Radiesse Q&A
59%
WORTH IT RATING
"Worth It Rating" shows the % of consumer reviewers that stated the procedure was "Worth It" or not. See more RealSelf Worth It Ratings or Add Your Review
Radiessebefore & after photos
View Before and Afters

Average Radiesse Cost: $950

Learn about Radiesse

1,228 people and 391 doctors are talking about Radiesse

Get Free Email Updates

Will Radiesse Have Less Side Effects and Bruising Than Restylane?

asked 1 year ago by Tylie in Minneapolis, MN
Latest answer by Robert L. Kraft, MD
Question viewed 2,320 times
Tags: comparison, side effects

I had bruising and swelling for 3 weeks post Restylane injections a few months ago in my nasolabial lines. The doctor is well repected and used novacaine shots first and then ferning technique for the injections (many many many of them which still hurt). Since Radiesse goes deeper will there be more or less swelling and visible bruising? Thank you for your answer.

17 answers to Will Radiesse Have Less Side Effects and Bruising Than Restylane?

+2

Sweliing and bruising after Radiesse vs. Restylane

Greetings Tylie~ Generally speaking the amount of bruising and swelling with Radiesse as opposed to Restylane is about the same. It is more technique dependent than product dependent. There are definitely steps that you can take as well to improve your chances of less downtime: avoid aspirin, ibuprofen, Vitamin E, Fish Oil and other medications, vitamins and supplements that may thin the blood. Avoiding alcohol the night before treatment is also a good idea. Some... more
+3

Bruising after Radiesse Injections

While bruising is something that can happen to anyone after being properly injected, technique does play a key role. Radiesse is injected beneath the skin so the doctor injecting cannot use visual aids to avoid blood vessels. Avoiding aspirin, blood thinners, and supplements such as fish oil can help to minimize your risks. Everyone has some swelling which is usually gone in one to three days. I do not use the fanning injection technique for the nasolabial folds because of... more
+2

Swelling/Bruising after Radiesse

Swelling and bruising is fairly independent of the material used. The hyaluronic acid fillers do cause blood thinning and can increase your risk of bruising but the bruises are caused by the needle under the skin cutting small blood vessels - no blood vessels cut means no bruising. Unfortunately there is no way to prevent bruising but there are several methods for minimizing it including mixing epinephrine/lidocaine with you injectible.
+2

Bruising after Radiesse and Restylane.

Bruising is caused by bleeding from the needle stick used to inject whatever filler you and your doctor choose. Since needles are used for both, bruising can result from either. This can be random, or may be related to the depth of injection, which may account for some variability, since Restylane is generally used more superficially than Radiesse, which is used slightly deeper. Careful placement with multiple sticks IS generally preferable to few "big blob" sticks, but even... more
+2

Will Radiesse Have More Side Effects Than Restylane?

Hi Tylie.  Generally we see more swelling but less bruising with Radiesse as compared to Restylane.  The likelihood of either is going to depend on the area of the face injected and on the technique used, but we would ask you to be prepared for more swelling than with Restylane.  Good luck.
+2

Bruising and type of filler

The amount of bruising is not related to the filler, but the technique/injector and your predisposition to bruise. For example, if you are on aspirin, drink a glass of wine the night before, or on steroids- you will likely bruise more.
+2

Technique Rather Than Filler Causes Side Effects

There is no guaranteed way to avoid bruising when placing filler but some docs always get bruises and others only get them occasionally.  If you watch their technique, you understand why.  Maybe your physician was just unlucky, but your experience is far from typical.  As a general rule, the deeper the injection, the less chance for bruising but in the naso-labial fold area there is not much difference in depth of placement between Restylane and Radiesse. more
+2

Bruising may occur with either Radiesse or Restylane

Bruising may occur from any filler-- this is much more dependent on the technique used than the actual filler material.  Theoretically, Radiesse may cause less bruising since it is placed in deeper plane.  However, I have not found any significant difference in bruising when I use Restylane or Radiesse.   I would take precautions to prevent bruising including the avoidance of aspirin, ibuprofen, vitamin E, and any herbal medications which may thin out your blood.... more
+2

Swelling and bruising from fillers

Multiple variables account for bruising, but in general I see slightly more swelling from Radiesse than Restylane or Juvederm.  Radiesse is used in a deeper plane than the others and uses a larger, but still small diameter, needle and bruising is very uncommon in the smile folds with any of these three fillers in my patients. Radiesse is used more often for panfacial volume augmentation, and in this situation, I do see more bruising when it is placed in multiple different planes and... more
+2

Bruising with radiesse and restylane really depends on the technique

Bruising with radiesse and restylane really depends on the technique. Yes if things are placed deeper, there is less visibility for the most part. Since radiesse is in general placed deeper it seems to have less bruising.  But it really depends on a lot of factors like genetics of the patient, whether they have been on blood thinners, whether local anesthesia was used which can increase the bruising.
+2

Radiesse injections have the same potential for bruising as other fillers

All fillers have the same potential for swelling and bruising.  There are, however, some things you can do to minimize your chances of bruising. Make sure that at least 10 days before injections you stop any medications/vitamins/herbal preparations that can thin the blood.  If you are taking any medications on the advise or prescription from a physician, you MUST consult your physician prior to discontinuing any of them. Such medications include aspirin, nonsteroidal... more
+2

All fillers have basically same adverse events

Bruising and swelling are the most common complications from fillers. If this occurs, it takes several days to resolve. Eliminating all blood thinners as well as herbal remedies and fish oil will decrease, but not eliminate, the risk. Avoiding red wine is always a good idea. Fanning injection technique has been found to increase the risk of bruising. Overall, I have found no statistical difference in the incidence of bruising with Restylane vs. Radiesse.
+2

Swelling and Bruising After Radiesse

From an anecdotal standpoint, I have noticed no difference in swelling and bruising after Radiesse compared to Restylane in the Nasolabial folds.  Likewise, I don't believe that there is any literature to support any difference in swelling and bruising. I would avoid NSAIDS, vitamin E, exotic supplements (ginkgo, etc.), fish oil, and herbal tea for 10 days before the procedure to minimize bruising.
+1

Radiesse bruising

Radiesse is injected with a larger needle. If it is injected subdermally it should not produce more swelling and bruising but this could occur from sub muscular treatment. The important thing is to use the right product in the right area of the face to produce the best result. Swelling is differential among patients and even in the same patient on different occasions. It is also important to avoid blood thinners and various herbal products prior to treatment.
+1

Bruising and swelling after Radiesse

Bruising and swelling are mostly a function of the technique, not the characteristics of the filler that is used. I don't think that I have seen more bruising with either Radiesse or Restylane. 
+1

Bruising after injectable fillers is not material dependent

The swelling and bruising that can occur after facial injectable filler treatments is related more to technique than the material. Radiesse is more viscous and uses a larger needle than Restylane so the risk is a little higher for more bruising but not significantly so.
+1

Hard to say.

I'm sorry to hear you had bruising for so long restylane injections.  Unfortunately it happens to all of us once in a while, and I hope you do not look poorly on your physician for causing a bruise.  Whether you get more or less bruising or swelling is difficult to say.  It is also difficult to compare the apples and oranges of restylane and radiesse since they are used often for different purposes, in different tissue planes, and with different injection techniques... more

Ask a question