Radiesse – the OG
Radiesse is often grouped with HA (hyaluronic acid) dermal fillers – also called facial fillers. However, Radiesse is not, and never has been, an HA filler. It’s actually a biostimulator. And what it stimulates is the formation and improvement of your own collagen and elastin. (Yaayy!)
You might be surprised to learn that Radiesse has been used successfully to sculpt faces in the US since 2001. Like most treatments, Radiesse has both pluses and minuses:
Pluses:
It is excellent at forming collagen and elastin. That means the areas injected actually plump, fill, and hold their shape even after the Radiesse is long gone.
For this reason, it “lasts longer” than many HA fillers.
It is often thought to be a more natural result because the changes (reduction in moderate lines and folds) occur over a longer period of time. Results can be seen “as early as 4 weeks after injection and {have} been observed 3, 6 and 12 months after treatment”¹. Results also take longer to fade away – so the shape and softness of your face gradually build up and then gradually decline.
New techniques using hyperdilute Radiesse improve skin thickness and skin quality. By improving skin thickness and quality, it can significantly improve crepey or dimpled skin on the neck, chest, upper arms, and upper legs.
It is the “go to” for hand rejuvenation. It does an excellent job of diminishing the thin-skinned, blue-veined, gnarled look of older hands.
Minuses:
It takes longer to see the result because stimulating your body to create collagen and elastin doesn’t happen overnight.
It costs a bit more than most HA fillers.
There is a small risk of forming a hard (tiny) nodule under the skin. These nodules cannot be dissolved the way HA can be dissolved. So, if there is a small hard nodule, you have to wait for it to go away on its own.
So Why Isn’t It More Popular?
The biggest concern among the Minuses listed above was that it was not reversible and if a small hard bead formed, patients had to wait it out. However, product mixing and dosing guidelines have changed since it was launched in 2001 and the risk of small nodules has been greatly reduced.
We Mentioned “the OG” – Is There Something New?
Yes! While originally, and still commonly used for facial sculpting, a new technique called “Radiesse Hyperdilute” has been successfully used in several areas of the body to improve skin quality, “defined as elasticity, firmness, superficial wrinkles, roughness, and overall appearance”¹.
The most popular areas for hyperdilute Radiesse include:
Neck – firming sagging, crepey skin and giving it a smoother appearance
Décolleté – smoothing wrinkles in and around the cleavage area
Upper Arms – reducing crepey surface wrinkles on the under arm and triceps area
Upper Legs – firming sagging skin above the knees and on the upper thighs
Hyperdilute Radiesse – Is It Right for You?
There are many options available for improving skin tone, texture, and quality. It may be that microneedling or laser treatment is a better fit for you. Being relatively new, not all providers are comfortable with the dilutions and superficial injection technique. But that’s where you are particularly lucky – because you are a patient of Dr. Cyndi Yag-Howard’s. She has been trained on, and injected, hyperdilute Radiesse. So, she can tell you if it might be right for you.
At Yag-Howard Cosmetic Dermatology (YHCD) we offer many skin improvement options, including hyperdilute Radiesse. We would be happy to see you for a complimentary cosmetic consultation or appointment 239-529-DERM(3376) or reach us here: Contact YHDerm.
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