Radiesse: Stories

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I Know It Won't Last Forever..but How Long Does It REALLY Last? - Scottsdale, AZ

  • Right side of chin more squared
  • Chin asymmetry more obvious in this light and angle.  Hopefully my super cleavage distracts away from the unevenness of my chin lol.

I have been using Juvederm and Perlane for various...

I have been using Juvederm and Perlane for various areas for the past few years. I heard the Radiesse lasts much longer (supposedly a year?) bc it is a different kind of filler so I am wanting to try in in a few spots - nasolabial area, upper cheek bones, and possibly in an area of my chin that is asymmetrical due to an old injury from blunt force trauma. The tip of my nose would be great too but not sure if the provider does that area. I was told that bruising is more common with this filler but we will see. I typically only bruise in the lip area as it is so sensitive so hopefully won't have any issues.

So I chickened out and the timing was conflicting...

So I chickened out and the timing was conflicting with work anyways so I cancelled. I did however get a chance to talk to my facial plastic surgeon about it and have an appt to have him do it. He told me a little more about it so I am more at ease getting a long term filler (and one that is a different kind than I've ever had). He says it works well when it is injected near bone bc of what it is composed of (calcium based microspheres) which is good since my areas desired to treat are my cheekbones and chin.

I originally was going to go somewhere else bc I didn't want to bother my surgeon with my filler appts all the time when he is busy reconstructing and surgically beautifying people's faces (he's a few wks booked out!). But I am relieved that I asked him about it bc I was really nervous about injecting something new into my face and I always feel confident in the work he does since he is a specialist.

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Did you ever end up getting filler in the tip of your nose? I have a more of a bulbous nose, and I've always been curious about this. I wonder if filler could give me a more defined tip without being too obvious..? You are gorgeous, btw :)
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I have gotten a tiny bit in the tip but it is a hard place to try to fill (and painful).  I do like it but find that getting just the bridge filled is usually sufficient enough to make a difference in my profile.  I have been contemplating a little nose work in the future along with some other subtle enhancements to get my features a little more symmetric. That's actually one of the reasons for holding off on the radiesse (in case I get a little chin implant instead to even it out).
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i've been exploring the options such as radiesse; also, i've heard of gortex implants, which last forever, unless you have them taken out.. anybody know anything about that?

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No but I would be worried how they feel (hard?)/  Try looking into fat transfer, I had it in my undereyes and love it. and how big is the incision for those gotex? bc I know when you get a filled implant like silicone breast implants put in, the incision must accommodate that size and is a bigger scar.
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Gortex implant? That must be New right. I've only heard of silicone and EPYFE implants (which are silicone but covered with something).
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Your are right about everything you said. Any procedure needs to be seriously thought about before you do it and you are smart to research your options. I had Radiesse done to camaflouge under eye bags because I didn't want surgery and the bags made me look much older than I am. I could feel lumps where it was injected, but you could not see them and I was satisfied with the results. Also, it only lasts for about a year, so my Radiesse and my lumps are completely gone because it has been almost a year. I hope you find something that works for you...but like you said, everyone is different and we do take a chance every time we choose a procedure. Good luck to you!
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Only a year?  Thought it was up to 2.  Seems like all of these fillers are advertised so much longer than reality. 
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Yes, my doctor said it lasts about a year. Apparently it can cause your skin to create its own collagen too. My cheeks still seem a tad fuller than they used to be...although it could be from the 7-10lbs I've gained that I can't seem to lose!! LOL!!
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year is still good compared to Juve and Perlane but read up to 2 years.  Btw, after I lost 20 lbs, my face looked much different, u really do lose a lot of fat in your face too, in my cheeks, and noticed in the hollows of my eyes, thats when I knew I wanted to look into blephs.  I finally got a resched appt that coincides w my work schedule so will be getting it on Tues!
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Oh my gosh, you're going for it?! I feel excited & nervous like its my own appointment, haha! Please, please let us know how you are doing as soon as you are done!

