Radiesse: Stories

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Not for me

  • Not Worth It
  • Cost: $800
  • Chicago, IL

I had radiesse in folds near nose and at tops of...

  • 10 Oct 2007

I had radiesse in folds near nose and at tops of cheeks to fill out hollow eyes-maybe allergic but had HUGE selling requiring temp steroids and antibiotics and then one side came up again 3 weeks later-had to do it all over BUT THE WORST is that I developed a semi-circle of raised red lines under both eyes, like someone pressed a coffee cup under them and held it the red finally went away but ONE YEAR later, I still have brown lines at the tops of my cheeks that cannot be completely covered, even with dermablend- my new doc, a top notch guy and others I saw do not know what to do-he said pixel laser MAY help-company blamed doc of course but discoloration IS listed in small print as a side effect...I know one other woman who also swelled and required meds but I am writing to advise to test first-now I am looking at laser which may or may not help and more$$ If ANYONE else experienced discoloration or has ideas on how to repair my skin, please write and share! thanks all-be cautious and do homework first...

I no longer believe the radiesse CAUSED the...

  • 14 Mar 2013
I no longer believe the radiesse CAUSED the discoloration and semi-circles. I was obviously allergic to this-others may be fine with it. The darkening actually began after a thread lift where threads were inserted across the cheek-so radiesse may have aggravated it, but the threads were the underlying cause. The radiesse is gone and the allergic swelling-but the brown lines remain-I believe because of the threads

Radiesse apparently works well for many- I...

  • 13 Apr 2013
Radiesse apparently works well for many- I obviously am allergic to it which is not common but does happen. I am happy with restlyane or juvederm as they can be reversed if needed,with a simple injection (not so for Radiesse)-so far no problems with either of these..guess it's individual preference..if you are not allergic! (can always insist DR do a test injection somewhere where it won't show to see if you are set on Radiesse-wish I had!).

Great review?

Comments (46)

