Juvederm and Radiesse are dermal fillers with thick consistencies, making them great for adding volume to areas that appear hollow, sunken, or that require more roundness and definition. Filler treatment for cheeks is a great option for patients who have lost volume in the mid-face due to age, as the fat beds beneath the skin shift and redistribute over time, changing the appearance of the face. Both are equally good options for facial rejuvenation and removing years of aging form your appearance .
Radiesse® is a synthetic injectable material known as “CaHa” (Calcium Hydroxylapatite). CaHa acid is biocompatible (a material that does not harm the body) and biodegradable (able to be broken down by the body).
How does Radiesse® work?
Radiesse® is injected below the surface of the skin in the area of fat loss. Radiesse® provides a gradual increase in skin thickness. Visible results appear within the first few treatment sessions. Radiesse will not correct the underlying cause of the facial fat loss, but will help improve the appearance by increasing skin thickness in the treated area. No skin testing is required prior to use.
Are the results from Radiesse® immediate?
No. At your first treatment visit, it may appear that Radiesse® worked immediately because of swelling from the injections and the water used to dilute Radiesse®. In a few days, when the swelling goes down and the water is absorbed by your body, you may look as you did before your treatment. Radiesse® takes time to gradually correct the depression in your skin.
How many treatments are required?
Your Aesthetic doctor will decide the appropriate number of treatment sessions and the amount of Radiesse® you will need at each session (average 2 to 4 syringes). Patients with greater facial fat loss may require 6 to 8 vials.
How long do treatment results last?
Treatment results will differ for each person. In a clinical study, the treatment results lasted for up to 2 years after the first treatment session, in most patients. Touch-up treatments may be needed to maintain the desired effect.
Do injections of Radiesse® hurt?
As with any injection, injections with Radiesse® may be uncomfortable but not painful. This is minimised by judicious use of topical anaesthesia.
What can I expect to happen at a treatment session?
- Your Aesthetic doctor will answer all of your questions and prepare you for the treatment.
- Anaesthesia for the treatment area will be provided.
- The area where the injections will be given will be cleaned with an antiseptic.
- Radiesse® will be injected in small amounts into the skin using a very fine needle.
- Multiple injections will be needed.
- An ice pack should be applied to the treatment area to help reduce swelling.
- After the treatment session, the area should be thoroughly massaged to distribute the product evenly.
What can I expect after treatment?
Immediately following a treatment session with Radiesse®, redness, swelling, tenderness, bruising or all of these signs can happen in the treatment area. These signs usually go away in a few hours to a few days, but occasionally last longer. You should massage the treated area (a few times each day) for several days after the treatment session and an ice pack may be applied for a few minutes at a time to the treatment area to help reduce swelling. Avoid excessive sun and UV lamp exposure until any initial swelling and redness has resolved.
When can I return to work and resume my social life?
The aesthetic results are immediate and very natural looking. You can return to work and resume your social life immediately. Make-up may be applied a few hours after treatment if no complications are present (for example, open wounds or bleeding).
What are the possible side effects of treatment with Radiesse®?
Following injection, you may experience redness, slight swelling, or bruising at the injected area. Your doctor will inform you about this. These side effects generally last, on average, 3 to 17 days and can easily be covered up with your usual makeup.
Possible delayed side effect with Radiesse® can be small bumps under the skin in the treated area. These small bumps may not be visible, and you may notice them only when you press on the treated skin. These bumps tend to happen and will gradually reduce by time.
What about contraindications?
These do exist. They are not specifically related to Radiesse®, but to this type of treatment. This is why it is important to tell your doctor about any previous history of pathologies such as auto-immune diseases, allergies, known hypersensitivity, any tendency to develop hypertrophic scars, immunotherapeutic treatment, inflammatory or infectious complaints (acne or cold sores) at injection sites, if you are pregnant or breast-feeding, any previous aesthetic treatment, particularly the use of permanent products.
Is there anything I should know before I have the treatment?
Do not take aspirin for at least three days before the injection session. During the injection, risk of bruising (haematoma) and swelling will be higher for patients under anti-coagulant treatment or taking aspirin.
Contact Us
If you feel that you would benefit from facial sculpting with Radiesse®, we encourage you to schedule an initial consultation with our doctors at Cleo Clinic. Contact us today to book an appointment at our clinic in Hartamas, KL.
Read more about our section on Dermal Fillers here
