Radiesse in Suwon: how does a calcium-based ingredient build collagen?
If thinning skin, reduced elasticity, and more fine lines bother you, it is worth first checking whether your concern is lost volume or the quality of the skin itself. Radiesse is an injectable made of fine calcium particles called calcium hydroxylapatite (CaHA) and a gel that carries them, and it activates fibroblasts to stimulate the production of collagen and elastin.
Even with the same Radiesse, the purpose differs depending on whether it is used less diluted as a filler to support hollow areas, or diluted and spread broadly and shallowly as a skin booster. At our Suwon clinic, we first look at skin thickness, the area of hollowing, and previous treatment history in consultation, then decide the range, depth, and dilution at the design stage.
In this article, we outline in turn how a calcium-based ingredient builds collagen, the difference between Radiesse as a filler and as a skin booster and suitable areas, treatment methods and steps, recovery care, and side effects.
Radiesse: key points
- With Radiesse, the gel first fills volume, and while the gel is absorbed, the calcium particles stimulate collagen production.
- Used less diluted, it serves as a filler to support hollow areas; diluted and spread shallowly, it serves as a skin booster to address skin elasticity.
- Unlike hyaluronic acid fillers, it does not dissolve with hyaluronidase, so it is added over several sessions while watching the changes.
- Areas with very thin skin, such as under the eyes and the forehead, are avoided because the particles may show through or clump.
How does Radiesse build collagen?
Radiesse's calcium particles are a mineral similar to the components of bones and teeth, and are round granules of uniform size. Once in the dermis, the particles stay in place and act as a scaffold that signals surrounding fibroblasts to make collagen.
It works in two stages. At first, the gel fills the hollow area, and while the gel is gradually absorbed, collagen begins to build up around the particles. Over time, the calcium particles break down into calcium and phosphate and are absorbed by the body, leaving behind the collagen the body produced in the meantime, so the change appears gradually and varies widely with each person's rate of skin regeneration.
How do Radiesse as a filler and as a skin booster differ, and where are they used?
Radiesse's use changes with the degree of dilution and injection depth, and areas where the skin is very thin are avoided.
| Category | How it is used | Main concerns and areas |
|---|---|---|
| Radiesse filler | Injected into deep layers for support with almost no dilution | Areas that look hollow and saggy, such as beside the nasolabial folds, around the mouth, and along the jawline |
| Radiesse skin booster | Diluted and spread shallowly and broadly | Elasticity of the whole face and neck, fine lines, and skin texture |
| Areas to avoid | Particles may show through or clump | Very thin skin such as under the eyes and the forehead, and the lips |
When a defined height needs to be built up right away, as with the nose tip or chin tip, hyaluronic acid filler is considered first. When broad areas such as the side cheeks and temples are deeply hollow, we may plan to firm the skin with Radiesse while filling volume separately with other collagen boosters such as Juvelook Volume or Sculptra.
Radiesse treatment methods and steps
The principle behind deciding dilution and depth
When Radiesse is used with almost no dilution, its high viscosity and elasticity support and fill hollow areas, while diluting it with saline and spreading it shallowly and broadly addresses skin density and elasticity rather than the height of a specific area. The dilution ratio is decided according to skin thickness, the treatment area, and the desired change.
The biggest difference from hyaluronic acid filler is that it cannot be dissolved with hyaluronidase, the dissolving enzyme. Because the result is hard to reverse, we approach it by adding in divided sessions while watching the change rather than injecting a lot at once.
Treatment steps at our Suwon clinic
- Personalized Consultation
- Photos (Before Treatment)
- Numbing Cream
- Design
- Disinfection
- Treatment
At the design stage, we decide the range, depth, and dilution, and the amount and number of sessions are decided in consultation based on skin thickness, the area of hollowing, and your history of previous filler or collagen treatments. If you do not know the ingredients of previous treatments, tell us as much as you remember.
