Will my face ever return to 100% baseline after radiesse on jaw/chin/cheeks? Is it possible to speed up the process? (Photos)

Question

im 21 years old . during a rough time in my life & point of best low self esteem, i thought getting facial balancing fillers would make me feel more confident. my injector injected radiesse (i didn’t know it was semi-permanent) in my jaw, cheeks, and chin about 3 months ago. he only injected a small amount, 1 syringe im guessing. and ive never had filler before this. ever since then, my face has looked wider, and rounded than ever before. it’s caused me depression to the point where i look 10x older and my face looks a lot wider. i can’t look at pictures of myself before the injections because i just get sad and filled with regret. i really need to know if i wait it out, will my face go back to how it looked before radiesse? keep in mind, im 21 and im nervous i’ll never look like how i did before i messed my face up with filler. i stress about it every day and can’t even look at myself in the mirror some days. i need answers. i do not want to get any dissolvers and plan on waiting it out. i just need to know if i should have hope for my face returning to baseline and if so, is there a way to speed up that process to get back to looking myself again. my family and friends tell me there’s no big difference but i see a difference and i’m losing my mind not knowing if i’ll ever look like my old self again. please help. im a female btw

Anna Chacon, MD, FAAD · Answer

Hi there,

Thank you for reaching out and sharing your experience so openly, I want to start by saying that you're not alone, and your feelings are valid.

Radiesse is a calcium hydroxylapatite-based filler, which is classified as semi-permanent. While it doesn’t dissolve as quickly as hyaluronic acid fillers, it does metabolize over time, typically over 12 to 18 months, depending on your metabolism, lifestyle, and the amount injected.

At 21 years old and with only a small amount (likely 1 syringe), your skin and tissue have excellent potential to rebound with time. Your youth gives you a strong chance of returning to your natural baseline as your body gradually breaks down the product.

What you can do in the meantime:
Lymphatic facial massage may help with swelling or fluid retention that can sometimes exaggerate the filler’s appearance.

Stay well-hydrated and support your skin health with good nutrition.

Avoid any additional filler or interventions until your face has had more time to normalize.

Be gentle with yourself emotionally. It’s completely okay to feel regret, but this is not permanent, and you have not ruined your face.

If at any point you're open to options to accelerate the process, there are techniques (like radiofrequency or ultrasound treatments) that may help metabolize filler more quickly, though I completely respect your decision to wait it out for now.

Your family and friends may not see a drastic difference because the changes you're noticing might be more perceptible to you, especially during a time of emotional vulnerability. But the good news is, there is real hope. You’re still early in the process, and I truly believe with more time, patience, and care, your natural features will begin to re-emerge.

Please feel free to follow up if you'd like to talk more or explore gentle ways to support your skin during this phase.

Warmly,
Dr. Anna Chacon

Will my face ever return to 100% baseline after radiesse on jaw/chin/cheeks? Is it possible to speed up the process? (Photos)

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Will my face ever return to 100% baseline after radiesse on jaw/chin/cheeks? Is it possible to speed up the process? (Photos)

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Everything you need to know about Radiesse

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.