Your Comprehensive Guide to Radiesse

RADIESSE® is a dermal filler and collagen biostimulator used to restore lost volume, soften deeper wrinkles, and improve skin firmness. It’s especially useful in the lower face, jawline, and hands, and can be used in a hyperdilute form to improve skin quality on the neck and other areas.

If you’re trying to understand what RADIESSE® is, how it works, how long it lasts, and whether it’s worth the cost, this guide will walk you through the essentials.

What Is RADIESSE®?

Radiesse is a calcium hydroxylapatite (CaHA) filler. The product is made of:

  • CaHA microspheres – tiny, smooth calcium-based particles

  • A water-based gel carrier – the gel that holds the microspheres in place and provides initial volume

Right after treatment, the gel and microspheres act like a traditional filler, adding instant volume and support. Over time, your body breaks down the gel and CaHA. As this happens, RADIESSE®:

  • Stimulates collagen production

  • Improves the thickness, firmness, and elasticity of the skin

Overall, Radiesse is both a filler and a collagen-stimulating treatment. That’s what sets it apart from many hyaluronic acid fillers.

What Is Radiesse Used to Treat?

Radiesse is FDA-approved for improving moderate to severe wrinkles and restoring volume. Radiesse filler is commonly used to treat:

Lower face + jawline

  • Nasolabial folds (smile lines)

  • Marionette lines (lines from the corners of the mouth to the chin)

  • Chin wrinkles and pre-jowl sulcus

  • Jawline contouring (Radiesse jawline injections can create a straighter, more defined angle)

Cheeks and midface

  • Restoring cheek volume and structure

  • Subtle lifting effect in the lower face when placed strategically

Hands

  • Volume loss on the backs of the hands

  • Reducing the appearance of tendons and veins

Neck and skin

  • Crepey neck skin

  • Horizontal neck lines

  • Lax, sun-damaged skin in the lower face/neck area

RADIESSE® Before and After: What Results Look Like

How Long Does RADIESSE® Last?

Radiesse tends to last longer than many HA fillers.

General timelines:

  • Smile lines, marionette lines, chin: about 12–18 months

  • Jawline and cheeks: often 12–18 months, sometimes longer in areas with less movement

  • Hands: around 12 months

How long Radiesse lasts depends on:

  • Your metabolism

  • Area treated and how much it moves during speech and expression

  • Amount of product used (for example, 1 syringe of Radiesse in the cheeks vs a more robust contouring plan)

  • Your skin quality, age, and lifestyle

Your injector will give you a realistic estimate for how long your specific treatment is likely to last and when to plan maintenance.

RADIESSE® Aftercare

Good aftercare reduces downtime and supports better results. Basic aftercare for Radiesse usually includes:

  • Using cool compresses in the first 24 hours to reduce swelling

  • Avoiding strenuous exercise, saunas, and hot tubs the day of treatment

  • Skipping alcohol and blood-thinning supplements (if your doctor has approved stopping them) around the time of treatment

  • Not massaging or pressing the treated areas unless your injector specifically instructs you to

  • Sleeping with your head slightly elevated the first night if your face was treated

Your injector will give you detailed, personalized Radiesse aftercare instructions based on the areas treated and your medical history.

RADIESSE® at Synergy Face + Body

If you’re considering RADIESSE®—whether for jawline contouring, cheek support, or hand rejuvenation—you need a plan that’s tailored to your face and your tolerance for risk, downtime, and budget.

At your consultation, we will:

  • Examine your face, neck, and/or hands in detail

  • Explain exactly where Radiesse makes sense and where it doesn’t

  • Compare RADIESSE® with Sculptra and hyaluronic acid fillers when appropriate

  • Outline expected results, side effects, maintenance schedule, and cost

Ready to talk about whether RADIESSE® is right for you?

  • Inside the Beltline: (919) 339-1934

  • North Raleigh: (919) 346-3724

  • Or reach out through our online contact form to schedule a consultation.