Is sagging, loose skin making you feel insecure? Are the over-the-counter creams, serums, and even tablets doing nothing to give you the soft, gorgeous look you enjoyed when you were younger? Then you may be interested in Radiesse, a groundbreaking injectable that can replenish the skin with volume, filling out lines and lifting the skin so you look youthful and stunning. The expert team here at Dermatology, Laser & Vein Center in Cincinnati, OH, is thrilled to offer this incredible cosmetic solution.
How Long Does Radiesse Last?
Unbelievably, the effects of Radiesse can last for up to a year. We recommend coming in sometime during this period for a maintenance session to extend and further enhance the results. This will be suggested for some time between six and nine months after your initial treatment. Patients love that they can get this treatment again and again – there’s no limit! When you notice your results start to fade, simply come in for another session. We can give you the same results, or update your treatment to target new skin concerns if you’d like.
What Is Radiesse?
This FDA-approved cosmetic treatment is known as a “dermal filler”, which means it’s a series of simple injections into the face that give patients a more youthful appearance. In this case, it injects the skin with a product composed of hydroxylapatite crystals, which is similar to calcium, and aqueous gel. When injected into the skin, the product adds immediate volume to the treated area, filling out wrinkles so the skin appears smoother and more evenly textured. Not only this, but it encourages the body to produce new collagen, so you can enjoy lasting results!
What Is Collagen?
Collagen is an important protein that occurs naturally in the body and is responsible for keeping our skin perky and supple. Unfortunately, over time our production of collagen slows. This means the skin starts to droop and sag, folding in on itself to create wrinkles and giving us sunken areas and jowls. But this treatment kickstarts the body’s collagen production all over again! Patients love that the body’s natural processes work alongside the injectable to create more organic-looking results.
Why Do We Lose Collagen?
You’ve probably heard that we lose collagen because of aging. While that’s certainly true, many factors can speed up the process. Things like smoking, drinking, weight fluctuation, sun exposure, air pollution, and genetics can contribute to a quick loss in collagen. It’s for all these reasons that we don’t prescribe one specific age to get this treatment. We know that lines and wrinkles can affect anyone for any reason, so if you’re struggling with these concerns, treatment may be right for you.
Where Can This Treatment Be Used?
Amazingly, this treatment can be used all over the face to sculpt and lift. Thanks to its thicker consistency, it’s commonly used in the cheeks, where it can create an apple-like fullness, but that’s just the tip of the iceberg! It can also be used to fill out sunken, hollow areas around the temples and cheeks, as well as severe lines that might occur around the mouth such as marionette lines and nasolabial folds. It can It also makes an incredible lip filler and a stunning liquid nose job!
Certain concerns, such as heavy under-eye bags and thin lines around the lips, aren’t best treated with this product. This is because the skin around these areas is very delicate and so requires a softer filler to achieve optimal results. Luckily, we offer an entire suite of incredible dermal fillers here and can suggest an excellent alternative. For example, Juvederm is an injectable made of hyaluronic acid, a compound that brings moisture to the skin. It’s a thinner texture and therefore more suited to targeting thin skin.
What Will My Treatment Be Like?
Your Consultation
The first step will be to come in for a chat with a member of our staff. You can talk us through your cosmetic goals, and we’ll ensure treatment is a suitable course of action for you. We’ll go over your medical history and medications you might be on, too. If everything looks good, we’ll design you a treatment plan that details how many units of product will be used and how many injections will be made.
On the Day
Treatment is performed in-house at our gorgeous Cincinnati office. We’ll ask you to come in with a clean, makeup-free face and we will apply a topical numbing cream. We’ll then carefully make the injections. Most of our clients report that thanks to the needle being so fine, they can hardly feel treatment! The whole process generally only takes about twenty minutes, and then you’ll be free to go.
Afterward
Patients love that there’s no downtime associated with this treatment. As soon as you’re finished, you can carry on with normal life, heading back to work or errand-running and even driving yourself to and from your appointment. This is in contrast to surgical options that require a week of bed rest to recover! To help your skin heal quickly after injections, we will recommend that avoid certain activities, such as rigorous exercise and spending time in harsh sunlight. This will only be in the days following treatment.
How Long Do Results Take To Develop?
After treatment, you’ll likely notice some immediate new volume in your skin. But the best results come in after about a week when the body has absorbed and metabolized the filler. This is when the filler starts working alongside the body’s own collagen to give you incredible, noticeable results! The exact length of time to see results depends on the individual and their body’s processes, so don’t be alarmed if it takes a little longer than seven days.
What Will the Results Look Like?
What’s wonderful about this treatment is that it offers beautiful results that still keep you looking like yourself. Unlike cosmetic surgeries that can dramatically change the shape of your face, this treatment enhances your existing beauty by giving you a rejuvenated, youthful look. It’s perfect for those who want to look natural. If you don’t want people to know you underwent treatment, they won’t be able to tell – they’ll just think you look rested and drop-dead gorgeous!
Who Is a Good Candidate for Treatment?
As mentioned above, if you’re over 18 and struggling with wrinkles and folds, we’d love to hear from you. These concerns can affect anyone regardless of skin tone or gender, so there’s no one “perfect candidate”. Some medical conditions, as well as pregnancy, may make you ineligible for treatment. If during your consultation we discover that your concerns may be better treated with an alternative solution, we will suggest that and talk you through all the details.
What Are Some Alternative Cosmetic Treatments?
Other Dermal Fillers
As well as Radiesse and Juvederm, there’s a whole world of fillers to enjoy, each working differently to target specific skin concerns. For example, Sculptra uses the key ingredient poly-L-lactic acid to fill out lines and kickstart collagen production in the body and is currently the longest-lasting filler available. Meanwhile, a filler like Vollure uses hyaluronic acid and has been specifically designed to correct nasolabial folds. We will decide during your initial consultation which filler is going to work best to help you achieve your cosmetic goals.
Neuromodulators
Perhaps your wrinkles aren’t caused by sagging skin at all, but by repeated facial movements like smiling and frowning. In this case, we may suggest a neuromodulator, which relaxes the muscles underneath the face so the skin on top doesn’t crease or fold. While the best-known product is the incredible Botox, we also offer treatments such as Jeuveau and Dysport which all use different formulas. Like dermal fillers, we can talk you through the different ingredients so you can make an informed decision about which product to use.
Non-Injectables
If you want to stay away from injections entirely, you’re in luck; our range of MediSpa services means there’s a non-invasive option for everyone. Chemical Peels work like ultra-intense facials to give you a refreshed glow, while microneedling diminishes scars and blemishes using fine needles against the skin’s surface. If you like the idea of new collagen, Gentlewaves uses LED energy on the skin to stimulate the body’s production of collagen while giving you a “complexion pick-me-up”.
Schedule Your Consultation Today!
If you’re ready to see real results that will have you tossing your drugstore-purchased creams in the trash, look no further than Radiesse. In just a few minutes you’ll be able to wind back the clock on your skin, enjoying a stunning glow that lasts for months. So what are you waiting for? To get started, call us at Dermatology, Laser & Vein Center in Cincinnati, OH, today.