Radiesse: Long-Lasting Injectables Filler for Cheek Rejuvenation
March/April 2007

Radiesse is the next generation cosmetic filler which was approved by the FDA in December. Radiesse has been proven safe and effective in hundreds of thousands of procedures world-wide. Radiesse has some unique properties and it will fill a unique role in the non-surgical treatment of facial aging: It can volumize and augment sagging and hollow cheeks.

Radiesse provides immediate improvement after a single treatment. (This is an advantage over Sculptra, another injectable which requires several treatments.) Radiesse also causes the skin to generate new collagen, providing longer lasting effects.

So, Radiesse definitely lasts longer than collagen or Restylane injections. The benefit of Radiesse should last at least nine months and may well last beyond a year.

But Radiesse will not replace collagen or Restylane injections because it is injected in a deeper plane and it is not indicated for the treatment of fine lines and wrinkles. Radiesse is also not indicated for injection into the lips.

Radiesse is effective in actually restoring the shape of the face to a more youthful shape. As we age, cheekbones tend to become flatter and the skin below the cheekbones sags and becomes hollow. Radiesse can impressively rejuvenate the face by adding volume and augmenting the cheekbones and especially under the cheekbones to create a more heart-shaped face.

Radiesse is also very effective for:
1. treatment of deep nasolabial folds
2. correction of "marionette lines" under the corners of the mouth
3. augmenting the chin
4. cleaning up the jaw line
We use Radiesse injections under nerve block ("dental type") anesthesia so they are not painful.

You may have some bruising in the areas treated with Radiesse for several days. But this is easily covered with makeup and there isn't any down time.

Many patients need only one syringe of Radiesse and others require two syringes for an optimal result. The cost for one syringe is $950 and the cost for two syringes is $1700.