Salmon Creek Plastic Surgery

Our practice recently added Radiesse to our options for fillers and I thought it would be informative to discuss the different areas of the face where I like to use Radiesse and how it can be used in conjunction with Juvederm.

Radiesse, formerly known as Radiance, may be used on many wrinkles, including smile lines or nasolabial folds, marionette lines, and wrinkles at the corners of the mouth. This filler may also be used for facial shaping and contouring for cheek augmentation, nasal bridge correction, chin reshaping and contouring, as well as jaw line contouring to soften jowls. Radiesse has also been used successfully in the treatment of thin aging hands with accentuated veins to restore a more youthful look.

 Radiesse is made up of tiny smooth calcium hydroxylapatite (CaHA) microspheres which form a scaffold of sorts on which the body’s own collagen can grow. Treatment results in an immediate plumping of the skin during the first three months, along with extended correction for up to twelve to twenty-four months as new tissue regenerates. Good candidates for Radiesse injections include men and women who are looking to improve the appearance of aging on the facial skin. Patients should also be physically healthy and have realistic expectations.

Radiesse treatment is performed in the office and can take anywhere from thirty minutes to an hour to complete. A local or topical anesthetic may be used, after which the Radiesse is injected beneath the skin using a very fine needle. After the procedure, some minor inflammation and swelling can occur, though this usually clears up within two to four days. Patients may also experience some temporary mild discomfort or tenderness. Most patients are able to immediately resume their normal activities.  It is important to avoid taking aspirin or NSAIDS (Advil, Alleve, Motrin, Ibuprofen, Naprosyn, etc) for 1 week prior to the procedure to reduce bruising.  In addition, if you are prone to cold sores, please let us know and we will call in a prescription for Valtrex for you to take.  

Patients can typically expect the results of Radiesse to last one year. Occasional touch-ups can be performed as needed. The potential complications associated with Radiesse tend to be minor and may include side effects like swelling, redness, edema, pain, itching, discoloration and tenderness.  

Since Radiesse is designed to be injected into a deeper layer of the skin than Juvederm, the two can be used together in an innovative layering technique for wrinkle reduction.

The layering process begins by placing Radiesse deep in the layer of skin.  The next step in the layering process uses a Hyaluronic acid filler such as Juvederm.  Hyaluronic acid is a natural substance that already exists in the body, therefore no allergy testing is needed.  The Juvederm is injected in a more superficial layer of the skin to soften the wrinkle.  The two fillers in combination can often provide better results than either used alone. 

Do you suffer from severe underarm sweating?  At Salmon Creek Plastic Surgery we can help with treating this condition called Hyperhydrosis.

Botox is FDA approved for severe underarm sweating when topical agents don’t work.  Botox treatment helps control this condition by temporarily blocking the chemical signals from the nerves that stimulate the sweat glands.  When the sweat glands don’t receive chemical signals, the severe sweating stops.

You should notice a significant reduction in underarm sweating within  3 to 4 weeks of your first treatment.  There is a possibility that some sweat glands may be missed, and you may continue to experience some sweating from the untreated areas.  If this were to happen you should contact us and schedule a follow up.

Botox does not permanently stop the sweating; your symptoms will return gradually, and you will know when the time is right for another treatment.  Botox lasts on average about 3 months.