A Guide to the Effects and Side Effects of Radiesse, a Collagen-Stimulating Filler
Before Getting Radiesse Filler
3 Things You Must Know

The weather has been really up and down these days.
In this season when mornings are chilly and afternoons are mild,
your skin and overall body condition
can feel inconsistent for many people.
Today’s topic is
Radiesse.
You’ve probably heard the name a lot,
and also, it’s from the famous Ulthera company
product haha
But the thing is,
a lot more people than you’d think
are confused about how it differs from other fillers.
So today, I’ll go over just the key points.
Q. Is Radiesse
the same as a hyaluronic acid filler
?
A. No. The ingredients themselves are different.
I’ll explain the differences in detail below.
Q. If you get Radiesse once,
how long does it last?
A. In my experience,
it usually lasts about 12–18 months.
It lasts quite a long time because collagen regenerates.
However, it depends on the area and individual differences,
and I’ll also summarize this in the main text.
Q. Can Radiesse be dissolved?
A. No.
Hyaluronidase (the filler-dissolving injection)
does not work on it.
This is the most important point,
so make sure to read below.
Why Radiesse Is
Different from Other Fillers

When people say filler, they usually
first think of hyaluronic acid (HA)-based fillers.
Radiesse has a completely different composition.
Its main component is CaHA,
calcium hydroxyapatite.
Just from the name, it can sound like something hard is being injected,
so some people get scared.
But it is actually a substance that already exists in our body,
and in bones and teeth
it is a naturally occurring mineral.
It is injected in a gel form
with dispersed microscopic spherical particles.
If hyaluronic acid filler
creates volume by attracting moisture,
Radiesse
provides direct volumizing effects at first,
and over time, CaHA particles
stimulate collagen production.
In other words, it both fills and stimulates production,
doing two things at once.
Areas Where Radiesse Is Often Used Well,
and Areas Where It Is Not

Areas where Radiesse is especially effective are
the cheeks, jawline, nasolabial folds, and back of the hands.
In places like the cheeks, where the area is broad and support is needed,
CaHA’s physical properties are a great match.
It varies by case,
but this is usually how I approach it.
For people with cheek sagging and
overall reduced skin elasticity,
I recommend Radiesse as the first option.
For somewhat older patients,
who want both volume and
a lifting effect, it tends to fit very well.
But there is one important thing here.
Around the eyes, especially the tear trough area,
we do not use Radiesse.
In areas with complex vascular distribution
and thin tissue,
CaHA particles can cause problems.
So for this area, going with
hyaluronic acid filler is much safer.
This is a common misunderstanding,
but just because Radiesse lasts long and is good,
doesn’t mean it can be used everywhere.
Radiesse is also used for hand volume,
and this area tends to have high satisfaction
for people with thin skin and visible veins.
However, because the hands move a lot,
bruising may last longer or swelling
may continue for several days.
I always explain this in advance as well.
Director Kim Gaeul’s Practical Note:
The most important point with Radiesse is
that “there is no dissolving injection.”
With hyaluronic acid fillers, if you dislike the shape
or if side effects occur, it can be removed quickly,
but Radiesse cannot.
Because of this limitation, for first-time patients
I tend to start conservatively with the amount,
and injector experience is
truly important with this filler.
In my experience, starting with a slightly smaller amount
and adding more after 2–4 weeks is much safer.
Before and After Radiesse,
What You Realistically Need to Know

