Think of it as a safer collagen that lasts 3 to 5 years instead of a few weeks.

Radiesse® is a semi-solid injectable implant material. The principal component of Radiesse® is synthetic calcium hydroxylapatite (Ca HA), a biomaterial with over 20 years of use in orthopedics, dentistry, otolaryngology, and ophthalmology. Ca HA is the primary mineral constituent of bone and teeth. Tiny microspheres of Ca HA (25-45 micron) is suspended in a gel carrier that consists of water, glycerin, and sodium carboxymethylcellulose.

The gel is absorbed by the body and replaced with soft tissue growth, while the Ca HA remains at the site of injection. The result is long-term restoration and augmentation.

Radiesse® is now used cosmetically to improve lip fullness and fill in the nasolabial groove (the fold between the side of the nose and the corner of the mouth). It can be used to fill in depressions on the face that cannot or is only partially improved by conventional surgical procedures.

A normal component of aging is tissue deflation, or shrinkage of muscle and subcutaneous fat. Regular nipping and tucking does not correct this aspect of aging. This use of Radiesse® is now considered off-label, as was the cosmetic use of BOTOX® Cosmetic for many years.

Radiesse® is approved by the European Union for this use, and is FDA approved for treating vocal cord problems and as a tissue marker during cancer resection.