Radiesse is an injectable collagen biostimulator made of calcium hydroxylapatite microspheres in a gel. Once applied, it supports the area and, over the following weeks, stimulates fibroblasts to produce your own collagen, which improves firmness and contour. It is used on the cheekbones, jawline, chin, neck and hands. Changes are gradual and results vary from patient to patient.
Radiesse is a collagen biostimulator: an injectable that, besides providing support right away, stimulates the skin to make its own collagen. It gradually improves firmness and contour, without surgery, for mild to moderate laxity. Here we explain how it works, which areas it is used on, how long results last and how it compares with other options.
Radiesse is one of the most studied collagen biostimulators, and at iki it is applied after a medical consultation that determines whether it is the right product for your case or whether another makes more sense.
How does a collagen biostimulator work?
Over the years, collagen production declines, and skin loses density, firmness and support. We explain it in detail in collagen loss after 30. A biostimulator doesn’t replace that collagen directly: it gives the skin a stimulus to produce it.
In the case of Radiesse, the product has two components:
- Calcium hydroxylapatite microspheres, a biocompatible mineral that acts as a scaffold. Around them, fibroblasts activate and lay down new collagen.
- A carboxymethylcellulose gel, which carries the microspheres and provides the initial support. It is reabsorbed within weeks.
Over time the body also metabolizes the microspheres, and what remains is your own collagen. That’s why it isn’t the same as injecting collagen, a claim we debunk in the collagen myth. It is applied with a blunt-tip cannula or a fine needle, depending on the area, to reduce discomfort and the risk of bruising.
Which collagen biostimulator is best?
No single one is best for everyone. Each product behaves differently, and the choice depends on your skin, the type of laxity and how much time you have to see the change.
| Option | What it is | How it works | When it shows | Usually indicated for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Radiesse | Calcium hydroxylapatite in gel | Immediate support and new collagen | Support from day 1, firmness at about 3 months | Cheekbones, jawline, chin, neck, hands |
| HArmonyCa | Hyaluronic acid plus hydroxylapatite | Support and collagen stimulation at the same time | Immediate support, firmness over months | Midface and contour with mild to moderate laxity |
| Sculptra | Poly-L-lactic acid | Gradual collagen stimulation, no immediate volume | Gradual, over months | Diffuse loss of density, in 2 to 3 sessions |
| Hyaluronic acid | Cross-linked gel, not a biostimulator | Restores volume or hydrates at a specific point | Immediate | Lips, under-eye hollows, folds, a reversible first change |
Who can benefit from this procedure?
Radiesse is indicated for people who notice a loss of firmness and definition in their contour, with mild to moderate laxity, and who want a gradual change without surgery. It is usually considered from age 35 or 40, although age matters less than skin quality.
It isn’t for everyone. It isn’t recommended for:
- ✗ Severe laxity with excess skin: the indication is usually surgical.
- ✗ Someone looking for a reversible first change: hyaluronic acid is more prudent there.
- ✗ Pregnancy, breastfeeding, active infection in the area or uncontrolled autoimmune disease.
- ✗ Lips and the under-eye area, which aren’t areas for this product.
Which areas is Radiesse used on?
On the face, mainly the cheekbones, jawline and chin, where support and definition show the most. Diluted, it is also used to improve firmness and skin quality on the neck, décolletage and backs of the hands, areas that reveal the passage of time and are often left out of the routine.
In areas with thin skin and a lot of movement, such as the lips or the eye area, hydroxylapatite can be visible or form nodules, which is why other products are preferred there. If your main concern is laxity across the whole face, in facial sagging by area we explain which treatment fits each case.
Your consultation at iki is free · 45 minutes
A diagnosis and a written, phased plan. You decide afterwards. Related treatment: Collagen biostimulators.How long do the results last?
The support from the gel shows from the moment of treatment, but the firmness that comes from new collagen takes time: it builds gradually and usually becomes evident at around three months. According to the manufacturer, the effect can hold for 12 to 18 months, depending on the area, the dose, your metabolism and the condition of your skin. Results vary from patient to patient.
