Dermal Filler: Hydroxylapatite microspheres (Radiesse)

Generic name: Hydroxylapatite microspheres

Brand(s): Radiesse

Maker / Website: Bioform Medical (www.radiesse.com)

Cost: about $650-800 per syringe, typically 1-2 syringes per treatment

Allergy test required: No

Durability: 12 to 18 month

Function / Purpose:
Radiesse is used for medium-to-deep lines, folds and furrows and to correct facial fat loss (lipoatrophy).

Summary:
Radiesse consists of hydroxylapatite microspheres suspended in a gel-like solution. Hydroxylapatite is a calcium and phosphate-based mineral. No allergy test is needed because hydroxylapatite is a mineral naturally found in bones and dental enamel and does not generally trigger an immune response. Radiesse is used to correct medium-to-deep lines, folds and furrows, facial fat loss.

Contraindications:
Hypersensitivity to Radiesse

Details:
Chemically, hydroxylapatite is a calcium phosphate based mineral with characteristic hexagonal crystalline structure. Radiesse consists of hydroxylapatite microspheres suspended in a gel-like solution.

Hydroxylapatite has a number of advantages as a dermal filler. It is biocompatible and does not require allergy testing prior to use. It is not derived from human or animal tissue, which minimizes the risk of contamination with pathogens. For a degradable filler, it is rather long-lasting: about 12 - 18 month. Therefore, fewer treatments are generally required to maintain results than for many other biodegradable fillers. Hydroxylapatite microspheres appear to stimulate the body to produce more of its own collagen at the injection site, which may partly explain why a smaller volume of hydroxylapatite filler tends to produce equal or greater effect than a greater volume of many comparable biodegradable fillers.

While relatively long lasting, Radiesse still degrades and has to be re-injected every year or so to maintain results.

A short-lived inflammation and/or swelling at the injection site is relatively common. It usually resolves on its own in a day or two. Chronic allergic, inflammatory or other reactions seem to be very rare - at least as rare as with other common biocompatible filler/implant materials.

Occasionally, a Radiesse injection may create a bump or an irregularity under the skin. This is often a result of improper filler selection, incorrect dose or insufficient experience of the administering practitioner. Make sure to find a board certified physician who has performed at least a few hundreds of injections of this type of fillers.