anything you should know at a personalized consultation for this injectable, as well as answer questions you have about volume-adding injectables. We will also explain what you should avoid before your treatment and will discuss topical anesthetics to make the treatment more comfortable as desired.

What Happens During the Radiesse^® Procedure?

Simply put, Radiesse^® is injected with precision. Dr. Ellen Turner typically uses cannulas to inject the CaHA gel beneath the skin, always with an eye for the initial results, as well as the long-term effects of renewed collagen production. A cannula is a small, blunt tube that is safer than a needle and avoids complications such as bruising, hematoma formation, or injection of the filler into nerves or vessels. Using a cannula is also much less painful than using a needle. The entire process can take from about 15 to 60 minutes, depending on the areas being treated.

When Will You See Results from Radiesse^®?

Thanks to the injectable gel, patients will notice some improvements right away since it fills in areas with volume as soon as it is injected. Additionally, this filler stimulates the skin’s own naturally occurring volume so it continues to improve over time.

Expect some slight bruising, as well as potential redness, swelling, or itching. All of these are known minor side effects that resolve quickly. No special care is needed, although patients who have butt augmentation may prefer to sleep on their side or stomach at first.

How Long Will the Results of Radiesse^® Last?

The effects of this injectable are temporary, so you will need to repeat treatments as often as necessary. That said, the results from this injectable will last for a year or more in many patients. Some people will only need to have maintenance treatments every two years, while others might decide to have small maintenance injections in between their major treatments.

What Factors Affect the Cost of Radiesse^®?

The cost of Radiesse^® injections varies depending on several factors, including the type of procedure, the provider’s training and experience, consultation fees, cost per syringe, the location of the procedure, and maintaining results. Cost is best discussed during your consultation, when the specifics of your unique treatment can be determined.

Which Other Types of Aesthetic Treatments Are Available to Stimulate Collagen Growth or Enhance the Skin?

There are also other injectable or skin rejuvenation treatments that can complement or be used as alternatives to Radiesse^®.

Sculptra^® is another collagen-stimulating injectable available at the Dermatology Office. It works in much the same way as Radiesse^® and can also be used to enhance the buttocks.

Microneedling can encourage collagen production on a smaller scale in the skin. This treatment can improve fine lines and wrinkles, firm up lax tissue, and reduce texture and tone irregularities. Many exfoliating strategies, from lasers to chemical peels, also prompt collagen creation.

Unlike facial fillers, BOTOX^® works by relaxing facial muscles. It is designed for expression wrinkles on the face caused by repeated facial movements.