Final Results from Radiesse Injections in Cheeks Shows a Week Later? Why?

Hi NY.  The reason we tell our patients to wait a week for final results and have them come in 2 weeks after for a checkup is because there is swelling involved in the procedure that may not resolve completely for a week or so. 

While it is true that the results for Radiesse injections are immediate, the final picture will not be determined for some days after.

There usually is swelling after Radiesse that may obliterate the true results and it could take a couple of days to several and up to a week or more for some people to have their swelling go down and show the true results better.

When Radiesse is injected there is moderate swelling always. This is just a characteristic of the filler and it resolves in about a week. What you have at that time is going to be close to your long-term result. There is a carrier that is absorbed by the body in 4-6 weeks and then about 3-4 months, the collagen kicks in. The collagen is in response to the calcium hydroxyapatite spheres. The duration of the correction is about 12-18 months. There can be a period between when the carrier is absorbed and your own collagen is formed in which the correction is partially lost.

You may not be seeing your actual results after just one week. The volume you noticed could be due to swelling. While there will be an immediate change after your injection, the Radiesse will stimulate collagen production that takes awhile to become visible. The collagen continues to be produced as the Radiesse is metabolized and leaves your body. Please see a board-certified dermatologist if the final result is not what you expected; you can always have a touch up. It's best to start conservatively with fillers and add more later.

It's true you will see an immediate change after injections with Radiesse but I advise patients to not even look at or make any judgments for at least a week, ideally two or more. Swelling can occur after any injections and sometimes unevenly...one cheek appears bigger than the other, or crooked, or lumpy and then the next day it's fine and then suddenly it may be the other cheek.  If you over analyze the treated areas, start poking, prodding, rubbing or manipulating the area because you think it's crooked you may create more problems than benefits. (More bruising, swelling, moving the product, damage to the skin itself...)   You really won't see the contours its created until after all the swelling and bruising has resolved. What you see initially isn't always what you get.  Be a patient patient. :)

 

I tell patients it takes a month until you see final results from Radiesse. But, you will see an immediate improvement from the injection. You are probably seeing swelling which will go down once the product settles in the body. Once it absorbs, collagen will be forming at the site which is the cause of the final results.

There may be some swelling for the first week to two after the injection. 

After the swelling subsides, you should see the true result of the treatment.

Remember also that Radiesse stimulates new collagen deposition that will continue improving the results for a number of months to come.

In general the results of fillers are seen immediately. Then there is some swelling and inflamation that will subside in one to two weeks.

In the cheeks the results should be seen immediately.

Regarding: "Final Results from Radiesse Injections in Cheeks Shows a Week Later? Why?
Is it true that final results from Radiesse injections in cheeks is not evident until after a week? Why? I had fillers done less than a week ago. Immediately, I saw great improvement. Is it possible that more cheek contours can develop after a week?"

Every surgical procedure is associated with a certain degree of inflammation and local swelling. As a result, in the case of liposuction it would appear that less fat was removed than it really was. In nose surgery, removal of the nose hump may appear to have been completed but the swelling of the skin may cover up an over-removal and the beginning of a ski slope nose. In the case of fillers, a smaller volume of filler may appear to cause a full correction but when the swelling subsides, more filler may be needed for a full correction. Different fillers are associated with different swelling in different areas and depths of the face.

In your case, you will see the ultimate swelling free result with fillers a few days after the treatment.

Dr. Peter Aldea

The results of Radiesse, like most fillers is seen immediately- the swelling does go down after a week and the final results/long term is more apparent then. Sounds like you are happy. Enjoy