Radiesse is a non-hyaluronic acid dermal filler that offers the best of both worlds from a dermal filler perspective. Radiesse offers immediate results upon injection, and then causes an internal stimulation of collagen growth, known as collagenesis. This collagen growth can drive long-term results, and in some cases, permanent results, following injection. The permanent result is not because of the presence of an inert molecule. With Radiesse, the long term outcome is created by your body’s organic response to the Radiesse molecule, making the outcome as natural as possible. Radiesse is a calcium hydroxyapatite microsphere filler consisting of 30% microspheres, and 70% carrier gel. It offers an immediate correction, and as stated before, it initiates an “internal engine” for creation of new, youthful collagen. Of all available fillers, Radiesse is the hands-down, undefeated, heavyweight champion of the world at lifting sagging tissue, especially in the cheek and midface. Radiesse has the highest degree of cohesivity, g prime, and viscosity out of all available dermal fillers. It’s g prime is DOUBLE that of Restylane-L, and Restylane Lyft, and TRIPLE that of Juvederm Voluma. Again, the translation of this elevated g prime/cohesivity is that this molecule offers an unparalleled amount of tissue lift after injection, but will not aggressively attract water to itself. As such, this filler is best suited to lift sagging tissue rather than volumize tissue with significant volume loss. Our Florida Plastic Surgery practice uses Radiesse for patients requiring moderate to severe correction of sagging cheeks, sagging brows, and sagging jowls.
Unlike its competitor, Voluma, the action and outcome of Radiesse is completely dose independent. Translated, this means that you will get lift and longevity from Radiesse whether you inject one tube or six tubes, meaning there is no minimum requirement of injection to create lift or longevity of product.
This makes Radiesse an incredibly reliable product in terms of outcome, as it allows me to judge with confidence, accuracy, and precision as to how much is required to get your best overall result. In our experience, Radiesse will last a minimum of 1 year, and up to 2 years after injection, with an average longevity of 15 months. Radiesse also stands out from its competitors in how it is packaged. Radiesse comes in 1.5 milliliter sized tubes, while all other fillers are sized at 1 milliliter or less. This means that Radiesse injection tubes have, on average 33% more filler than their counterparts.
Radiesse can be safely injected into the deep subcutaneous plane, as well as the deeper planes of the face. This means that our Vero Beach Radiesse patients commonly receive a multiplanar-type rejuvenation from Radiesse alone, especially in the midfacial, or cheek region.
Upon injection, there is an immediate lift effect. Over the next 24 hours after injection, the cohesivity of the Radiesse molecule binds into the injected area. Meaning that this product is incredibly resistant to migration and moving from the right position to the wrong position. Radiesse also has 0.3% lidocaine inside the gel itself. Lidocaine is a numbing agent used to reduce discomfort. Just like Restylane-L, Juvederm Ultra XC Plus, and Voluma, Radiesse can be safely injected in a comfortable fashion with minimal discomfort. In terms of use, Radiesse is our workhorse filler for patients with sagging cheeks that want a lift effect without looking like a chipmunk. Because the filler works at variable doses, I do not have to overfill patients who are looking for a cheek lift. This translates into creating more natural, aesthetically pleasing results that last long term as compared to having to inject more volume than needed to maintain longevity of product. This makes Radiesse our filler of choice for almost all patients requiring cheek lifting through nonsurgical means.
However, when patients require more than 6 milliliters of correction to the mid-face alone, we also use Voluma for those particular cases because that degree of volumization can be excessive, and may require reversal in some patients. Radiesse is also used avidly for creation of a brow lift, filling in the temple hollows that occur, and for elevation of sagging jowl lines in the lower 1/3 of the face. Conversely, Radiesse is absolutely never used in our practice for lip volumization, correction of the lower eyelids, or along the nasal skin. In these areas, hyaluronic acid fillers (especially Restylane-L and Restylane Silk) are both safer and offer better cosmetic results. Radiesse is offered at $700 for the initial 1.5ml tube, then reducing $50 per tube to $450. Most patients require 2-3 tubes for optimal mid-facial correction. Brow correction usually requires 1-2 tubes. Lower facial correction can require 1-3 tubes depending upon how much sagging is present.
At Ocean Drive Plastic Surgery in Vero Beach, Dr. Alan Durkin and their team of providers deliver incredible results tailored to your needs in a relaxing and uplifting atmosphere. Learn more about the Ocean Drive difference by scheduling your one-on-one diagnostic consultation with Dr. Durkin.
