Should I Try a Different Filler to Correct Poor Radiesse Results?

asked 3 years ago by Julie London
Latest answer by David Shafer, MD
Question viewed 4,658 times
Tags: indentation, revision

A Radiesse injection left an indentation in one cheek. The attempt at correction made it worse.

Should I hope it will go back to normal in time or try to have to another filler placed in indenation?

11 answers to Should I Try a Different Filler to Correct Poor Radiesse Results?

Radiesse complications

Radiesse is an injectable form of calcium hydroxylapatite and tends to be thicker than hyaluronic acid-based fillers. Radiesse generally lasts aound 9 months, but traces of the product can remain for longer than one year. Rarely, granulomas can form after Radiesse injections. These are areas of inflammation that can present as a red, tender lump. Small amounts of steroids injected locally can help in the resolution of granulomas. Massage may also be of benefit. A depression caused by scar... more

Brett S. Kotlus, MD
Rochester Oculoplastic Surgeon

Restylane to correct Radiesse

As Radiesse is injected more frequently by inexperienced physicians, I am seeing more and more complications. Radiesse is not very "user friendly" and unlike Restylane, Perlane, and Juvederm, it cannot be dissolved. The most common problem is over-injection, causing lumps. Sometimes, this can be reversed with aggressive massage, especially if done in the first 2 weeks. Other times, the Radiesse was injected in the wrong place (like lateral to the nasolabial fold). For those, I... more

Mary Lupo, MD
New Orleans Dermatologist

Be careful no to do too much

Any filler can occasionally result in bumps or slight skin irregularities. It is most often a result of where the filler is placed ( too high in the skin) or how much is used (overcorrection). Generally speaking, these slight imperfections can be alleviated with massage, extraction or using a needle and cortisone injections to break up hard bumps. These all must be done by experienced hands so as not to worsen the problem. Sometimes, indentations can be caused by small scars in the skin... more

Edgar Franklin Fincher, MD, PhD
Beverly Hills Dermatologic Surgeon

Correction of Radiesse Injections

Radiesse is actually a great product when injected properly. That is why it is so important to make sure that you are being injected by an experienced and board certified plastic surgeon or dermatologist. If you want to make any corrections to previous injections, another good product is Juvederm which can be injected more superficial and is great to filling divots.

David Shafer, MD
New York Plastic Surgeon

Radiesse correctional options

Radiesse is an excellent and versatile filler in the hands of experienced aesthetic physicians. Radiesse is made of calcium hydroxyapatite, think of it as biocompatible synthetic ground up bony material. However, if one is unhappy with Radiesse results, your option may be limited . Other than tincture of time, you may want to seek a second opinion to use hyaluronic acid based fillers such as Restylane, Juvederm, or Perlane where the correctional filler injection can be reversed... more

William Ting, MD
Bay Area Dermatologic Surgeon

Possible reasons for indentation

There are multiple explanations as to why you had a depression after Radiesse. There may have been too much filler in one area or not enough filler in that area. There could have been a scar tissue that the doctor was not aware about. Even an injection too close to the skin could have caused the indentation. Some possible treatments you can try is massaging the area, first and foremost. A steroid injection or a subcision to fill the scar tissue is an option. But see your dermatologist for... more

Sanusi Umar, MD
Redondo Beach Dermatologic Surgeon

Using a different filler to correct a Radiesse deformity

Radiesse is an excellent dermal filler with good longevity and can produce excellent results. Like all fillers however, it is possible to have an uneven result if the Radiesse is used incorrectly or placed into superficial a plane. Plastic surgeon or dermatologist to discuss your concerns. They may recommend injection of around the deformity to help camouflage it. It is possible that Radiesse may be injected or other fillers such as hyaluronic acids such as Juvederm. It is... more

B. Pat Pazmino, MD
Miami Plastic Surgeon

Hard to tell

It is hard to tell why you have a depression after injection. This is something needs to be examined. This can be due to overfill around the area or underfill in the area that appears indented. It can also be scar tissue....hard to tell. If it is just from underfill, then more filler could help.

Steven Wallach, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Radiesse is not like the other fillers

Dear Julie, Trying to understand what went wrong is difficult by email. The things that can cause your problem include; Too much filler in one area (overcorrection). A scar in the skin that does not allow skin to expand when a filler is injected, thereby creating the appearance of a depression. Injection of radiesse too close to the skin. Not all fillers are the same, if Radiesse is injected as close to the skin as the other fillers (Restylane and Juvederm) it will create more lumps and... more

Robert M. Freund, MD
New York Plastic Surgeon

Poor Radiesse results not so easily corrected.

I would really need to know what you mean by poor results. If the problem is that you did not get good correction, perhaps you simply need another treatment with additional filler. Radiesse is a useful and safe filler which I use frequently. If by poor results you mean bumps or irregular contour, that is quite hard to correct, and I am not sure that a different filler would help in this situation. Radiesse is a very long lasting filler, so unfortunately any lumps produced by Radiesse also... more

George J. Beraka, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Figure out what went wrong prior to adding a different dermal filler

You might consider what left you with a less than aesthetic appearance or a complication prior to considering the addition of another dermal filler. Many of the problems encountered can be corrected through either massaging, extraction, or some addition of the same filler, etc. Many areas of ovecorrection, undercorrection, or surface irregularities can be improved (not always resolved) through either massaging, extraction (if recently injected) or the additional of small amounts of filler.... more