Radiesse in cheeks - is this swelling or over-filled? (Photo)

Three hours - it's swelling until proven otherwise. If you feel the swelling is very abnormal then call your injector and discuss this right now. See my video on reducing swelling in the link below.Best wishes, Dr. ALDO 

Radiesse is a stimulatory filler that is an excellent option for patients who desire a longer-lasting filler alternative to hyaluronic acid dermal fillers. In our office, we use Radiesse to complement structural areas of the face and contour bony prominences. Our office also is a center of excellence for filler complication treatments and we see patients who have been treated by other doctors and have undesirable results from Radiesse or other long-lasting fillers. We have treatment options available for Radiesse filler nodules, granulomas, and soft tissue thickening. The first step would be to diagnose the nodularity and determine whether there is an option for surgical vs. non-surgical removal. Surgical excision is a possibility in some patients; whereas others with more diffuse fillers may benefit from intralesional therapy using scar modulators and enzymes and kenalog. Radiesse complications may be long-lasting and prompt action is key. Patients who have no access to an expert in the field should begin gentle massage of the areas of nodularity with Plato’s Scar Serum twice daily. RF and invasive lasers can actually do more damage by stimulating further collagen growth.

Best,
Dr. Karamanoukian
Realself100 Surgeon

Swelling 3 hours post injection of any filler and including Radiesse is completely normal and even expected.  Swelling in the face tends to be hard and stiff vs. soft like swelling in other areas of the body. However, the white area that is surrounded by the redness is a little concerning. I advise you to call the office and see your doctor first thing in the morning if possible. Hope that helps. Good luck!

It is hard to say if this is just swelling or overfill. I would wait it out for about a week to determine the longer term effects. Unfortunately, Radiesse doesn't have an easy way to dissolve if overfilled like HA fillers do. There is a paper showing sodium thiosulfate can dissolve Radiesse but this was in an animal model and not extensively (or at all) in humans. Other causes of swelling are bruising/hematoma which will respond to ice, elevation, and arnica.

Hi and thank you for  your question. Swelling is an inevitable outcome of what we do...unfortunately. That said you can expect swelling for up to 5 days post procedure. I am more concerned about the yellowish discoloration of your left cheek. I wold advise you to have that checked by your provider. Good luck

It is very normal to have swelling after the injection of any filler.  I tell my patients that this may take 5-7 days to fully resolve.  However, I am a little worried about the discoloration on your left cheek.  I recommend that you be seen by your injector as soon as possible in order to rule out any infection or other adverse event.

Your question was posted 6 days ago so I hope that my answer is mute at this point and your doing well. But looking at your photos I was concerned that the filler was injected too superficial. Radiesse is an excellent timetested filler with virtually no allergenic qualities so the choice was a good one and I hope you are now doing well.

Radiess is an excellent filler and does a great job in the cheek area.  It is not unusual to see sweeping or even hematoma after the injection that can last several days.  As long as the injection was done by an experienced doctor, you should be fine.  If it does not go down after 4-5 days, report that to your doctor.

Hello,
thank you for sharing the photo.
Radiesse Cheek filler injection is a common procedure in my practice. I have not seen any similar presentation similar to yours.
Radiesse should be injected in deeper tissues. One possibility could be if it is injected superficially based on your description and the photo. the best to contact your injector and have evaluation for it. If it is radiesse material then it is going to be causing more trouble if not treated.
Hope the best.

Thanks for your question. I have been injecting radiasse in cheecks successfully for 10 years. Radiasse is an amazing filler/collagen stimulator, with great lifting ability and long lasting results (18 months FDA approval). It is an advanced product and should only be used by experienced injectors. I always instruct my patients about excessive swelling that this product can temporarily cause after injection, as well as temporary "lumpy" and "hard" feeling after injection. This is all expected to different degrees depending on technique and amount of product used, for 2-3 days. Asymmetric swelling for 2-3 days is also normal. This will all resolve, and assuming product was injected correctly, beautiful results set in within a week or less. Please don't worry! How ever, if concerned about asymmetry or too much swelling after 2 weeks, consult with your injector. Best of luck!