Radiesse

What Makes Radiesse Different from Other Dermal Fillers?

Radiesse is the only dermal filler available composed of calcium-based microspheres, and has been shown to stimulate the natural production of collagen, for results that may last up to a year or more in many patients. Additionally, in clinical studies with leading hyaluronic acid injectable dermal fillers, results showed that Radiesse patients were more satisfied with their results than patients treated with other leading wrinkle fillers. In addition, 30% less Radiesse may be needed for correction when compared to Perlane®injectable gel.

Is Radiesse Painful?

Radiesse is injected under the skin in a quick procedure that can be done over the lunch hour. Radiesse is also FDA-approved to mix with lidocaine (an anesthetic), which means the procedure will be much more comfortable. In fact, in a clinical study, 90% of patients treated reported significant pain reduction when injected with Radiesse mixed with lidocaine.

How soon will I see Results and how long will they last?

Immediately upon injection, Radiesse restores volume to smooth out the signs of aging. The natural-looking results may last up to a year or more in many patients.

Are there side Effects?

The most common adverse events include bruising, redness, swelling, pain, tenderness and itching. These side effects generally last for a short time and are mild in nature. These are not all of the possible side effects with Radiesse. Tell your health care provider about any side effects that bother you or do not go away.

How should I prepare for my Radiesse appointment?

If possible, one should stop their baby aspirin or other non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (like Motrin, ibuprofen, Aleve, naproxen), as these will thin your blood and make bruising more common. If you need a pain reliever, Tylenol, will not worsen your risk for bruising. You may also pick up Arnica tablets prior to your appointment to help reduce bruising. If you are on a blood thinner because of previous heart issues, stroke, or clotting disorders, please inform your provider. The majority of times we will have you continue your medications. Plan on icing after the procedure, as this will reduce swelling and bruising risks. One should not exercise until the day after your treatment. If possible, please come to your appointment with clean skin without makeup.

What are the common side effects of my filler treatment with Radiesse? Should I expect some downtime with my Radiesse treatment?

One should expect redness at injection site, swelling, and bruising. Swelling generally lasts for about 2-3 days and then dissipates. Bruising continues for 5-10 days depending on the individual. At Frederick Dermatology Associates, we can lessen these side effects many times with the use of a cannula. A cannula is a device used to deliver filler less traumatically than a needle, and also minimizes the more rare side effects from filler. Not all practices are trained in cannula use, this is one of ways Frederick Dermatology sets itself apart. We also ask that patients receiving filler keep a follow up appointment 2-4 weeks after their treatment. We like to compare before and after pictures and make sure you are completely satisfied.

How do I know which filler is best for me?

At Frederick Dermatology, the staff is trained to help determine the best product selection for each patient. Most people need variable products for the most natural cosmetic look. Every patient is different, and each filler has different properties. Our professionally trained staff understands the subtle differences between each product to guide the perfect treatment plan. The best news is that with all of the new products released to the market, we have more options to create the optimal result for each individual patient. Natural results are always at the forefront of our minds. At Frederick Dermatology Associates, we only inject non-permanent fillers that are FDA approved. Permanent fillers have higher side effect profiles to them and cannot be reversed if necessary. Both the Restylane and Juvederm families can be reversed with a product called hyaluronidase.

Does a filler treatment with Radiesse hurt?

Most people rate the pain at about a 3/10. At Frederick Dermatology, we do everything to make it a comfortable and satisfying experience. We ask that you arrive 30-45 minutes prior to your appointment time so we may apply topical anesthesia. Other helpful ways to reduce pain are with ice and Zimmer cooling. In addition, most products contain lidocaine within them to help with pain control. Most people are surprised how easy of an experience it is once they have received filler at Frederick Dermatology.

How long does Radiesse last? How often do I need to repeat my treatment to maintain my results?

Filler generally lasts anywhere from 6 months to 2 years. Everyone breaks it down a bit differently. Most patients plan come in once per year to refresh their results. Many times fewer syringes are used at that time because some product remains. Yet, collagen stimulation occurs even after one treatment with filler. Therefore, even if you do not repeat your filler again, you may be better off than never having done filler.

How can I ensure natural results?

At Frederick Dermatology, you will never be overdone. We would rather under-treat than over-treat our patients. The goal is to look refreshed. No one should know you had a filler treatment. We find filler treatments have one of the highest satisfaction rates among all our non-invasive procedures. Nearly everyone undergoes volume loss as they age. Correcting this issue, in a natural way, has an amazing result.

Can I have other treatments performed on the same day?

We know that everyone has a busy life, and many of our patients take time off work to have their treatments. Many procedures can be combined with filler the same day. Some of the more common popular combination treatments are Botox, Dysport, and Intense Pulsed Light (IPL).

How do I know if I am experiencing an uncommon side effect of Radiesse?

Overall, filler is extremely safe, especially when delivered by board-certified dermatologists. We like to call our patients the next day to ensure they are healing appropriately. However, if you have any question about unusual bruising or pain, we ask that you touch base with the office. There is no dumb question, and we want to make sure you are well taken care of.

Where can Radiesse be used?

Filler can be used in many locations for optimizing results. Some of the more common areas filler can be used are the temples, cheeks, lips, around mouth, hands, and neck.

An amazing face lift can be achieved when replacing volume from many of these areas. In addition, many of our patients receive Botox or Dysport in combination with their filler to maximize their lift. Injections in the brow and along the jawline (called the Nefertiti neck lift) can cause the brow/eyelids and jaw line to gain an amazing youthful appearance.

Can you put Radiesse between the brows to treat the 11’s?

You can do this treatment with filler using thinner products like Juvederm Ultra, Restylane, or Belotero. Yet, the better, lower risk procedure is Botox, Dysport, or Xeomin. The reason why you have those 11’s is that the muscle underneath the skin keeps contracting to worsen those wrinkles. So, the products designed to relax those muscles work better to treat and prevent deeper 11’s. With time and continued treatments, these wrinkles will continue to improve. What makes this area risky for filler are superficial vessels that run between the brow. If an injector was to accidentally place filler in these vessels, it could block the blood supply to the skin and cause an ulceration in this area.

Can Frederick Dermatology help if I received a “bad radiesse job” from somewhere else?

Yes, we initially start with a consult and ask that you get your records from the previous provider. It is helpful for us to evaluate previous notes and see if the products used are reversible. If hyaluronic acid products like the Restylane or Juvederm families were used, hyaluronidase can be used to undo over-done filler.

How many years younger will I look from my Radiesse treatment?

On average, most people feel they look 3-4 years younger from their filler treatment. Results may not be as drastic as plastic surgery, but on the other hand, most patients feel very satisfied with their natural results that had little to no downtime, less cost, and less risk.

When should I get my Radiesse treatment if I am planning for a special event like a wedding, high school reunion, or anniversary?

We recommend receiving your treatment 4-6 weeks before your big event. Results are in full-effect and any bruising or swelling has completely gone away several weeks prior.

Should my lips be more swollen than other areas injected with Radiesse?

Most of the time, the answer is yes. The lips have a tendency to swell more than other areas. Again, cannula injections can help minimize this, but for the most part, swelling has peaked at 48 hours and then goes down. Continuing ice throughout this time and ibuprofen after the procedure can help the swelling go down quicker.

Can I receive Radiesse on the same day as my consultation?

Most of the times if you have specified this when making the appointment, we can accommodate your schedule. However, we do allow for significant scheduling time when receiving filler. Therefore, if this important to you, please let our staff know, and we will do our best to make things convenient for you.