Radiesse is a unique dermal filler. There is no other filler quite like Radiesse and it is a favorite option for several key cosmetic indications at Portica. Radiesse is made of Calcium Hydroxylapatite, CaHA, which is a substance that occurs naturally in the body. Calcium Hydroxylapatite is part of what makes up bone and teeth. The Calcium Hydroxylapatite that is found in Radiesse is a man-made version of the naturally occurring form that is found in the body. As it is a naturally occurring substance, Radiesse is very well tolerated by the vast majority of the population. At Portica, we prefer using the Radiesse + form of the filler, which is a subtype of Radiesse that is infused with lidocaine to help with patient comfort during injections. Each syringe of Radiesse + contains 1.5 mL of product. This is another favorable feature of Radiesse, as most other fillers contain either 0.8 cc or 1 mL.

Radiesse has some unique qualities that make it useful and highly effective for a number of indications. First, Radiesse stimulates your body’s own natural production of collagen in the areas where it is injected. This collagen stimulating property helps the tissue become tighter and smoother and allows the results to last longer than with other fillers, such as the hyaluronic acid based fillers. The ability of Radiesse to stimulate collagen provides an anti-aging effect on the tissue where the filler is injected. The collagen inducing feature of Radiesse makes it particularly useful to treat the wrinkling that occurs around the lower face from the loss of collagen and repetitive motion from smiling and facial expressions.

Second, Radiesse has a thicker consistency, which is very effective in creating a volumizing effect. This is a particularly useful feature of Radiesse. The volumizing ability of Radiesse can be used to simulate soft facial tissue (such as facial fat) and augment the prominence of the facial bony structure. At Portica, Radiesse is often injected in the front of the cheeks, temples and in the lower face to simulate the youthful look of soft tissue in these areas.

Radiesse can be used to add structure and augment the bony features of the face. Radiesse can be injected into the lateral cheeks to simulate a more prominent cheekbone, along the edge of the jaw to create a more chiseled look to the jaw, and finally, and in the front of the chin to treat a recessed chin.

Radiesse is often used at Portica for use in the backs of the hands for patients seeking treatment to restore a more youthful look to their hands. As we age, we lose some of the fatty tissue and collagen in the back of the hands. The fat and collagen loss can create some cosmetic concerns for individuals with thinning skin, prominent veins, and visible tendons and bones. Injections of Radiesse in the back of the hands creates a softening of the area and restores a more youthful look.