3 months after Radiesse in the cheeks and I don't see any results - should I continue waiting? (photos)

Question

Hi! So I got Radiesse done 3 months ago. And the Doctor told me I would see the peak results in 2 months. I dont notice a difference, and its upsetting because Radiesse is so expensive. Should I keep waiting? When will I see results? I dont know what other treatment to get thats not HA filler that will help lift and tighten my cheeks. The before photo im in blue, the after im at the store for context, looks the same to me.

Anna Chacon, MD, FAAD · Answer

Hi, thank you for sharing your experience, I understand how frustrating it can feel when you’ve invested in a treatment and aren’t seeing the results you expected.

Radiesse is a calcium hydroxylapatite-based filler that provides immediate volume upon injection and also stimulates collagen production over time. While most patients do see peak results around 6–8 weeks, individual response can vary based on metabolism, depth and location of injection, amount used, and your skin's baseline collagen activity.

At 3 months, if you're still not seeing improvement, here are a few things to consider:

Product Placement & Amount: If too little product was injected or it wasn’t placed optimally, the lifting effect may not be as visible. A touch-up may be needed in some cases.

Individual Response: Some people do not respond robustly to biostimulatory fillers like Radiesse — collagen production depends on your body’s natural regenerative capacity.

Photo Angle & Lighting: Sometimes the differences are subtle and better appreciated in consistent clinical lighting with standardized angles. Comparing selfies in different settings can make changes harder to notice.

Expectations vs. Outcome: Radiesse offers moderate lift, but it won’t replicate the volume or projection of HA fillers in every case. If lifting and contouring are your primary goals, alternatives like Sculptra or thread lifts might be worth considering as non-HA options.

I would recommend following up with your provider to discuss your concerns. They may suggest a reassessment, touch-up, or possibly layering a different treatment depending on your goals and facial structure.

You're not alone in feeling disappointed — but there are still effective paths forward that can be tailored specifically for your face and aesthetic goals.

Falguni Patel, MD, FACOG · Answer

Hi! Do you happen to know how much product was used in your cheeks? It's possible that you may need additional product to notice a result and collagen buildup. I would go back to your doctor to see what he recommends as far as product amount. If you wanted to stay away from injectables, doing a treatment such as morpheus8 will help to lift and tighten the cheeks. Morpheus 8 uses microneedling to help skin texture/tone and radio frequency (RF) to help tighten and lift the area being treated. Downtime is about 3 days, and it is important to avoid direct sunlight for 2 weeks prior and 2 weeks after.

Nelson Lee Novick, MD · Answer

I'm not quite sure what the reservation here is regarding HA fillers, but an appropriately robust lifting filler can not only lift and contour the cheeks, but secondarily may additionally improve tear troughs and hollows under the eyes and diminish smile lines when properly injected by an experienced, board certified cosmetic dermatologist filler expert. What's more, the results of such a treatment are typically immediate, i.e. seen on-the-spot, and may last between 12-18 months. 
At least from the question, it sounds like the Radiesse here was used, likely diluted or super-diluted, as a biostimulatory agent, rather than as a filler, since Radiesse undiluted would be expected to yield immediate results (while diluted Radiesse, as a biostimulatory agent, would be expected to take several weeks for results to become evident). 
As an aside, a additional advantage of using HA fillers is that they can be dissolved (should the need arise), whereas Radiesse, like Sculptra, has no specific effective dissolving enzyme. 
Hope this helps and best of luck. .

3 months after Radiesse in the cheeks and I don't see any results - should I continue waiting? (photos)

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3 months after Radiesse in the cheeks and I don't see any results - should I continue waiting? (photos)

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Everything you need to know about Radiesse

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