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ok, so the procrastinator in me has been waiting to do it bc I am unsure about having  this kind of filler that can harden bc of the calcium-whatever that it is made of.  I have an appt in 2 wks and will either do it or just stick with my "go-to filler" (Perlane) ...
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Hi! So you recommend Radiesse? Have you seen all the bad reviews here? I've seen a lot of bad reviews here and Dont know if I should try it. Its scary to me . And Radiesse really goes after a year? I've heard it doesnt dissolve . How does it go away then? A person here said that Its been 1.5 years and se still has side efectos --swollen face and bruises. Maybe they administered wrongly?
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Hi is Perlane like Restylane? And do they have the same results as Radiesse? Im a little scared to use Radiesse.
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I want it for my cheekbones and chin. I want more chin. Since Im a guy.:)
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Perlane is the same company as Restylane, Perlane is better for deeper lines, it has thicker particles (has more hyaluronic acid).  Radiesse is made of calcium-based microspheres and stimulates your own collagen to grow.  Supposedly it lasts about a year or more so it is more like a semi permanent filler.  I have heard it is best injected by bone (so not good for lips!).  If you dont like a filler that is a hyaluronic, you can get injections to reverse it but not so w the Radiesse.  If you are new to fillers, usually Juvederm or Restylane would be a good  beginner filler.  The Juve is very smooth and gives me less results as it settles after a few wks. I too want to do it in my chin to balance out some asymmetry.  That would be a good area to do it.  
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This is a forum about Cosmetic Surgery.No need to be defensive. It is nice when people want to be their best and take care of themselves. I have had cosmetic surgery due to a facial reconstruction and medical necessity. I do not judge, but am advising people to really appreciate what they have. We are all our own worst critics. I don't want anyone to feel sorry for what they did to their face by choice and then wish that they just left well enough alone. Doctors don't give refunds. To the average person or untrained eye I look normal, but I too am now certainly considering more procedures. One procedure can lead to another. Do we want to be like the cat plastic surgery woman?? NO! I heard that Radiase can cause lumps under the skin especially in the eye area. Do I really want to take this chance??? Not really!! I just want to look like my former self. Maybe that will never happen and I have to accept the new me and just say that I was lucky to have 30 years of being pretty. Also, please keep in mind that one person can never tell how they will react to surgery. It took me 8 months to look normal because my swelling was so severe. My right eye was swollen open and looked like guts were growing out of it. The lining of the eye became inflamed. That little corner in your eye can swell up to the size of a pencil eraser. I was scared to lose my vision. Not everyone is as sensitive as me and I did have a top doctor, but one never knows what their reaction might be.
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I think all fillers have the risk of lumps especially in the undereye area due to the thin skin there, I have been told that Radiesse is best when it is injected in an area near bone (example :cheekbones, chin) bc of the kind of filler it is.  It seems to me that I hear juvederm and restylane being used in that area a little more commonly than Radiesse.  Although Juve has the smooth consistency, many experience a blue-ish hue as an after result.  Do you have the option of getting fat transfer there?  That may be a good option to look into.
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Oh ladies thank you. I am going for my consultation today with a highly rated doctor. I will let you know what the doctor says, I am also having him evaluate my scars. I have acne like scarring on my right cheek due to a glass injury and a scar from the surgery by my right eyebrow. The scars are not very deep, but there are a few indented areas.Some people with acne scars look much worse, but I never had acne so I want my normal skin back. I had 3 consults for the scars already. I feel like a partial expert. One doctor told me that my skin is too young for laser resurfacing and of course warned me about the massive recovery time. One technician in NYC told me about the Smoothbeam laser and said that it wouldn't make much of a difference and that I should save my money. My reconstructive surgeon told me that he could cut out the cheek scars and replace them with smaller little scars.I was considering Laser Genesis with the Cutera laser and I still have that in mind. I will see what the doctor says today. Also I just spoke to my surgeon on the phone and he told me that the injections would probally not really help me since I do have Entopthaloms 7mm from trauma which basically means that my eye socket got huge on the right side and that they did not compensate for that enough when they rebuilt my orbital. Which I did read happens quite frequently. I am counting my blessings that I have my vision, but am very hesistant to go back and do another surgery to alter this. Insurance would cover it because 7mm is considered a deformity, but I work in Cosmetics so I can not retrn to work looking like a monster and only get 2 weeks of PTO a year.
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Yes, please let us know how it goes. I pray that you get the answers you need and a peace about what to do. I would be interested to see what the surgeon can do for scars too. I had a cyst removed above my eyebrow, by a plastic surgeon, and it left a hole in my face...not huge, but it's very visible. I can't image going through what you have been through and I admire your strength.
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The doctor reccomended Laser Genesis...a series of 6 treatments..and there is no down time. However, the Dr. was very aloof and quite overpriced..Triple NYC prices. The Dr. even told me that no treatment completely removes the scars For Laser Genesis you need a series of treatments depending on how deep the scars are. A center in NYC offers Genesis at a third of the price. The NYC center also informed me that you may need only 3 or 4 treatments and that a similar client had also had the same type of scarring as I do and that she did very well. Today's Dr In Motclair also sugessted that I remove some of the skin in my left eyelid to match the right eyelid.the reconstructed one. I too had thought of that. Besides my scars I like the right side of my face better. The reconstructive surgeon made me look better on one side. Ha! BUT the Dr. today gave me a surgery proposal of 4 grand to remove a tiny bit of skin off of my normal eye. In Feb. I went to an eye specialist and surgeon that came very highly regarded to me. He has 6 officies and is also a Professor. My reconstructive surgeon sent me to him. He offered me a rate of 1500 to fix the mis-matching of my eyes and remove a little of the eye lid. We really have to be so careful and go to a few consultations. There are a few Doctors out there that will capitalize on our insecurities and vulnerabilites. If I went with the Dr of today he would happily accept my payment of 13 grand and I would be a dummy. It is really so funny. I went to yet another top plastic surgeon in Paramus and he offered me a series of peels that would be about 750 each. I would need 3 and the down time would be a week after each peel. he was so nice and wonderful that he actually was sort of discouraging me from doing it. I was hesitant from the down time and he was hardly noticing the acne like scars. In fact, this Dr. Also did eyelid surgery and he told me that I would need a specailist for it since I had what they thought was Ptsois...the eye lid issue. The Dr. could hardly see the difference. I said Ptsois..what is that? He explained that to me. I said I better right it down. He said no here I will right it down for you. That was so nice. So the answers are that I have Entopthaloms of trauma, but it makes my eye look better and gives me more of an eyelid..so I will probally get Blepharoplasty on my Left upper lid only and a series of Laser genesis treatments in NYC which is also good for pore size and anti-aging.
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Sarah, You are right about there will always be ppl that will see your money first before they see you as a person seeking their care and assistance.  But on the other end, there are doctors that pour their hearts into their work as well.  I'm sure NYC prices are much higher than most, If you ever want to consider flying out to Scottsdale, my dr is a facial reconstruction specialist, has worked on accident patients, cancer patients etc. who is just that, extremely caring and talented and always wants what is best for you.  If your interested, you can call and schedule a Skype video consult, you can mention I referred you if you want.  That is a great and smart idea to make sure you get multiple recommendations from drs especially since your situation is so uniquely challenging and complicated.  When are you looking to have surgery/treatments? Do you have to make your decisions soon?  Keep us posted on your healing advancements..
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I'm sorry that you had to go through that, but please do not judge us. That is not what this forum is for.
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Why is there people always like you so damn sensitive that takes things out of context and can't see or understand what Sarah6986 was trying to convey to the public! It was a very helpful & considerate gesture! She was not judging or condeming anyone but was applauding and complimenting everyone. Try to read things more clearly and comprehend before you start judging the person your pointing your finger at!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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All of you pretty ladies with minor differences that are hardly noticable are way too hard on yourselves. No one must tell you that you are pretty every day. I am looking for real feedback about surgeries to correct more serious issus. Half of my face is metal to replace shattered bones. I am considering Radiasse as oppossed to another major reconstruction with 8 months of recovery time. I lived through hell. Do you know what it is like to look like a monster? I do. I hope no one else has to live through this. If it weren't for the accident I would never even consider a thing like this. I loved my face. I just want to have what I had back again...and if I was any of you ladies I would really start to appreciate the looks that you do have without the extra enhancements and money spent because one day you never know what could happen and you would be so sorry that you didn't appreciate what you did have naturally.
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Sarah, it's unfortunate that life throws tragic events at unsuspecting ppl just living their lives but these things are out of our control, we can't ever foresee every tragedy but we can as you advise, appreciate the simple gifts that life gives us and try to live life to the fullest.  There is a great book by Lauren Manning called Unmeasured strength and there is a quote in there I love that says, "what will you choose to do, with the time God has given you? Every day you have a choice. Make it count."  I think that is on track with the point you are trying to make. That being said, maybe the anger you have(and rightfully so I am sure)is being misdirected slightly, Giving advice is good but you can't put women getting cosmetic enhancements  out of vanity in the category of women that don't appreciate their faces and what life has given them just bc they didn't have something bad happen to them first.  These enhancement procedures are for ppl from all different situations, not only for reconstruction purposes.  It sounds like you have been through some horrific events but also a long complicated and challenging journey of healing that I am sure has made you an incredibly stronger woman.  You are right, you never know one day when everything you thought you knew can be ripped away from you...maybe some ppl would be sorry that they didn't do what they wanted to do to feel their best when they had it the opportunity,...life is full of coulda woulda shouldas, it's the trying to keep looking forward and moving forward in the future no matter what life throws at us that is the part that seems important to me....

