What is Radiesse?

Radiesse® is not a hyaluronic acid dermal filler, it is made up of an aqueous carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) gel containing calcium hydroxyapatite microspheres and belongs to the bio-stimulating class of dermal fillers. Unlike hyaluronic acid dermal fillers which are colourless gels, Radiesse® is white in colour. Hydroxyapatite is a naturally occurring substance in the body and makes up tooth enamel and it is the main structure of bone.

During a Radiesse® biostimulator treatment, an immediate improvement in volume and lifting is obtained from the CMC gel, in much the same way as the hyaluronic acid fillers. The difference with Radiesse®, being a bio-stimulating filler, is that the calcium hydroxyapatite microspheres encourage the body to produce new collagen. The formation of collagen around the calcium hydroxyapatite microspheres gives a longer lasting result. The microspheres are broken down naturally by the body over time and results with Radiesse® will generally last up to a year and sometimes longer. The CMC gel will be absorbed by the body over a shorter time, around 8-12 weeks, by which time the body has started to replace it with its own collagen. The ability for an individual to produce collagen varies, and may be influenced by lifestyle, age, and metabolism.