What Happens to Radiesse over the Long Haul?

Question

I had 2 syringes of radiesse put in my cheeks and am pleased with the result. I had one put in last December(11 months) and June(5 months). I know some about radiesse but I'm curious as to why I see some sites say the effects of radiess lasts about 3 years yet injections are recommended about every year. Will my results stay at least to some degree after a year or is it just gone as if I never had it done?

Anil R. Shah, MD · Answer

Radiesse's duration depends on the location of injection with areas of high mobility (nasolabial folds) lasting significantly less than immobile areas (cheeks). Radiesse is a stimulatory filler which is replaced and turned into collagen over time.

Harold J. Kaplan, MD · Answer

Hi jf.  Generally speaking we tell our patients that Radiesse is going to last in the neighborhood of 9-12 months.  We like to err on the side of a conservative estimate.  Better to tell a patient it will last 9 months and have it last 12-15 than vice versa. 

	As for what happens to the product, it is slowly absorbed and dissipated by the body over that time.

Ron Shelton, MD · Answer

When Radiesse first came to the market the company was making claims of it lasting for much longer than it actually has proven to last. Clincially we see that many patients have Radiesse last close to a year, or slightly more, but we also see that with Restylane and Juvederm too. The best clinical effect though, dissipates sooner and further injections are often done closer to eight months rather than waiting for it to wear off completely.

Michael A. Persky, MD · Answer

Hi Jf,

	I respectfully defer to Dr. Altman.  Thank you for one of the most complete and well written answers that I have seen here on RealSelf.  Thanks for the education.  Be well.

	Dr. P

Debra Irizarry, MD · Answer

The volume effect of Radiesse lasts for 12-15 months as per the latest study results. For the first "half" of this effect the Radiesse is being gradually replaced by fibrous collagen tissue. When the Radiesse and the fibrous tiissue absorb, the volume is back to the "before" volumes, and probably a bit less as there are further losses from continued aging.

What Happens to Radiesse over the Long Haul?

Answers (7)