Radiesse®

What Causes Collagen Loss in the Skin?

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.

Age-related collagen 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.

What is Radiesse^®?

What is Radiesse^® filler used for? How is Radiesse^® different from Juvéderm^®?

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 can be linked to create smooth, easily injected gels that encourage hydration.

Radiesse^® employs a different strategy. Instead of hyaluronic acid, it contains a mineral called calcium hydroxylapatite (CaHA) that is made up of phosphate and calcium ions. When in a solid form, CaHA helps to give bones their rigidity and strength. As a 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.

People often want to know: Does Radiesse^® really build collagen? The answer is yes. 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 in place.

What Are the Main Benefits of Radiesse^®?

As of 2023, 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.

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. 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.”

Which Areas of the Face Can Be Enhanced with Radiesse^®?

Are you searching for “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.

Is Radiesse^® Right for Me?

Who is the best candidate for Radiesse^®? 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.

How Do You Prepare for Radiesse^®?

Very minimal preparation is required prior to injectable treatments. Preparation for Radiesse^® 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 Radiesse^®, as well as answer questions you have about volume-adding injectables. We will also explain what you should avoid before your Radiesse^® treatment and will discuss topical anesthetics to make the Radiesse^® treatment more comfortable as desired.

What Is Radiesse^® Procedure Like at The Dermatology Office?

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.

What Are Results and Aftercare Like for 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 Much Does Radiesse^® Cost?

Cost is best discussed during your consultation, when the specifics of your unique treatment can be determined.

What Are Some Other Treatments That Stimulate Collagen Growth or Enhance the Skin?

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^® is an injectable treatment that relaxes facial muscles to reduce wrinkles caused by repetitive facial expressions or address other cosmetic concerns.