Can Radiesse Be Cut (Diluted) with Something else Before Injecting, or is It Straight from the Tube?

Yes, I routinely mix Radiesse with lidocaine when injecting the cheeks and midface to achieve a non-surgical midface lift.  This makes injection more comfortable.  Keep in mind, since the lidocaine gets resorbed, the initial result is not the final result.  So the more Radiesse is diluted, the more volume will be lost when the lidocaine goes away.

Lidocaine with epi is often added to Radiesse to make it more comfortable during the injections and also so it flows smoothly through a 27g canula for more control of placement and less bruising. Radiesse is used to fill in and lighten up dark circles under the eyes and to fill in nasolabial grooves and corners of the mouth. It is usually around $650/syringe and can last up to 1 yr. Sincerely,

David Hansen,MD

Radiesse can be mixed with lidocaine prior to injection.  This gives the benefit:


Allowing numbing to injected area for better comfort

Thinning out the filler for better sculpting and placement control


 

Many other fillers, Restylane  and Juvederm for example, come premixed with Lidocaine.

Radiesse can be mixed with a very small amount of 1% Lidocaine (0.1 mL) for local anesthetic purposes; it is not diluted in the same fashion as Botox.  Radiesse is typically administered in 1.5 mL pre-filled syringes which are single use, single patient treatment vials whereas Botox can be used as a 100 unit multi-use vial.

Great question.  I have been using Radiesse for several years.  It used to be injected without mixing it with anything else.  Even when we would do dental blocks there could be some discomfort using Radiesse.  Now that we mix it with Lidocaine it has made it so much more comfortable for the patient and easier to use for the doctor.

Good Luck

Robert F. Gray, MD, FACS