Radiesse (CaHA Collagen Stimulator) in Seoul
Volume from the gel first, then collagen induced by CaHA microspheres
Volume from the gel first, then collagen induced by CaHA microspheres
Radiesse, made by Merz, is a collagen stimulator in which calcium hydroxylapatite (CaHA) microspheres are dispersed in a carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) gel. The volume you see right after injection comes from the CMC gel; as the gel is absorbed over the following weeks, the remaining microspheres stimulate fibroblasts and help induce your own collagen.
At ABLE Dermatology in Songpa, Seoul, Dr. Jeong Kyungmuk, a board-certified dermatologist, looks at volume loss and skin quality together, then decides personally whether Radiesse suits you and where, and at what depth, it should go.
Radiesse sits between a filler, which gives volume immediately, and a collagen stimulator, which works over time. The immediate volume is a bridge that supports your appearance while the dermis remodels; the real aim is the skin-quality improvement that follows.
The immediate volume comes from the CMC gel. It fills lost volume and softens the hollow, and because the gel gently props up the surrounding tissue, it may also add a mild physical stimulus.
As the CMC gel is absorbed over several weeks, the CaHA microspheres that were dispersed in it settle in place. Microspheres near the border between the dermis and the subcutis touch dermal fibroblasts directly and stimulate collagen production; the conversion of this physical stimulus into a biochemical signal inside the cell is called mechanotransduction. In a laboratory study (Nowag et al., 2023), direct contact between CaHA microspheres and fibroblasts was the key trigger for new collagen formation. The remaining microspheres follow a subcutaneous foreign-body pathway.
The point at which the gel is absorbed is closer to the start of skin-quality improvement than to its end. A clearly visible change needs several more months, and research reports type I collagen becoming established around 9 months after injection. The size and duration of the effect can vary with your skin condition, the degree of aging and the technique.
Radiesse is injected from the subdermal plane to the superficial subcutaneous fat. Depth changes the balance between direct fibroblast contact and the subcutaneous foreign-body pathway, so “CaHA = pure mechanotransduction” is a simplification. The immediate volume also fades once the gel is absorbed, which is why Radiesse is closer to a dermal-remodeling product than to a deep-layer volume product.
In the consultation room we start not with a product name but with what your skin is missing: volume, or skin quality itself.
Vessel-rich areas such as the forehead and around the eyes call for careful attention. Treatment areas are decided with Director Jeong at your consultation.
We first separate volume loss from a decline in skin quality; the two can look alike but need different approaches. We assess skin thickness, areas of volume loss, elasticity and previous procedures, and check for pregnancy or breastfeeding, autoimmune conditions and current medications.
With stimulation, the right amount matters more than intensity. Excessive stimulation can lead to unwanted fibrosis or nodules, so the dermatologist decides personally where to stimulate and how much. For dilution, Director Jeong works within roughly 1:1 to 1:2, the realistic range described on his blog, and mixes the product evenly so the particles stay uniform.
A hyaluronic acid (HA) filler adds volume directly and immediately, and because it can be dissolved with hyaluronidase it is reversible. Radiesse is a collagen stimulator made of CaHA microspheres dispersed in a CMC gel: the gel gives volume right after injection, and once the gel is absorbed the microspheres stimulate fibroblasts to help induce collagen. Its results are also hard to reverse. The two work differently, so which one fits you is decided at your consultation.
No. Waking fibroblasts with a physical stimulus so that they make collagen (mechanotransduction) is a principle shared by hyaluronic acid fillers and other collagen-stimulating treatments, which differ only in degree and method. Radiesse is closely tied to the term because the evidence for its microspheres touching fibroblasts directly is well documented. Rather than asking whether the principle is special, ask whether this way of stimulating suits your skin concern.
Volume from the CMC gel shows right after injection, and collagen-stimulating effects tend to follow from a few weeks on. The point at which the gel is absorbed is closer to the start of skin-quality improvement, and a clear change needs several more months. Research reports type I collagen becoming established around 9 months after injection. The size and duration of the effect can vary with your skin condition, the degree of aging and the technique.
No. The immediate volume from the CMC gel disappears once the gel is absorbed, and the collagen formed afterwards goes mainly into improving dermal quality rather than building fat-layer volume. PLLA and PDLLA products injected into sub-SMAS or deep fat, where the new collagenous tissue itself becomes volume, work in a different layer and in a different way. If structural volume loss in deep layers is your main concern, we review other options as well.
Yes. Swelling, bruising and temporary lumps can occur, nodules can form, and excessive fibrosis has rarely been reported. Because Radiesse results, like those of other collagen stimulators, are hard to reverse, diagnosis before treatment and the planning of depth, amount and area are done with care. Vascular occlusion can rarely occur and may lead to tissue necrosis or vision problems, including blindness, so vessel-rich areas such as the forehead and around the eyes need particular attention.
Not necessarily. In theory, more dilution spreads the particles over a wider area, but over-diluted product can settle in the syringe and be injected without being evenly mixed. Particles can then gather in one spot, which raises the risk of nodules. That is why Director Jeong regards roughly 1:1 to 1:2 as the realistic dilution range and puts weight on mixing the product evenly (as described on his blog).
Be able to choose, not be pushed.
This content is general medical information. Treatment effects and side effects vary by individual. Please consult in person.
