Radiesse Treatment/Collagen Treatment

What Radiesse is

Radiesse is an injectable made of calcium hydroxylapatite (CaHA) microspheres suspended in a gel carrier. CaHA is the same mineral that makes up bone and teeth — fully biocompatible and gradually metabolised by the body. The gel carrier provides immediate volume on injection; over the following weeks, the carrier is absorbed and the microspheres remain in place, where they trigger your own fibroblasts to produce new type I collagen.

This dual mechanism — instant lift, long-term collagen — is what sets Radiesse apart from both pure hyaluronic acid filler and pure bio-stimulators like Sculptra.

What Radiesse is good for

Radiesse has three core indications in our clinic:

• Jawline definition — particularly in clients with adequate skin and underlying bony projection, where it gives a sharper, more sculpted jawline than equivalent hyaluronic acid volumes
• Hand rejuvenation — one of the few injectables specifically approved and well-evidenced for ageing hands
• Skin tightening (hyperdiluted protocols) — diluted Radiesse delivered over the lower face, neck or décolletage to drive collagen stimulation across a larger area

It is not the right tool for the lips, the tear troughs, or any very superficial location — those need hyaluronic acid filler or polynucleotides.

How it differs from hyaluronic acid filler

The key practical difference is reversibility. Hyaluronic acid filler can be dissolved with hyaluronidase if the result is not what was wanted, or in the rare event of vascular complication. Radiesse cannot be dissolved — it is metabolised naturally over 12–18 months. Because of that, we use it only in indications where placement is straightforward, irreversibility is acceptable, and the longer duration is genuinely useful.

Who suits the treatment

Radiesse suits adults from their late 30s onwards, particularly those wanting longer-lasting jawline definition or hand rejuvenation. Skin quality matters: very thin skin in the lower face may make CaHA palpable, in which case we will recommend an alternative. We also avoid Radiesse in active autoimmune disease, in pregnancy/breastfeeding, and in clients with a history of keloid or granuloma formation.

What happens on the day

Treatment takes around 45–60 minutes. We use either cannula or needle depending on the area, and topical or local anaesthetic for comfort. For hands, Radiesse is mixed with lidocaine on the day; the procedure uses a single dorsal entry point with fan-like spreading and gentle massage to distribute the product evenly.

Results timeline

You will see the volume effect immediately, with some additional swelling for the first 24–72 hours. The collagen-induced improvement develops over the following 8–12 weeks. We typically review at 4–6 weeks and may plan a second syringe for full correction at that point.

Maintenance

Most clients return at 12–18 months for a single maintenance session. The collagen-induced improvement persists somewhat longer than the visible volume itself, which means waiting a few months past the volume tail is often acceptable.