FAQ's

Does it hurt?

Patient reactions vary, so depending on the area treated, injections of will may be accompanied by either a topical or injectable anesthetic.

How long with the swelling last?

Everyone reacts differently to injections.  You can expect to have mild to moderate swelling the first day.  It will lessen each day thereafter and very mild swelling can last for several days.  Our anesthetic is formulated to help reduce swelling and bruising during the Radiesse injections.

How long will Radiesse™ last?

In facial applications, Radiesse should provide a correction that lasts around one to two years (with an occasional touchup). Individual results may vary, affected by age, metabolism, skin type, lifestyle and muscle activity.

How quickly can I return to my normal activities?

Approximately 24 hours following injection of Radiesse, most swelling or redness will have subsided. Some patients return to work immediately following injection, while others may need 24 hours.

Is Radiesse permanent?

No. The gel carrier dissipates over a few months allowing for new tissue infiltration. The CaHA particles gradually break down and are metabolized over two to three years.  However, due to the reaction of the particles with the body to support collagen growth, when the CaHA particles are dissolved by the body, you will be left with the generated collagen.  This new collagen growth will keep the area plumper and your next Radiesse treatment will need less product injected with the newly formed collagen growth.  Other injectable implants cannot provide this great benefit.

Will Radiesse become hard or noticeable to touch?

No, Radiesse will remain soft and pliable and will take on the characteristics of the surrounding soft tissue.

Will I need a skin test?

No pre-testing is required due to Radiesse’s unique synthetic product formulation and biocompatibility profile.

What is Radiesse composed of?

Radiesse is composed of synthetic calcium hydroxylapatite (CaHA) microspheres suspended in a gel carrier.

CaHA is a biomaterial with over twenty years of use in orthopedics, neurosurgery, dentistry, and ophthalmology, and is the primary mineral constituent of bone and teeth. The semi-solid nature of Radiesse is created by suspending CaHA in a common water based carrier, also used in a large array of products.

Radiesse is synthetic CaHA that has similar characteristics to bone and teeth, and is naturally compatible with the body. It has been tested extensively in clinical trials for over seven years now with exceptional safety and efficacy results.

How many treatments will I require?

Some patients may achieve an optimal correction on their first injection. For other patients, variability in the rate of tissue in-growth may require a touch-up to achieve an optimal correction.

Are there any side effects?

There are few reported side effects. However, some common injection-related reactions may occur, such as edema, swelling, pain, itching, discoloration, and tenderness at the injection site.

What if I am taking medication?

Radiesse should not be implanted in patients while on an aspirin regimen or while taking other medications that could inhibit the healing process. Please consult your physician for more information.

Can Radiesse be injected over other implants?

Radiesse should not be implanted in patients with other implants or materials still in place.

Is Radiesse approved?

Yes, Radiesse is approved for use in U.S., Europe, Canada, and various other countries. For more detail on these approvals, please visit Radiesse's Regulatory section.