See the Radiesse Treatment Guide
Recovery and care after Radiesse
- To reduce irritation to the treated area, avoid strong UV exposure, saunas, and alcohol for a certain period.
- Apply moisturizer and repair cream often to keep the skin from drying out.
- For a few days after the procedure, do not press hard on or rub the injected areas.
- Even if embossing is visible, do not press it flat with your fingers.
Swelling and bruising usually subside in a few days, but they may last longer if a large area of the face was treated, so if you have plans where your face will be seen, it is best to leave some leeway when scheduling. Collagen changes build up over weeks to months rather than right after the procedure, so the next session is decided after checking the changes from the previous one.
Radiesse side effects and precautions
After the procedure, embossing (a bumpy-looking skin surface), bruising, swelling, mild pain, and redness may appear, but most subside within a few days. As it is an injection, a foreign-body sensation may occur, which mostly eases within 1 to 2 weeks, and the degree of reaction varies from person to person.
If particles gather in one place or enter a thin area, small nodules may be felt. In rare cases, nerve damage, allergic reactions, or inflammation may occur; blocking a blood vessel can cause skin necrosis, and blockage of vessels around the eyes carries a risk of vision loss. If you have inflammatory conditions or skin problems in the treatment area, are pregnant or breastfeeding, have an autoimmune disease, or are taking immune-modulating medication, please let us know before the procedure.
If pain keeps getting worse, the skin turns pale white or blotchy purple, your vision becomes blurry, or a hard lump becomes red and swollen, please contact the clinic right away.
What is checked before Radiesse?
If these apply to you, start with a skin thickness assessment
- Your skin has thinned and fine crinkly lines have appeared.
- The area around your nasolabial folds and mouth looks hollow and saggy.
- The skin on your neck has thinned, and horizontal lines bother you.
- You do not know the ingredients of filler or collagen treatments you had before.
If two or more apply, it is best to first check whether your concern is lost volume or the elasticity of the skin itself. Whether to proceed, and the method and extent of treatment, are decided together in consultation after the medical team's examination.
In short, the key with Radiesse is first separating whether the concern is volume or elasticity, deciding the dilution and depth, and then watching collagen changes over several sessions.
FAQ
Q. How is Radiesse different from hyaluronic acid filler?
A. With hyaluronic acid fillers, the gel fills volume directly, while with Radiesse, the calcium particles stimulate collagen production as the gel is absorbed. Another difference is that Radiesse does not dissolve with hyaluronidase, a dissolving enzyme, so it is added over several sessions while watching the changes.
Q. When will I start to feel the effects of Radiesse?
A. Right after the procedure, there is a sense of volume from the gel, and collagen changes appear gradually over several weeks as the gel is absorbed. The timing and degree vary with each person's rate of skin regeneration, so we judge based on how the skin looks a few months later.
Q. How many sessions of Radiesse skin booster do I need?
A. Rather than injecting a lot at once, it is common to receive it in divided sessions at intervals. The next session and interval are decided based on skin thickness and the changes after the previous session, and the number of sessions is decided together in consultation according to your concerns, treatment range, and skin thickness.
Q. When does Radiesse embossing go away?
A. Embossing, where the skin surface looks bumpy right after injection, mostly subsides within a few days. Do not press it flat with your fingers; leave it as is, and if it still feels hard or turns red after a few days, have it checked at the clinic.
Q. Can Radiesse be injected under the eyes too?
A. The skin under the eyes is very thin, so calcium particles may show through or clump, which is why it is an area to avoid. For hollowness or fine lines under the eyes, we consider hyaluronic acid filler or other skin boosters with smaller particles, suited to your skin thickness, together in consultation.
Q. How can I find out the cost of Radiesse?
A. The cost depends on the amount used and the treatment range. We explain it after confirming in consultation which areas of the face to treat, whether with the filler or skin booster approach, and how much to use, and you can also check the treatment packages on the treatment information page.
This content is provided as general treatment information and is not a substitute for diagnosis or treatment. Always consult a medical professional to decide whether and how to proceed with a treatment.