Radiesse® is a volumizing filler. Fillers can be very effective at minimizing wrinkles and augmenting areas in the face that have lost volume, and deflated with age (e.g. the cheeks). There are numerous fillers on the market these days, each with particular strengths and weaknesses, and the choice of a filler should be targeted to each patient’s individual concerns.
Radiesse® is made from suspend hydroxylapatite particles. Hydroxylapatite is a natural occurring mineral form of calcium apatitie that makes up 50% of the bone in our body. Because it is a naturally occurring compound it is biocompatible and non-allergenic. These small particles are suspended in a gel and mixed with anesthetic prior to injection.
Radiesse® acts as a volumizing filler to provide a scaffold structure under the skin, essentially adding volume and pushing up wrinkles from beneath the skin. Radiesse® also promotes the production of the bodies own collagen. This natural growth of collagen seems to extend the effects of Radiesse® beyond hyaluronic acid fillers. It is best used in the smile lines (nasolabial folds), the corners of the mouth, the marionette lines, and at the angle of the jaw to soften the jowls. It also works wonderfully to augment the cheeks and diminish wrinkles in the lower eyelids.