Radiesse
Radiesse FN is a new injectable
product for lip enlargement and filling of folds and lines. The advantage of this
product is the potential for a long lasting effect.
Radiesse FN consists of calcium
hydroxylapatite suspended in gel (carboxymethycellulose). Because
calcium hydroxylapatite is a normal constituent of bone, it should not
elicit a chronic inflammatory or immune response. Additionally, the gel carrier doesn’t require allergy testing such as required with other injectable
fillers.
Calcium hydroxylapatite has been used in humans for a long time in prosthetic
implants in dental, facial, and orthopedic surgery. Animal
studies and use of the injectable product in vocal cords and bladder
neck areas have shown that the product remains soft without new bone
formation when injected into oft tissue. The longest term studies come from Italy and suggest
that Radiesse FN shows promise as a new agent for facial contouring with no serious
side effects and reasonable efficacy and durability.
Radiesse FN has FDA clearance for vocal cord injection, soft tissue marking
in any anatomical location and oral/maxillofacial augmentation. FDA clearance
for facial implant is pending.
ASK US ABOUT RADIESSE
Radiesse Frequently
Asked Questions
How long will the Radiesse
last?
Most patients treated with Radiesse should look for a correction which last around two years although some
patients treatment will last three years or longer.
What areas of the face are normally treated with Radiesse?
Typical Radiesse
treatments include: smoothing and contouring smile lines or nasolabial folds,
wrinkles at the corner of the mouth, vertical
lip lines, acne scars, facial defects or recessions, frown lines,
restoring volume in and around the cheeks, providing lip definition and
modest enhancement or correcting asymmetrical features.
Will the Radiesse
become hard, calcified or noticeable to touch?
To the contrary…Radiesse
will remain soft and take on the characteristics of the surrounding tissue. New
soft tissue will gradually replace the Radiesse over time with most replacement occurring within three months. Patients report Radiance remaining soft and passing the “kiss test”.
Does the treatment hurt?
A mild localized anesthetic is normally used to minimize or usually eliminate the pain associated with this
type of treatment. The numbing effects will wear off in 15 minutes to as long
as a couple of hours depending on the anesthetic used by your physician. There
is no pain reported afterwards.
Are there any lingering effects of the treatment and when can I return
to my normal activities?
There is minor inflammation or swelling from the treatment as a result of the expansion of facial tissue. This is normally resolved well within 24 hours but has been reported to last as long
as 48 hours for some patients. Most patients resume normal activities only a
few hours after receiving treatment. Application of ice intermittently for a
short period after the treatment will help reduce any swelling.
Is there any activity restriction after I receive the treatment?
You should avoid activities that will strain your facial features for 48 hours following treatment as much as
possible. For example, avoid activities such as strenuous laughing, using a straw,
singing, shouting, cheering, chewing gum, eating beef jerky, etc. Otherwise normal
activities are fine.
What is Radiesse
made of?
Radiesse
consists of tiny microspheres of a synthetic material called calcium
hydroxylapatite (30%) that is combined with a common hydrogel (70%)
used in a vast array of products. The result is a white, creamy
like substance. While
calcium hydroxylapatite has similar chemical and structural
characteristics as bone and teeth and therefore is naturally compatible
with the body, the Radiesse material is synthetic and
man-made similar to a calcium phosphate.
Will I need a kin test to determine if I will have a reaction to the Radiesse.
No. Due to the safe and compatible materials used in Radiesse no pre-testing
of any kind is required. There have been no reported reactions from use of the
Radiesse
product.
How safe is Radiesse
and are there any complications to the treatment?
Radiesse
has been safely injected in over 30,000+ patients worldwide without a
report of reaction to the product. There have been minor complications reported by some patients receiving large volume lip augmentation where
some lumpiness or small nodules have occurred within several days of treatment. Complications
of this nature have been normally resolved clinically within 30-60 days
with patients reporting satisfaction. Smaller volume lip augmentation is recommended.
