Radiesse: Stories

I bit the bullet and had my bony/veiny but not discoloured hands injected with Radiesse. I am now three weeks in and it hasn't fully "settled." This means one day my hands will look almost puffy, the next, "just" 20 years younger. I am completely thrilled by this and wish I had done this years ago as I have been quite self-conscious.

Dr. Charles Cheng of Skin Matters in Vancouver was my Doc. He has a different technique from the "bolus" or withdrawal method. He injects all over (no pain as he puts an anaesthetic cream on first). No bruising, just new hands! I also asked him to put in a little Botox in my forehead at follow-up and he does this differently as well - many more tiny injections all over and all of them painless without anything but ice first.

I have heard from some people that when the Radiesse finally settled and the skin accepted its presence, that the hands looked disappointingly deflated. I will keep everyone briefed on that aspect. So far I am thrilled.

Oh yes, and I have had 2.5 syringes put in, with the extra half going in as a touch up as soon as I can afford the time. It is expensive, yes, but for the extra confidence, it's worth it.

As a point of interest, I first went to Dr. Cheng to enquire about Ulthera. I am impressed with both the Radiesse and the Botox, so I may (if I can afford to) have the Ulthera for my arms. (They are a little wizened and crepey-looking in the elbow crease or crook of the arm.) The doc felt the Ulthera could make a difference and, since I sense he doesn't want to do anything unless he knows it will work, and is rather blunt about that, I feel confident there would be some improvement.

No, I'm not his mom and I don't work there ;)