What problems does it address?
Typical Radiesse treatments include smoothing or eliminating larger wrinkles such as smile lines, nasolabial folds, wrinkles at the corner of the mouth, and frown lines. It is used to fill acne scars, facial defects such as pits, and depressions under and around “sunken” or “hollow” looking eyes –“framing” them nicely and creating a less tired look. Radiesse works particularly well for restoring or creating lift, volume and contour in and around the cheeks, brow, chin, and jawline, providing shape, definition and fullness to create a more attractive overall facial structure. It can even correct crooked features!



What is it?
Categorized as an injectible “filler”, Radiesse is a white, cream-like substance that is dense and moldable. It’s made of tiny, perfectly round particles of a synthetic material called Calcium Hydroxylapatite combined with a water-based gel carrier. Calcium Hydroxylapatite is identical to the chemical structure of the calcium present in human teeth and bones, and is therefore naturally compatible with the body. .



How does it work?
Injected more deeply than Restylane, Radiesse works by naturally integrating with the body’s tissues, taking on the characteristics of its surrounding area. If it’s injected into the fleshier parts of the face, it remains soft and flexible, adding contours and fullness that look and feel natural. If it’s injected closer to bone it becomes harder, adding underlying structure to the cheekbones and jawline. This process is so subtle and seamless that many patients think the Radiesse has disappeared because they can no longer “feel” it! But what actually happens is this: While the gel carrier gets absorbed relatively quickly, the body’s cells form a tissue matrix around the Calcium Hydroxylapatite, surrounding and encapsulating the tiny particles, therefore maintaining the “filling” effect naturally. This is why the sensitivity and feeling in treated areas are not affected. Finally, after a 3 –5 year period, the tissue matrix is fully metabolized back into the body.



Is it safe?
Yes. Injectable Collagen is safe, clinically proven, effective, and has brought lasting results to thousands of women and men nationwide.



How should I prepare for my treatment?
Patients should avoid using aspirin, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications, St. John's Wort, high doses of vitamin E, or alcohol. These substances may increase the chances of bruising and bleeding at the injection site.



How long will it take?
The procedure should take about 30 –40 minutes, depending on how many sites are being treated.



Is it painful?
A mild localized anesthetic or a topical numbing cream is normally used to minimize or eliminate the slight pinching sensation created when the syringe enters the skin. There is usually no pain reported afterwards.



Is it safe?
The procedure should take about 30 –40 minutes, depending on how many sites are being treated.



Are there any side effects?
Bruising occurs about 10% of the time, and can last anywhere from three days to two weeks. There will be some temporary redness which generally last about 3 –5 days. There will also be some swelling that usually lasts about 24 –48 hours, though in rare cases it can last as long as 5 –7 days. Cold compresses will help with any swelling or redness, and bruising can be covered up with a concealer cosmetic. Occasionally, a lump may occur, but it can be treated easily and quickly eliminated.




How long is downtime?
Recovery usually lasts the rest of the treatment day and throughout that night as well. While it is perfectly fine to resume normal activities quickly, it is recommended that the treated area not be touched, and that extreme facial movements such as strenuous laughing or shouting, chewing gum or using a straw be avoided for 48 hours.



What should my expectations be?
The results of your Radiesse treatment will be obvious, and in many cases dramatic, depending on where it was applied and what for. Expect to see wrinkles, lines, and folds either eliminated or greatly reduced. Defects and pits will have disappeared or be far less noticeable. Depressions around the eyes will be filled out, giving a younger, more alert appearance. Higher cheekbones, a more attractively contoured jawline and fuller, more shapely lips are realistic results. Lopsided or crooked features will either be completely corrected, or have a more balanced, symmetrical look.



How soon will I see results?
Radiesse’s effects are seen immediately, and reach maximum effect in about 2 –4 weeks.



Will it look natural?
Yes, as long as the provider didn’t “overcorrect” and create a look that’s lumpy or uneven or doesn’t complement the patient’s natural facial structure. Generally speaking however, the more experienced the provider, the more natural-looking the results.



How long-lasting are the results?
Radiesse’s effects usually last around three years, though it is not common for results to last as long as five years, and sometimes even longer.



The Nasolabial Fold/Cheek Connection?
Radiesse is commonly used to fill the large creases that form between the nose and the corners of the mouth (the nasolabial folds). However, one of the reasons why these folds deepen over time is the eventual sagging of the cheeks with age, and if this sagging were to be corrected and the cheeks “lifted” again, then the Nasolabial fold would be minimized. That is why Lasting SkinSolutions often recommends that both the fold and the cheek area be filled and lifted with Radiesse to soften or eliminate the nasolabial folds.



You Can’t Always Get What You Want.
As providers, we often hear requests like: “I want cheekbones like hers”, or “give me that chin”. In certain cases, these requests are simply unrealistic, but because of a strong desire to do exactly what is asked of them, some providers end up creating results that just don’t suit a particular patient’s face. This is why we occasionally see women with over-exaggerated features or other enhancements that just don’t look natural. At Lasting SkinSolutions, we have the experience to know what will –and will not –look right on a patient, the courage to say ”no” when we’re asked to create results that won’t complement their facial structure, and the ability to provide a solution that looks good and satisfies their goals.



Sometimes Skin Has A Mind Of It's Own!
The skin doesn’t always do what the provider wants it to, and sometimes responds to treatment on its own terms. For example, if a wrinkle, crease, pit or other defect has been present for a long time, it may need to be “coaxed” into correcting itself. This can take time, because the treatment has to “break a habit” the skin has had for a while. Often, the best strategy is to “retrain” these defects gradually by injecting several small amounts of Radiesse over a period of time rather than bombarding them with a massive amount all at once. However, some providers are too inexperienced to recognize this type of defect –or too impatient to take the proper approach –and inject as large an amount of filler as possible to correct the problem in a single treatment. Unfortunately, if the skin isn’t ready to “cooperate”, an uneven, lumpy, unnatural look may result. Lasting SkinSolutions has the experience to know which types of defects require a more disciplined strategy –as well as the patience and ability to implement it.



Every Provider Must Be An Artist
and the simple truth is that some providers are more artistically sensitive than others. If it’s a given that every provider who injects Radiesse is properly trained and qualified to do so, then the only remaining variable is the ability to visualize and create beautiful results. All of Lasting SkinSolutions’ providers are female, and as such have an intuitive 'understanding of what constitutes visual beauty, and are instinctively sensitive to every patient’s desire to look their very best.



The Key Ingredient Is The Provider, Not The Radiesse:
In much the same way a sculptor works with clay, areas treated with Radiesse need to be manipulated in order to smooth and balance them out. However, too much manipulation can push the filler away from its intended site, and too little may result in a lumpy, uneven effect. Also, the edges of the treatment area should be “feathered in” to the edges of the untreated areas for a seamless appearance. Lasting SkinSolutions realizes that this aspect of Radiesse’s treatment is much like creating living sculpture, and has developed specific manual techniques that support the artistic nature of this application.