Radiesse
With age, the normal elasticity and collagen content of our skin decreases, resulting in volume loss of the face. This in turn contributes to the characteristic lines, folds, and wrinkles appear over time.
Radiesse® is a filler made of calcium hydroxyapatite, an artificial dermal filler that provides a natural framework for the growth of your own soft tissues. It stimulates your body’s own collagen and acts as a scaffold beneath the skin, creating natural volume and contour just where you want it. This process evolves for several months, extending the initial effect of the Radiesse. Indeed, Radiesse® has been clinically proven to last a year or more in many patients.
Am I a good candidate for Radiesse treatment?
You may be a good candidate for Radiesse® if you are healthy and wish to have a minimally invasive treatment to improve the appearance of the:
- smile lines (nasolabial folds)
- hollowed cheeks
- hollowed temples
- corners of the mouth
- pre-jowl sulcus
- chin wrinkles
What should I expect during Radiesse treatment?
Though treatment with Radiesse® is quick, the results are immediately apparent and may be long-lasting. After an evaluation and discussion, Dr. Chung will outline an individualized treatment plan specific for your goals and your face. The treatment area is cleansed and the Radiesse® is injected into the skin with a thin needle. Most patients have minimal discomfort, and Dr. Chung usually mixes Radiesse® with a local anesthetic like lidocaine for a more comfortable experience. For certain regions of the face, Dr. Chung will use the advanced technique of injecting with a blunt-tip cannula. This new and innovative technique allows the filler to be distributed over a wide area with just a single injection. Because the cannula is also flexible and blunt, there is less tissue trauma with less swelling and bruising.
What happens after the treatment?
You will see the results immediately after injection. Facial volume will be restored, and you will notice a softening and relaxation of the wrinkles in the treated area, resulting in a refreshed, rejuvenated appearance. There may be mild swelling, redness, and tenderness in the areas treated, but most patients are able to return to work immediately. As with any injection, bruising is a risk; however, the bruising usually resolves in a few days and makeup may be used right away. While Radiesse has been clinically shown to last for a year, most patients return earlier to continue to enhance and replenish their volume restoration.