For skin with more laxity, the physician may suggest a second session or combine Radiesse with technologies such as HIFU for skin laxity, which works in deeper layers. Protecting your skin from the sun every day is what helps new collagen last most, especially in Bogotá, where UV radiation is high all year.
What is the session like, and how uncomfortable is it?
The session takes 30 to 60 minutes. First the area is cleansed and marked; many versions of the product include lidocaine, a local anesthetic, and the physician can add cold or a numbing cream. The discomfort is usually tolerable, more a feeling of pressure than pain. You don’t need time off: you can go back to your routine the same day, with the aftercare we describe below.
What does the cost of a biostimulator depend on?
It depends mainly on how many syringes or vials your case needs, the areas to be treated and whether the plan includes more than one session or a combination with other technologies. That’s why at iki we don’t quote a figure without reviewing your skin: at the consultation you receive the complete plan and its price, with no surprises.
What should I keep in mind after my appointment?
After treatment, some swelling, tenderness or a light bruise for a few days is normal. To support a good result and reduce the risk of unwanted effects:
- Avoid intense heat, such as saunas, steam rooms or laser sessions on the area, for the first few days.
- Don’t do intense exercise for 1 or 2 days.
- Stay out of pools and the ocean until the physician clears you, to reduce the risk of infection.
- Don’t rub or massage the treated area unless the physician tells you to.
- Wear sunscreen every day.
If you notice pain that gets worse, redness that spreads or a change in skin color, seek care right away. These situations are uncommon, but they need a medical review.
Collagen biostimulators: a natural, gradual lifting effect
Collagen biostimulators don’t change your features or deliver an overnight result: they improve the structure of the skin from within, and the change looks natural because it is your own collagen. At iki, in Usaquén, the consultation determines whether Radiesse, another biostimulator or a technology makes more sense for you, with a written, phased plan. If you’re starting to notice sagging, also read how to treat facial sagging without surgery.
Frequently asked questions
What is Radiesse and how does it work?
Radiesse is a collagen biostimulator made of calcium hydroxylapatite microspheres suspended in a carboxymethylcellulose gel. The gel provides immediate support and is reabsorbed within weeks; the microspheres act as a scaffold that stimulates fibroblasts to produce your own collagen. It isn’t injected collagen: your body makes it, which is why the change is gradual.
Which collagen biostimulator is best?
No single one is best for everyone. Radiesse provides immediate support and gradual firmness, useful for contour and the jawline. Sculptra, made of poly-L-lactic acid, restores density more gradually over several sessions. HArmonyCa combines hyaluronic acid with hydroxylapatite for support and firmness at the same time. The physician chooses based on your skin, your laxity and your timeline.
When do Radiesse results show, and how long do they last?
The support is noticeable from the moment of treatment, but the firmness that comes from new collagen builds gradually, generally at around three months. According to the manufacturer, the effect can hold for 12 to 18 months, depending on the area, the dose and the condition of the skin. Results vary from patient to patient.
Where is Radiesse not used?
It isn’t used on the lips or the under-eye area, because these are thin areas where hydroxylapatite can be visible or form nodules. In those areas, hyaluronic acid is the more prudent option. It also isn’t the tool for severe laxity with excess skin, where the indication is usually surgical. The physician defines the areas at the consultation.
What aftercare is needed after Radiesse?
For one or two days, avoid intense exercise, saunas, steam rooms and direct heat, as well as pools and the ocean. Don’t rub or massage the area unless the physician tells you to. Some swelling or a light bruise for a few days is normal. Daily sunscreen remains part of your aftercare.
Is a collagen biostimulator or hyaluronic acid better?
They have different goals. A biostimulator gradually improves the structure and firmness of the skin across the treated area. Hyaluronic acid restores volume at a specific point or hydrates, with an immediate effect and the advantage of being reversible. They are often combined, and the physician decides which suits what your face needs.
This article is for information only and does not replace a medical consultation. Results of any treatment vary from patient to patient. If you have a skin condition, book a consultation to get a diagnosis.