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The Longest Lasting Semi-Permanent Solutions

 

After the hyaluronic acid craze of the past few years, Radiesse is finding its niche in the injectable market. Before Radiesse was FDA approved for aesthetic use, it went by the name of Radiance, which was used primarily to treat voice chord problems. It was recently approved by the FDA for the treatment of wrinkles and folds and HIV lipoatrophy.

 

                                         

                                                Photo courtesy of Radiesse - BioForm

 

Radiesse injections allow the patient to leave the doctor’s office with a long term improvement. At first the smooth microspheres of calcium hydroxyapatite (a substance found naturally in the body) acts like a filler, but over the next few months it prompts the skin to produce collagen. Over time the microspheres disintegrate but the wrinkle correction provided by the new collagen stays. Radiesse and Radiance is made by Bioform Medical.

Because of the density of Radiesse, this filler is more appropriate for injection in the nasolabial folds, marionette lines and the cheeks. Some doctors have also used Radiesse off label for the bony appearance of the hands and loss of volume. There is no need for an allergy test with this filler, so one trip to the dermatologist or plastic surgeon can yield results that can last several months to a year.

 

                              

                                                Photo courtesy of Radiesse - BioForm

                                    

For facial contouring, RADIESSE can be used for:

  • Nasolabial folds

  • Marionette lines

  • Cheek augmentation

  • Improvement in the appearance of lower eyelid bags

  • Lateral brow elevation

  • Non-surgical rhinoplasty

  • Improvement in facial volume loss due to aging or disease (HIV lipoatrophy)

  • Chin augmentation

  • Facial depressions from trauma

    • This filler should never be given to the lip area, as the change of migration and hard granulomas in the lips are great.

     

                               

                                  Before and After Image of Radiesse in Nasolabial Folds

     

     

    • The Details:  

    Before treatment you will be given a local anesthetic or nerve block to increase your comfort – and the injections themselves take from 10 minutes up to half an hour depending on the correction. Side effects include bruising and swelling that can last up to two weeks, but you will notice improvement immediately. The injection technique is a 27 gauge needle and injected in the lower dermis junction with linear threading.

    A syringe of Radiesse contains about 1.3 cc of material, which is more than Restylane (1.0cc) or Juvederm (0.8cc). After the Radiesse is injected, your body will start to make its own collagen around the microscopic beads of the calcium hydroxyl apatite (CaHA). This collagen can last much longer than the Radiesse, which is why some physicians refer to this filler as a semi-permanent filler.

     

    Radiesse New Syringe Size

    • Radiesse has just launched a brand new Volume Advantage syringe for the U.S. aesthetic market - March 9, 2009.  This syringe contains 1.5cc of Radiesse.  The same physician list price of $295.00 per syringe will replace the older 1.3cc syringe.  Bioform has increased the volume of the standard Radiesse dermal filler by 15% while maintaining the same price to provide physicians and patients better value.

    • Bioform has also released a brand new "moderate fill" syringe at a list price to physicians of $199.  This syringe will have 0.8cc of Radiesse - and the company started shipment with the Moderate Fill Syringe - April 13, 2009.

     

    It is very important to ask what size syringe you will be getting from your medical professional:

    • Radiesse Volume Advantage Syringe - 1.5cc - physician list - $295.00

    • Radiesse Moderate Fill Syringe - 0.8cc - physician list - $199.00

     

     

    • What it is:

    Calcium-based micro-spheres suspended in a water base gel. The calcium hydroxyl apatite (CaHA)is about 30% of the product; the rest is the gel carrier.

     

    • Pros:  

    Immediate and long term results

     

    • Cons:  

    Cannot be used in high movement areas like the lips.

    Can cause subcutaneous nodules if not injected correctly.

     

                                                   

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                                          Patient with Subcutaneous Nodules from Radiesse

     

    • How long it lasts:  

    Manufacturer States – Two to three years

     

    • Approximate Longevity: 

    Nine to twelve months

     

     

                                      

                                 Graft showing longevity of RADIESSE vs. Restylane

                         

                                                          Photo courtesy of Radiesse - BioForm

     

     

    RADIESSE ADVANTAGES:

  • Long-lasting results may last a year or more in many patients, results may vary

  • Immediate correction

  • Convenient and easy to use - no need for frequent office visits to achieve optimal correction and the product comes ready-made in a pre-filled syringe

  • RADIESSE filler stimulates the body to produce new collagen.

  • Smooth calcium hydroxylapatite (CaHA) microsphere technology

  • Biocompatible and nonantigenic - eliminates the need for skin testing, and is not made with animal or human derived components

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    RADIESSE DISADVANTAGES:

  • Lumps or granulomas may form

  • No chemical available to dissolve a Radiesse/Radiance lump

  • The firmer consistency of Radiesse makes it typically unsuitable for lip augmentation

  • Surgical excision is recommended for a granuloma or lump

  • Swelling is more pronounced with Radiesse than any other filler

  • More bruising may occur with Radiesse, because a larger gauge needle is used

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