Dissolving Radiesse? New study as of 11/2018. Myth? I'm desperate.

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

YES!! Thanks to the fabulous work of Yale's Dermatologist, Deanne Mraz Robinson, MD, the nodules of Radiesse can often be dissolved in a mere 1 hour after injection with sodium thiosulfate!!  That reversibility is a real game-changer and makes injecting Radiesse a far more desirable option for both injectors and patients alike!!
Great question! Thanks for asking!

Yes, your dermatologist is correct. A proof of concept study using sodium thiosulfate to dissolve Radiesse was presented at a recently dermatology meeting. However, when it comes to the know, I prefer to use hyaluronic acid based fillers like Restylane since they are easily dissolved using hyaluronidase. 

Your doctor is right and is obviously up to date on the literature. There was a proof of concept poster presented at the American Academy of Dermatology using Sodium Thiosulfate to get rid of Radiesse. There have been no large scale or controlled studies but the treatment appears to be very promising for removing Radiesse without significant side effects.