Radiesse is a dermal filler containing calcium hydroxylapatite (CaHA) that supports your skin’s own collagen production. It belongs to the group of collagen-stimulating fillers, also called biostimulators. It gives support straight after treatment and, over the following months, contributes to firmer skin and better tissue quality.

The product is made of tiny calcium hydroxylapatite microspheres suspended in a soft gel. Its effect develops in two stages:

• Immediate support: The gel adds volume and a subtle lift to the treated area.
• Gradual collagen effect: As the gel is absorbed over time, the microspheres act as a scaffold that stimulates new collagen around them.

With age, collagen and elastin decline, the facial oval loses definition and the skin gets thinner. While classic facial fillers mainly replace lost volume, Radiesse aims to restore contour and strengthen the tissue’s own support structure.

Radiesse is used in areas of the face that need support and contour. The most common areas are:

• Jawline and chin: To bring definition back to a softened facial oval.
• Cheekbones and cheeks: To restore lost support in the mid-face.
• Sides of the face: To support tissue that has started to loosen.

Radiesse can also be diluted. Here the aim is not to add volume but to support skin firmness and quality, for example on thinning skin of the neck, décolletage and backs of the hands. For other options in these areas, see neck, décolletage and hand fillers.

Good candidates usually have early laxity of the facial oval, mid-face volume loss and a wish for a natural, refreshed result. If the aim is to bring the chin forward or create a sharp contour, chin and jawline filler may be considered as well. For people who want hydration as well as support, HarmonyCA filler may be an option.

Radiesse is not used in the lips or under the eyes. Which product goes where is decided at your consultation after assessing the whole face.

Treatment starts with a detailed facial analysis. Your doctor identifies where support has been lost and plans the injection points.

1. The area is cleansed and an anesthetic cream is applied for a short time.
2. Radiesse is placed in the deeper layers of the skin with a fine needle or a blunt-tipped cannula, depending on the area.
3. The product is distributed to support the tissue and shaped by the doctor.
4. Both sides are compared at the end and symmetry is checked.

Treatment takes around 30 minutes, and most people return to their daily routine the same day. A single session is often enough; if needed, a top-up can be planned at the follow-up visit.

Unlike hyaluronic acid fillers, Radiesse cannot be dissolved with an enzyme. That makes choosing the right area, dose and depth especially important. Treatment should be done with a licensed product by a doctor who knows facial anatomy well.

To help the product settle in the first days:

• Avoid strenuous exercise and makeup for 24 hours.
• Don’t press on or rub the treated area.
• Avoid saunas, steam rooms and sunbeds for a few days.
• Wait for the time your doctor recommends before facial massage or device-based skin treatments.

Mild swelling, redness, tenderness and small bruises are expected and usually ease within a few days.

Rarely, small lumps you can feel (nodules), asymmetry or infection can occur. As with any filler, product affecting a blood vessel is possible, though very rare. If you notice whitening or purplish discoloration of the skin, or pain that keeps getting worse, contact your doctor without delay.

Radiesse is not a lasting filler. The gel and microspheres are gradually absorbed by the body, while the collagen effect keeps developing over the following months.

Depending on your age, skin type, metabolism and lifestyle, results usually last 12 to 18 months. When to repeat treatment is decided at a follow-up based on your skin.

To compare Radiesse with Sculptra, another collagen stimulator, read Radiesse vs Sculptra. If you prefer a more gradual change, see our Sculptra page.