Radiesse in Las Vegas
The biostimulator that behaves like a filler. Immediate structural lift on the day of treatment, followed by months of your own collagen rebuilding underneath. Administered by Teresa Hernandez, MSN FNP-BC.
Prefer to ask a question first? Send us a message ↓Understanding
Radiesse
Most collagen stimulators ask you to wait. Radiesse doesn't. It is made of calcium hydroxylapatite microspheres, a substance naturally found in bones and teeth, suspended in a gel carrier: roughly 30% CaHA microspheres and 70% carrier, manufactured by Merz North America.
On day one, the gel carrier and CaHA scaffold provide immediate, visible structural lift. Over the following weeks the gel carrier is gradually absorbed while the microspheres begin stimulating your own collagen, specifically collagen types I and III, along with elastin and new dermal cell activity. By month three to four, the volume you see is increasingly your own tissue rather than the original product. Effects typically last 12 to 18 months, and because the correction is supported by your own remodeled collagen, results tend to fade gradually rather than abruptly.
Radiesse is FDA-approved for the correction of moderate to severe facial wrinkles and folds, such as nasolabial folds, and is also indicated for correcting volume loss in the hands. At Body Balance Medical, every consultation begins with an honest assessment of whether Radiesse, a hyaluronic acid filler, PRF, or a combination is the right fit for your goals. Our aesthetics menu exists to serve the patient, not to push a single product.
Radiesse, Sculptra, and HA Filler
Three different mechanisms, three different timelines. Understanding what each product is actually made of, and what it's doing to your tissue on day one versus month six, explains most of what patients ask about when choosing between them.
| Radiesse (CaHA) | Sculptra (PLLA) | HA Fillers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Made of | Calcium hydroxylapatite microspheres in a gel carrier | Poly-L-lactic acid microparticles | Cross-linked hyaluronic acid gel |
| Day 1 | Immediate lift and volume | Minimal visible change | Immediate volume |
| Month 6 | Collagen supports the correction already in place | Collagen response near its peak after a 2 to 3 session series | Volume maintained, some resorption beginning |
| How long it lasts | 12 to 18 months | Up to 2 years, multiple sessions required | 9 to 24 months, depending on product and area |
| Reversible | No | No | Yes, with hyaluronidase |
Choosing between them comes down to a few questions: how quickly you want to see results, how long you want them to last, and whether reversibility matters for the area being treated. Sculptra works entirely through delayed collagen stimulation, with no immediate volumizing effect, and typically needs 2 to 3 sessions to reach its full result. Radiesse gives you the immediate lift Sculptra doesn't, while still delivering biostimulator-length results. For the full side-by-side, including cost per year and which one fits which goal, read our Radiesse vs Sculptra comparison.
Against hyaluronic acid fillers, the trade is duration for reversibility. HA is fully reversible with hyaluronidase, which is why it stays the safer default in delicate areas. Radiesse is not reversible, but in the same area it tends to hold longer: in a split-face nasolabial fold trial, 79% of Radiesse-treated folds were still improved at 12 months, versus 43% of the HA-treated folds (Moers-Carpi and Tufet, 2008). That is why the two products are often used in different areas of the same treatment plan rather than as competitors.
Where Radiesse
Is Used
Radiesse is FDA-approved for correcting moderate to severe facial wrinkles and folds, such as nasolabial folds, and for volume loss in the hands. Teresa also uses it clinically for structural definition in the jawline, chin, and cheeks, applying the same product with technique matched to each area: standard concentration for structural lift, hyperdiluted ratios for skin quality in larger surface areas like the neck and décolletage.
In the jawline and chin, CaHA provides scaffolding for contour and projection without surgery. Cheek volume restoration addresses the midface hollowing that drives much of visible facial aging. A small clinical study of hyperdilute CaHA reported measurable improvements in cheek volume and jowl reduction at Day 150.
Smile lines running from nose to mouth are the original FDA-approved use for Radiesse, under its indication for moderate to severe facial wrinkles and folds. Teresa also uses it to soften the folds that form along the jowls. It delivers both smoothing of the fold and long-term collagen support in the surrounding skin, which is why it's often reached for here first among biostimulators.
The FDA approved Radiesse for correcting volume loss in the dorsum of the hands in 2015. In a retrospective study of 58 women, 94.8% achieved at least one grade of improvement on the Merz Hand Grading Scale after a single treatment.
Décolleté: An On-Label Indication as of April 2026
This is recent enough that most Las Vegas patients haven't heard it yet. On April 8, 2026, Radiesse received FDA approval for the treatment of wrinkles in the décolleté area, using a specific dilution of 1:2 with saline, in patients 22 and older. It is the first and only biostimulator approved in the US for both face and body. In the pivotal trial supporting that approval, 71.2% of treated patients showed at least a one-point improvement in décolleté wrinkle severity at week 24, compared with 6.3% of untreated controls, a statistically significant difference.
Neck
Skin quality in the neck can also be addressed with hyperdiluted Radiesse, using the same biostimulation mechanism to improve firmness and texture over larger surface areas. The neck itself does not currently carry a separate FDA indication the way the décolleté now does, so this use is clinical judgment applied from the approved mechanism rather than an on-label claim. Teresa will discuss what's realistic for your skin during your assessment.
Areas we do not treat with Radiesse: The tear trough and under-eye region are not appropriate for Radiesse. The skin there is too thin, nodule risk is well documented, and unlike hyaluronic acid filler, Radiesse cannot be dissolved if something needs correcting. If under-eye volume loss is your concern, HA filler or PRF is the appropriate route, and we'll guide you there directly.
Your Results
Over Time
Radiesse is the rare biostimulator that gives you something to see on day one, and then keeps working for months after.
