What Qualifies Someone to Inject This Radiesse?

Excellent question. The manufacturer will sell the product to any licensed physician. However, as a patient, it's important for you to select a doctor who is knowledgeable about facial anatomy and skilled in injecting----and, even more significantly, has the ability to know when and in which areas the filler will be beneficial-----and when it's inappropriate or too much. I would not want to be injected by anyone other than a board certified plastic surgeon or dermatologist. Often, I find that patients call seeking a particular filler or Botox without understanding its purpose because they are reacting to media hype or information provided by their friends. I hate to see patients wasting money on treatments which will not be effacious. Also not only should the physician be trained in an appropriate specialty but you should definitely be a wise consumer and inquire as to the source of the filler material. Did the physician purchase it from the manufacturer or buy it at a lower cost outside the US? I cannot emphasize the safety issue enough. My office receives faxes literally on a daily basis from third party sellers with "gray market" goods and throws every one into the circular file! Patient safety should be the paramount concern. There are nuances to injecting filler and I personally don't believe that these can be appreciated by someone who hasn't devoted his or her career to the study and treatment of the aging face.

Any physician who has a medical license can purchase radiesse. The training and degree of the injector varies from state to state. However, minimal requirements are not high. For an excellent injection which is truly customized to you, you will need to go to an expert and experienced physician injector. Do your homework, and consult with several injectors to understand your options. 

I would recommend Radiesse be performed by any board certified dermatologist or plastic surgeon with experience in injecting all types of fillers.

I tell patients to beware of the bargains. Only a qualified , well trained  plastic surgeon or dermatologist with a good eye should inject fillers. Many can be trained to inject but unless you can see where to put the product the result will not be optimal. Unless you know the anatomy well and are experienced with fillers you should not use them. There are many nurses , dentists and other less qualified individuals out there that are offering "bargin fillers". Be aware of who is treating you as this is your face and the filler will be around for a while. 

Radiesse (and similar fillers like Juvederm and Restylane) should be injected by a board certified physician, although there are many physicians who supervise aestheticians or nurses to inject fillers and Botox or Dysport. Radiesse can last a year or more and cannot be dissolved or removed, so make sure you know and trust your injector's credentials and experience.

Who is allowed to inject Radiesse and who is qualified are very different questions.

The companies will sell products including Radiesse to anyone that has a medical license. This means that pathologists can purchase this even if they have never treated a live person in their career.

Who is qualified to inject Radiesse is someone that is trained to do these injections and that understands the anatomy of the areas. They are usually Facial plastic surgeons, dermatologists, plastic surgeons and oculoplastic surgeons. There are a lots of other doctors injecting this product but they dont really have the skills to do this. Without the training, these people will typically follow cookbooks and make all their patients look the same, frequently like dolls.