Is Radiesse Safe with People with Lupus, Especially Long-Term?

Hi Tampa.  The answer to the question is that we don't know for sure.  Although Lupus is not currently a contraindication for Radiesse, there have not been any long term studies that we know of conducted on patients with your condition to determine the effects.  

Because no allergy tests are required and because calcium hydroxylapatite occurs naturally in the body, it's unlikely that injecting Radiesse would have any adverse effects.  In cases like yours, we always confer with physician that is managing your Lupus if there is any question about whether or not you should have the treatment.

Radiesse is generally delivered into the deeper dermis below the problem areas of Lupus involvement. It is well tolerated in my patients with auto immune disease. I would use caution though if you are in an active stage with the malar rash. I would suggest Rheumatology control to minimize your condition, then proceed with Radiesse. I do not foresee any issues. Dr. G.

in the olden days, some said that collagen vascular disease, such as lupus, could be avoided by the use of injectable collagen fillers, but this seems to have been disproven. Check with your primary care physician, but Radiesse, should not be a stimulus for a flare of lupus.

Radiesse is made from calcium hydroxylapatite, a substance found naturally in your bone structure.  It is mixed with a carrier known as carboxymethylcellulose, which is well tolerated by human beings.  I have never seen a study showing any evidence of safety concerns with Radiesse in the setting of an autoimmune disorder, nor have I seen problems anecdotally.

As an auto-immune disease with collagen vascular implications, this could raise a concern but for the most part, it appears to be safe. However, no long term studies have been completed to truly answer this question. I currently have a patient who is on plaquenil and has recieved no adverse effects while being injected with several vials of Radiesse over the past 3 years.