The King of Fillers?

In the June 2008 issue of Dermatologic Surgery there was a review published of the results of the use of Radiesse in 1000 patients, over a 52 month period. The results were remarkable because of the durability of the effect, and the relative lack of problems.

The most commonly injected area was the nasolabial fold, the groove between the corner of the nose and the corner of the mouth. The second most commonly treated area was the marionette lines, the grooves extending downward from the corners of the mouth. Both of these areas are frequent sites of tissue loss, although those of us who are advanced injectors are using this filler in the cheeks as well. The filler persisted from 10 to 14 months, and more than 80% reported persistence of the filer at a year. This is not to say that correction at one year was 100%, but some of the effect was still visible. This is a longer lasting result than that achieved with any of the commonly used fillers, with the exception of Sculptra which may take 6 months or longer to demonstrate full effectiveness.
The safety record of Radiesse was very good, as it has been with most other fillers. The most commonly reported side effects were temporary redness and bruising. Occasionally there were nodules, primarily around the lips. It appears that the persistence of the effect is partially due to the fact that this filler stimulates the body to make new collagen, which substitutes for the filler as it is absorbed. Furthermore, the filler has a very natural feel which is appreciated by patients.

Gerald N. Bock MD
California Skin & Laser Center
Stockton & Lodi, CA