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pettiej 20 May 2013
I was going to have an injection this coming Friday but I'm not so sure now. All this scares me. I had restyline in the area from nose to mouth about 5 yrs ago and it did nothing except cost me money and excessive bruising Maybe I should save my money, suck it up and accept the fact I'm an old folk now.
Chicago5110 13 May 2013
I had a brown area under my eye following tear duct surgery. (I had actually been stained by my own blood.) No concealer could cover it. I had excellent results with the laser that is used to remove tattoos. I can't remember the cost--but it was not too high.
marijowin 14 May 2013
I am in Chicago too! Do you remember which kind of laser? There are very many and some way more invasive than others...thanks for posting!
Chicago5110 14 May 2013
My dermatologist used a Q-switch laser at the lowest setting. This is the same laser used to remove tattoos. The stained pigment rose to my skin's surface and then flaked off over a few days. Only one treatment was needed in my case. Excellent results, not painful, relatively inexpensive. An even better idea is preventative. A VBeam laser will eliminate the bruises much more rapidly, preventing "permanent" staining to take place. I wish more doctors were aware of this.
LaChristinel 5 Apr 2013
The doctor should have never injected you before doing a allergy test.
columbiacrest 5 Apr 2013
I told him that I suffer from several drug allergies along with environmental allergies. He never suggested an allergy test. He said radiesse was a natural product, made from natural elements which our own body produces. I am just concerned that once I stop the claritin, my eyes will go back to being puffy and deformed.
4619anon 5 Oct 2011
I too had radiesse injections for my cheeks. I went to a board certified facial plastic surgeon and specified my desire to have fullness restored to my cheeks just below my tear trough area. One side seems/looks fine. The other side has a sunken spot in the tear trough and is a reddish color. There was no volume restored in my cheeks except a little on the upper side, which makes the rest of my cheek look even more deflated. It's been almost 3 weeks and I am scheduled for a follow up in a week. I personally think this was a mistake and feel terrible about the way I look. It also is more expensive than I can afford and I feel awful about the waste of money. Now, I am reading so much about how the radiesse should not be used in the under eye region at all and my Doctor did inject it there. I don't understand how these supposed "expert" and certified doctors are making such dangerous mistakes???
sally49 (unregistered guest) 25 Jan 2010
Thank you for sharing this and I am so sorry to read and see your poor outcome with this product. I hope it has improved for you since you last wrote. I think it is a good sign that time is healing your eyes and that the redness is gone. Hopefully the brown line will fade. I am skeptical overall of any product injected directly under the eyes. I know someone personally who had Restylin and had the same "coffee cup" pressed eyes as well. Eyes are very sensitive. I had another product injected on my cheekbones with a similar outcome but that skin is not as tender as direcly under the eyes and it has faded and covered with make up more easily. You are a pretty girl and hopefully you will get through this with this, heal your skin and help others by sharing your experience.
jenny1970 29 Sep 2009
I had radiesse in July. All of the above have happened to me. I went to a well respected dr. They are doing everything they can to help me. I have been on steriods, they have injected other filler to try and smooth out, we are now trying a massage method. I was scheduled to have it surgery this week until they decided to try the massage mathod. I have been going to the dr twice a week since July. I have to have ice on my eyes several times a day and take arnica, etc. I have a 1 year old and do not have time for all of this. It has made me depressed and I just want a solution! Has anybody contacted the company about this? OR contacted a lawyer?
Brenda05 25 Aug 2009
Hi Marijowin, can you tell me if the brown lines are gone and if your face has completely healed? I had a similar experience and 5 months later I am better but wanted to see how long it took for the product to completely dissolve? Thank you.
Abby Dawn In MI 28 Jul 2009
To anyone who lives in South East- Michigan I will provide the name of my incompetant plastic surgeon so everyone knows who to avoid!
anne marie (unregistered guest) 27 Jul 2009
I hope you sue! I don't believe this crap I am reading up here! Am having my own probs with juvederm injections, bruising and swelling.....doc has said she will do anything neessary at her cost to make me happy. what would make me happy is to get rid of this stuff and just be me....and sue her for incompetence! They think we are all money pits!
Brenda05 21 Jun 2009
Hi Abby Dawn, I went back to the doctor and received another steroid injection. The doctor has reduced the lump almost completely. You can no longer even call it a lump, the radiesse is a smooth line and a tiny white spot remains. I'm so pleased with the doctor's repair. The results are amazing! The entire Radiesse experience has been a nightmare. It is so important to choose the right filler and the right doctor! I won't make the Radiesse mistake again!
Abby Dawn In MI 6 Jun 2009
Let me know how tha saline injection works...thanks!
Brenda05 27 May 2009
After my Radiesse injection under my eye caused a lump and the doctor that injected it couldn't help me solve the problem, I went to a plastic surgeon in Dallas. He gave me an injection of Vitrase. While this will not dissolve the Radiesse it did smooth the product and softened the lump. It feels better and is less white than before. My next visit he will try to break up the lump with a saline soution then he could add a little filler to the other side of my face and even up the appearance of the lump. My eye is much improved. At least now I can look people in the face. I will never use Radiesse again. Any money that I would have saved on this long term filler will be spent on correcting the lump under my eye.
Abby Dawn In MI 11 May 2009
I had a similar experience with Radiance. 5 weeks ago I had it injected under my eyes. One eye is swollen like a bag and the other has 2 lines, similar to yours, but white. Has your issue ever resolved? If so pleasee tel me how..I have been miserable everyday...
toby walsh 18 Aug 2010
i had it done 6 weeks ago in what they called tear troughs and am very unhappy; still have fluid like swelling (big bags) and now redness since bruises are gone, i've tried everything and now i can't get nurse to return my calls! i want to know is it going to go away. I look worse than what i did before i did this so $1018 down the drain. the doc told me it was not FDA approved for eyes but had great results the 2 years she's been doing it. I wouldn't recommend this under eyes for anyone. I canceled vacation and wedding because of it and just started leaving the house but keep my glasses on. i'm so upset.
columbiacrest 22 Mar 2013
I see your post is from 3 years ago, hopefully your problem has been resolved. I am going through the same thing now myself. Worse part is that am getting married in six weeks. Can you please let me know if anything helped with the big bags? And my bags come and go..so strange worse in the morning, then they get better later in the day. Am so sorry I had this done, I looked much better before this treatment.
marijowin 22 Mar 2013
Ask your doctor for a Medrol Dosepak 4 mg if you have any swelling or redness. Also one Zyrtec a day may help. I'm a pharmacist and both helped me the swelling and redness are gone and so the brown lines are still there but much less noticeable. Ask a good dermatologist or plastic surgeon if the 2 drugs I mentioned could help. And enjoy your wedding you'll be gorgeous!
jk 23 Mar 2013
Hi Columbiacrest, Things are the same with me, good days and bad. I have the bags every morning and use green tea bags to "deflate" them but the saggy skin remains. I always travel with tea bags in my purse! I know this has been stressful for you but don't let it ruin your wedding day!
columbiacrest 23 Mar 2013
How long has it been since your procedure? I am trying to be positive, just wanted to look less tired on my wedding day! thank you for your support!
columbiacrest 23 Mar 2013
Hi marijowin, Do you have any idea why the swelling comes and goes? You give me hope!! thank you !!
marijowin 23 Mar 2013
No. It's been a few years and last month was one of the worst. Went to see another pl surgeon for advice on what to do and she agrees with the medrol dosepak. It really helped as it took all the puffiness and redness away. I still have the brown lines but I can cover them ok. She said the threads from the facelift dissolved but they damaged or reacted with my skin somehow. She said I am very allergic to Radiesse and this aggravated it all. No idea why some months it's ok and then flares up but she cautioned against anything dramatic like laser to get rid of them. She said the 2 meds seemed to be helping so just leave it alone for now. Eventually may resolve on its own. Also Aveeno Calming face cream and basis mild soap help with redness.
columbiacrest 23 Mar 2013
Oh my gosh!!! this could go on for years??
jen DAVIS 18 Apr 2008
im 28 and have the same red welp looking lines uder my eyes-its ruining my life-really!@!!!!Can inject steroids and get rid of it

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