To be honest, Radiesse
has a somewhat stronger initial reaction than other fillers.
Swelling and bruising can last for a few days,
and especially first-time patients
may feel, “Is this normal?”
Usually right after treatment, due to the gel carrier,
the volume can look excessive,
but after 1–2 weeks
it settles in and looks natural.
Over the following months, the particles
stimulate collagen production,
so even if it looks like the volume has slightly decreased,
skin elasticity itself often improves.
This is a bit of a downside,
but during MRI scans, Radiesse
may appear as white dots on imaging.
Radiologists can be confused by this,
so you must disclose your filler procedure history before an MRI.
And another downside is the cost ^^..
Compared to hyaluronic acid fillers, the unit price is higher,
and when compared per 1cc, the difference is quite large.
Still, because it lasts longer
and has a collagen-stimulating effect,
many people view it as more economical
in the long term.
Radiesse,
Who It’s a Good Fit For
1 People with cheek sagging who also want a lifting effect
2 People who have already tried fillers,
and feel that HA fillers disappear too quickly
3 People bothered by prominent veins
due to lost volume on the back of the hands
4 People who want to improve the mid-face line rather than the tear trough
On the other hand, for these people
I recommend other options.
1 First-time filler users
(Consider after checking response with HA filler)
2 People whose main goal is correction around the eyes
3 People who want immediate removal if they dislike the result
What I consider most important is
before using Radiesse,
clearly identifying why it has to be Radiesse.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. Is it okay even for
first-time filler patients?
Because there is no dissolving injection, predicting the result is important,
and if you have
never experienced filler response before,
there is risk in applying it
directly as a first procedure.
Q2. If the effect disappears,
does it return to the original state?
A. Over time, the particles break down in the body,
and the direct volumizing effect decreases.
However, because collagen production effects accumulate,
it often does not
completely return to square one.
Q3. Can I get Botox
on the same day?
A. Yes, if the treatment areas do not overlap.
However, swelling and bruising can overlap,
and the treatment order and combination must be
determined by me after checking your individual condition.
If you have any questions, feel free
to contact us via WhatsApp or phone.
You can also ask on WhatsApp before visiting.
This was Kim Gaeul.
✦ Read together

Lifting
울쎄라·써마지 받고 붓기가 언제 빠지는지, 직후·1주·2주로 나눠 알 수 있을까요?
리프팅 붓기 회복 타임라인 — 시술 직후 가장 붓는 구간부터 1주·2주 정리 시점까지, 울쎄라와 써마지의 붓는 양상 차이와 회복을 편하게 보내는 관리, 의료진에게 문의할 신호를 시점별로 짚어봐요.

Lifting
소프웨이브 리프팅 처음인데, 뭘 알고 시작하면 덜 헤맬까요?
소프웨이브가 어떤 초음파 방식으로 콜라겐 재생을 유도하는지, 다른 초음파 리프팅과 뭐가 다른지, 처음 받을 때 확인하면 좋은 것들을 짚어봐요.

Hair Removal
젠틀맥스 프로 플러스와 다이오드 레이저 제모, 파장과 피부톤에서 뭐가 어떻게 다를까요?
제모 레이저가 털 속 멜라닌을 겨냥하는 원리부터 젠틀맥스 프로 플러스의 두 파장, 다이오드의 한 파장 방식까지, 피부톤별 적합도를 비교해 선택 기준을 짚어봐요.

skin
레이저 시술 뒤에 거뭇하게 올라오는 색소침착, 시술 전부터 어떻게 예방하면 좋을까요?
레이저 후 색소침착 예방 — 멜라닌세포가 자극받는 원리부터 시술 전 준비, 회복기 자외선 차단 강도, 색소가 올라왔을 때 관리 방향까지 단계별로 짚어봐요.

Contouring & Volume
레이저·필러·보톡스 시술 후에 화장은 시술 종류마다 언제부터 다시 해도 괜찮을까요?
시술 후 화장이 걱정된다면 이 글 하나로 정리해요. 시술별 화장 가능 시점부터 색조·베이스·클렌징 되돌리는 순서, 다시 시작해도 되는 신호까지 짚어봐요.

Lifting
20대부터 50대까지, 연령대별 리프팅 시술은 언제 어떤 것부터 시작하면 좋을까요?
리프팅 시작 시점은 나이보다 피부 신호가 기준이에요. 연령대별 로드맵과 방식을 고르는 기준, 흔한 오해까지 짚어봐요.