The gel carrier and CaHA microspheres deliver visible structural lift before you leave the clinic. Some swelling, bruising, and tenderness at the injection site are normal.
Swelling typically resolves within 24 to 36 hours. The gel carrier begins absorbing as collagen stimulation activates. Most patients are back to their normal routine within a week.
The full collagen response emerges. Firmness, texture, and volume increasingly reflect your own rebuilt tissue rather than the original product.
Correction fades gradually as the CaHA microspheres are slowly resorbed. A maintenance session around this point can extend results without starting over.
Safety & Candidacy
The calcium hydroxylapatite in Radiesse is naturally occurring, non-mutagenic, non-antigenic, and fully biodegradable, with a strong biocompatibility record built over decades of medical use.
Common side effects are swelling, bruising, redness, and tenderness at the injection site, transient and generally resolved within days. Nodules can form if product is placed too superficially, which is why experienced injector technique and correct depth are non-negotiable.
Radiesse is not appropriate for everyone. It should be avoided by patients who:
- Have an active skin infection at the treatment area
- Have a bleeding disorder
- Are pregnant or breastfeeding
- Have severe allergies or known sensitivity to product components, including lidocaine
- Are currently undergoing, or will soon require, steroid treatment, which can affect healing
Patients taking blood thinners should discuss this at consultation, since bruising risk increases. Good candidates are generally adults with mild to moderate volume loss, skin laxity, or deepening folds who understand that Radiesse is not reversible the way HA filler is.
What Drives Your Total
Radiesse is priced per syringe, and one syringe contains 1.5 mL of product. A single area like the chin may need one syringe; comprehensive jawline and cheek work may need several. What actually determines your total is how many areas are being treated, the degree of correction needed, whether standard or hyperdilute technique is used, and whether a second session makes sense. Radiesse is an elective treatment and is not covered by insurance.
Because Radiesse lasts 12 to 18 months, its cost per year of maintained result can compare favorably to hyaluronic acid filler in areas where HA wears off sooner, such as the nasolabial folds. For how pricing works across filler products and treatment areas, see our guide to dermal filler cost in Las Vegas.
Body Balance Medical runs Radiesse and collagen stimulator promotions through the Merz Xperience+ rewards program and clinic-specific offers throughout the year. Current pricing and promotional offers are always listed on our promotions page, which is kept up to date as offers change.
See Current Offers
Teresa Hernandez
MSN, FNP-BC · Lead Injector · Biote-Certified · Body Balance Medical
Radiesse demands technical precision that most injectables don't: CaHA microspheres have to be placed at the correct depth and plane, with dilution ratios adjusted for each area. That's a clinical skill set, not a cosmetic one. Teresa Hernandez brings deep familiarity with CaHA's mechanism of action and facial anatomy to every Radiesse consultation.
Every initial consultation begins with an honest assessment of what Radiesse can and cannot do for your specific concern. If a hyaluronic acid filler, PRF, or a combination approach makes more sense, Teresa will say so. There is no separate assessment fee.
Radiesse effects typically last 12 to 18 months. Hyaluronic acid filler ranges from about 6 to 12 months in the lips to as long as 2 years in the cheeks, depending on the product, so the fair comparison is area by area. In the same area, Radiesse tends to hold longer because the collagen stimulation continues after the gel carrier is absorbed. Some patients schedule a maintenance session around the 12-month mark to extend results without starting from scratch.
Most patients reach their desired correction in one to two sessions. The exact number depends on how many areas are being treated, the degree of volume loss, and whether hyperdilute technique is being used for skin quality. A second session, if needed, is typically scheduled four to eight weeks after the first.
Good candidates are generally healthy adults with mild to moderate volume loss, skin laxity, or deepening folds and wrinkles, who understand that Radiesse is not reversible. Candidates should not have an active skin infection, a bleeding disorder, or severe allergies to product components, and should not be pregnant or breastfeeding. Teresa reviews your health history at your consultation to confirm candidacy.
Yes. Radiesse is often combined with neurotoxins, HA fillers, chemical peels, or microneedling when the treatment plan calls for it. Radiesse might address jawline structure while HA filler handles lip volume, or hyperdilute Radiesse improves neck skin quality alongside a neurotoxin for platysmal bands. Teresa will sequence treatments based on your goals.
The tear trough and under-eye area should not be treated with Radiesse. The tissue there is too thin, which creates unacceptable nodule risk, and unlike HA filler, Radiesse cannot be dissolved if a problem occurs. Patients interested in under-eye correction should explore HA filler or PRF instead.
Your assessment takes place in person at our Summerlin clinic. Teresa examines the treatment area, reviews your medical history, and explains what Radiesse can realistically achieve for your goals. There is no separate assessment fee. If Radiesse is the right fit, treatment can often be performed the same day. If another approach would serve you better, we'll recommend that instead.
What Our Patients Are Saying
Have a Question? Send Us a Message
Tell us what you're interested in and our team will reach out to schedule your Radiesse assessment with Teresa.
Prefer to skip the form? Open our scheduler and book directly →
Find Out What Radiesse Can Do
Consult with Teresa Hernandez, MSN FNP-BC to find out whether Radiesse, HA filler, or a combination protocol fits your goals. Serving Las Vegas, Summerlin, and Henderson.
Call us: (702) 417-1261 · 7975 W Sahara Ave #101, Summerlin, Las Vegas, NV 89117
Related Services
PRF, microneedling, and chemical peels that pair well with Radiesse for patients targeting both structure and surface quality.
Explore → Save MoreStanding member discounts on every aesthetics visit, including Radiesse. If you're planning regular maintenance, membership often pays for itself quickly.
View Membership Tiers → Beyond the FaceSculptra Booty and other body biostimulator applications, for patients whose collagen-building goals go beyond the face.
Explore →