 

I cannot say I can really know what it is like to go through your trauma, I do believe I got a glimpse of your emotional torments though after having my eye surgery, My eyes looked pretty scary afterwards, almost swollen shut, red colored tears and discharge (you can see on my review) and even when that part got better, it took months to look natural as I waited for them to settle.  I had no idea it would take so long and I had a hard time looking ppl in the eyes for a while due to my insecurities.  I would torture myself even more by constantly looking in the mirror while I isolated myself in my bdrm for months from the world whenever I could.  I am so sorry that you have had to go through the things that have been so painful for you emotionally and physically, but I am happy for you that your road to healing is being well travelled.  It sounds like these cosmetic enhancers are at least giving you some more options to improve your own personal situation which is great, wouldn't you want the same for any woman wanting to feel her best?  All these things of course are "proceed with caution" as you pointed out but there is always risk with any medical stuff, none of it is ever guaranteed.  An important part of one's decisions is always being as educated as possible so you are prepared and know about all the possible outcomes-the good, the bad and the ugly.  That is what this site is for, sharing it all....raw, no candy coating it!

 

So, thank you for sharing your unique story as we all learn from each experience that we have been lucky enough to come by and it is a good reminder to "appreciate what you have" as you said. I wish you the very best in your reconstruction and healing of your face and your heart.

 

 

 
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