Primarily, RADIESSE is a volumizing filler used to plump up moderate to severe facial wrinkles and to restore lost volume, such as the nasolabial folds and the cheeks. However, it is so much more than just a volumizing filler.
Unlike hyaluronic acid fillers such as Restylane and Juvederm, RADIESSE works by stimulating your body to produce collagen. It is made of Calcium Hydroxyapatite (CaHA) microspheres (25 µm to 45 µm) suspended in an aqueous gel carrier of sodium carboxymethylcellulose (CMC). When injected, it immediately adds volume to deficient areas and contour facial features. Over time, the CMC gel is fully absorbed and the body metabolizes the CaHA microspheres, leaving behind your own natural collagen.
It was first FDA approved in 2006 for treating folds and wrinkles in the face, with 6 million procedures being performed to date. In 2015, RADIESSE received FDA approval for treating volume loss in the back of the hands. To date, it is the only dermal filler approved for this purpose