Radiesse®- Product & Application
What is Radiesse®?
Radiesse® is a solid and viscous tissue filler that is often used by plastic surgeons.
Radiesse® has been approved in Europe since 2004 and in the USA since 2006. The fabric filler is supplied by the company Merz produced. The filler consists of 30 percent tiny calcium hydroxyapatite particles (microspheres of 25 to 45 micrometers in diameter). Calcium hydroxyapatite is composed of calcium and phosphate. It is a natural building block of the human body and is found in bones, among other things. In the pre-filled syringes, the calcium hydroxyapatite is dissolved in water (approx. 25 percent), sodium carboxymethylcellulose (9 percent) and glycerine (4 percent). The dermal filler contains the local anesthetic lidocaine (0.3 percent).
Areas of application of Radiesse®
A major advantage of Radiesse® is that there is a great deal of experience since its introduction in 2004. Accordingly, the effect has been well investigated and proven in various studies. Radiesse® can be used for the following reasons:
- Correction of bone loss at the temples
- Contouring of the face with fat loss on the cheeks
- Filling of hollow cheeks
- Smoothing deep wrinkles
- Emphasizing or filling the cheekbones
- Optimizing the furrows of the nose and cheek area
- Modeling the jaw angle
- Concealing sagging cheeks
- Hand rejuvenation
- Helps against protruding veins on the hands
- Firming effect for sagging skin on the upper arms
- Smoothing effect on the skin on the buttocks
- Improve skin quality on the upper arms or stomach
- Reducing stretch marks
- Improve skin elasticity on the décolleté and neck
- Improves the appearance of skin with cellulite
How long does Radiesse® last?
The properties of the calcium hydroxyapatite particles ensure a long-lasting and reliable effect.
Important characteristic values:
- Duration of action (months): 12
- Modulus of elasticity (G’ in Pascal, at 30°Celsius and 0.7 Hertz): 1407 (Sundaram H., et al., 2013, Plast Reconstr Surg)
- Viscosity modulus (G” in Pascal, at 30°Celsius and 0.7 Hertz): 605 (Sundaram H., et al., 2013, Plast Reconstr Surg)
- Quotient of viscosity and elasticity (Tan Delta value): 0.43
How does Radiesse® work?
The effect is based on two effects:
- Injections close to the bone help to create a healthier expression by increasing volume. The calcium hydroxyapatite corrects age-related or genetic changes to the cheeks, cheekbones, temples or chin.
- Radiesse® increases the skin’s elasticity and collagen production. The injection has a strengthening effect on thin skin (Lapatina NG, et al, 2017, J Drugs Dermatol).
Radiesse® and hyaluron
Calcium hydroxyapatite can be combined with other fillers such as hyaluronic acid, muscle relaxants and poly-L-lactic acid. The use of a muscle-relaxing substance one week before Radiesse® injections prolongs the success of the treatment. Muscle relaxation, volume building and skin rejuvenation complement each other and ensure long-term and visible results.
