In cosmetics, there is a difference between treatments that work independently to externally improve aesthetics and those that work within the body’s own functions to repair internally. Both types of treatments have their place and provide benefits for the right patient. Radiesse is an option that provides a little of both types of treatment methods. You get visible results on the day of your appointment, with more lasting changes from intrinsic methods.
At Aledo Empowered Wellness, we look at aging from a more comprehensive viewpoint. We love methods that treat the cause of aging, not just the results of the aging process.
Facial Rejuvenation and Your Own Biology
Our wellness clinic was founded by two people who have spent their lives as athletes. They love helping their patients find treatments that fit into an active and healthy lifestyle. We see skin as living tissue that can respond in an amazing way to the right stimuli and signals. Treatments like Radiesse that can help rebuild something that has been lost are a great preventative and long-term approach to aesthetics.
Why Skin Loses Its Structure With Age
Young skin holds its shape because of the network of supportive proteins under the surface. Collagen is a protein that gives the skin its firmness and thickness. Elastin lets it stretch and bounce back. Both are made by cells in your skin called fibroblasts, which your body will send to areas where these proteins are particularly needed, such as the site of an injury.
Filler vs. Biostimulators and Why the Decision Matters
Most injectable fillers fall into one of two categories: traditional, where the main purpose is to fill an area with a biocompatible gel to restore volume, or biostimulatory, where the product prompts the production of supportive proteins:
How Traditional Fillers Work
Traditional fillers are typically made using a synthetic hyaluronic acid (HA) gel that behaves in the same way as the HA the body makes, attracting and holding onto water to hydrate and create volume. These gels provide volume in the area where they are placed, with immediate results that look natural under the skin. Dermal fillers are often a good fit for lips and delicate lines.
How Collagen Biostimulators Work
A biostimulator focuses more on stimulating the body’s processes in a specific area, causing it to respond in the same way it would for an injury without damaging any tissue. Radiesse is made of calcium hydroxylapatite, which your body recognizes because it occurs naturally in bone. The product comes as tiny smooth microspheres that become a framework your body can build collagen along. The microspheres are also suspended in a water-based gel that provides instant volume in the area, similar to a standard filler.
How Radiesse Signals Your Body to Rebuild Collagen
The Calcium Microsphere Scaffold
Once the calcium microspheres settle into the tissue, they form a framework, like a lattice. This effect occurs locally, so the injection is placed right where you want additional volume or tissue tightening. It is commonly used in lines such as nasolabial folds and marionette lines, and can also be used to define the jawline and reduce chin wrinkles. It is ideal for the lower face.
Fibroblast Activation Through Mechanotransduction
When your fibroblasts come into contact with the microspheres, the physical contact causes them to activate. This is a process called mechanotransduction, which is when cells sense mechanical pressure and turn this into an activity. During laboratory work published in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, it was found that fibroblasts touching the calcium microspheres switched into a collagen-producing state.
New Collagen and Elastin
Once these cells are active, they produce fresh collagen along the scaffold. It starts by producing a softer, early form of collagen that is gradually replaced with a sturdier type that gives skin its lasting firmness. Elastin is also produced through this process, allowing the skin to have more elasticity and a better blood supply to the area. A review in the Aesthetic Surgery Journal found that calcium hydroxylapatite causes this regrowth of collagen, elastin and new blood vessels with very little of the ongoing irritation seen with other materials.
Your Collagen Rebuilding Timeline After Treatment
- Day of Treatment: You walk out with a visible change from the gel carrier. This early result is nice to see, but it is not the rebuilt collagen yet, so you will not see your final outcome on day one.
- The First Few Weeks: Any mild swelling or bruising settles down while your fibroblasts get to work laying new collagen along the scaffold underneath. The look starts to become more like your own.
- Two to Three Months: The gel has been absorbed, and your fresh collagen has taken its place. This is when the firmer, better-supported result really shows, and it is the point we use to judge how well the treatment worked.
- Long-Term: Because the improvement is built into your tissue, it tends to last longer than volume-only options, commonly well over a year depending on the area. We plan simple touch-ups around your face.
How We Personalized Every Radiesse Plan
No two faces age the same way, which is why it is so important for there to be customizable treatment plans for those seeking facial rejuvenation. We are an independent practice, allowing us to spend time with each patient to learn more about what they need. When you come in, we look at your face at rest and in motion and talk about what is bothering you. We make sure Radiesse is the right tool for the job before moving forward.
The dose we use for facial rejuvenation with Radiesse is customizable. Some areas require a more direct approach with a greater amount of undiluted Radiesse. Others may need dilute Radiesse that spreads across a broader area. We can also combine treatments when this makes sense, pairing Radiesse with wrinkle relaxers or other collagen-stimulating methods like microneedling or PRP/PRF.
Schedule Your Radiesse Consultation in Aledo, TX
If natural-looking rejuvenation that works with your biology sounds like your kind of approach, we would like to meet you. We will look at your face, discuss your options and build a plan around what you want. Call Aledo Empowered Wellness at 817-646-8935 or reach us online to schedule your visit at our Aledo, Texas office.
