RADiesse.
The calcium-hydroxylapatite biostimulator that does two things at once — adds contour now, and builds your own collagen over the months that follow. Structure for the jawline, chin, cheeks, and hands, plus hyperdilute skin tightening. Placed by trained medical injectors.
Not just filler — a collagen builder.
Radiesse is an injectable from Merz Aesthetics whose active ingredient is calcium hydroxylapatite (CaHA) — microspheres of a mineral your own bones already contain, suspended in a gel. That composition is what sets it apart from the hyaluronic-acid fillers most people picture when they hear “filler.”
It works in two phases. The gel carrier restores contour immediately. Then, as the CaHA microspheres are gradually absorbed over the following months, they act as a scaffold that stimulates your body to build its own new collagen. The result keeps developing after the gel itself is gone — which is why Radiesse is called a biostimulator, and why it tends to last longer than an HA filler.
That strength comes with an honest tradeoff: Radiesse is not reversible the way HA fillers are — it can't be dissolved on demand. So we use it deliberately, where structure and longevity are the goal, and reach for a reversible HA filler when they aren't.
Standard for structure, hyperdilute for skin.
- Standard Radiesse contour + structure
- Injected at full strength to define the jawline, project the chin, rebuild cheek support, soften deep folds, and restore the back of the hands. Immediate contour, collagen over time.
- Hyperdilute Radiesse biostimulation + tightening
- Diluted with saline and lidocaine and spread in thin passes to firm crepey, lax skin — neck, décolleté, jawline, hands — without adding volume. A skin-quality treatment, not a contouring one.
Which one you need depends on whether you're after shape or skin quality — and often it's a bit of both. We map that at consultation, and we'll tell you honestly when a different tool in our filler menu or a skin-tightening treatment fits better.
Structure and skin, face and hands.
Radiesse earns its place where firmness and longevity matter. In your consultation we'll identify which areas — and which preparation — would benefit your goals most.
Jawline & chin
CaHA's structural strength is ideal for defining the jawline and projecting the chin — contour that holds.
Cheeks & midface
Rebuilds midface support and lifts the folds that descend with volume loss.
Nasolabial & marionette folds
The deeper folds from nose to mouth and mouth to chin, where structure matters more than softness.
Back of the hands
FDA-approved for hand augmentation — restores volume over tendons and veins and improves skin quality.
Neck & décolleté
Hyperdilute Radiesse for crepey skin and laxity — biostimulation without adding volume.
Jaw & lower-face skin
Hyperdilute passes to tighten and refine skin quality along the lower face.
Biostimulation Collagen Jawline Chin Hands Hyperdilute Skin tightening Merz Calcium hydroxylapatite Biostimulation Collagen Jawline Chin Hands Hyperdilute Skin tightening Merz Calcium hydroxylapatite Biostimulation Collagen Jawline Chin Hands Hyperdilute Skin tightening Merz What to know, in four lines.
- 01
Radiesse is a biostimulator, not just a filler. Its calcium-hydroxylapatite (CaHA) microspheres add contour immediately, then stimulate your own collagen as they are gradually absorbed over months — a result that keeps building after the gel is gone.
- 02
It lasts. Most patients see results for a year or more — longer than many hyaluronic-acid fillers — because the collagen your body makes outlives the product itself.
- 03
It is not reversible. Unlike HA fillers, Radiesse cannot be dissolved with hyaluronidase — it is metabolized naturally over time. That is exactly why we place it conservatively and only where structure, not experimentation, is the goal.
- 04
It is not for lips. CaHA carries a higher nodule risk in the lips, so we never use Radiesse there — that is an HA-filler conversation. Radiesse earns its place on the jawline, chin, cheeks, hands, and hyperdilute skin tightening.
From day zero, through the collagen phase.
Treatment day. 30–45 minutes including numbing. Contour is visible immediately from the gel carrier; expect mild swelling at injection sites.
Swelling and any bruising peak, then begin to resolve. Avoid heavy exercise, alcohol, and saunas for 24 hours.
The immediate gel volume settles. If you had a hyperdilute treatment, this is when skin starts to feel firmer.
The biostimulation phase. As the CaHA microspheres are absorbed, your own collagen builds in — the reason Radiesse results continue developing and last.
Same protocol, written once.
Radiesse follows the same pre- and post-care as the rest of our dermal fillers. See the full pre & aftercare instructions on our Dermal Fillers page, or the aftercare hub for the universal recovery principles and when to call us.
What it actually costs.
Standard Radiesse at Reviv starts at $800 per syringe. Most first-treatments use one or two syringes depending on the area and correction needed. Hyperdilute Radiesse covers larger areas and is quoted separately — it typically starts higher. Your exact plan and price are mapped in writing at consultation, before any treatment begins.
Who it's for — and who it isn't.
- Patients who want jawline, chin, or cheek structure and contour, not just soft volume
- Patients drawn to a collagen-building result that lasts a year or more
- Patients bothered by crepey skin on the neck, décolleté, or hands — where hyperdilute Radiesse shines
- Patients wanting hand rejuvenation — Radiesse is FDA-approved for the back of the hands
- Anyone wanting lip filler — we never use Radiesse in the lips (nodule risk); that is a hyaluronic-acid conversation
- Patients who want a reversible filler they can dissolve — choose an HA family instead
- Pregnant or breastfeeding patients
- Patients with bleeding disorders or an active skin infection at the injection site
- Anyone wanting to soften expression lines in motion — that is a neurotoxin conversation
Your Radiesse team.
Dr. Gayle Misle, MD
Founder of Reviv Med Spa & Laser Treatment. Leads our injectable program with extensive training in filler and biostimulator technique and a conservative-first philosophy.
Megan Sosnick, RN
Aesthetic Nurse and Practice Manager. Runs your consultation, places injections alongside Dr. Misle, and maps whether standard or hyperdilute Radiesse fits your goal.
Placed with intention.
Because Radiesse is not reversible, precision matters more, not less. Dr. Misle and Megan Sosnick map your anatomy, choose standard or hyperdilute, and place conservatively — the same honest, structure-first approach we bring to every injectable at our Millbrae studio.
Real Reviv patients, shared with consent.
Radiesse adds structure immediately, then keeps building your own collagen over the months that follow. Tap either pair to enlarge.
Individual results vary. Real Reviv patients, shared with consent.
What people say about Reviv.
…I went in for filler and laser treatments and couldn't be happier with the results. Dr. Misle took the time to listen to my goals, and make sure I was comfortable throughout the process. A concern I had in using fillers was whether it would look natural.…
Have been coming here for 3+ years. Very skilled injectors, professional, friendly, and beautiful office. Dr. M. has an instinctual understanding of how and where to apply what for desired affects.…
Radiesse-tagged reviews are still building. These are recent filler and injectable reviews from across our practice.
Read all reviewsFrequently asked.
What is Radiesse?
Radiesse is an injectable made by Merz Aesthetics whose active ingredient is calcium hydroxylapatite (CaHA) — tiny microspheres of a mineral your bones and teeth already contain, suspended in a gel. It does two things: the gel adds contour immediately, and as the microspheres are gradually absorbed over months, they stimulate your body to build its own new collagen. That makes it a biostimulator, not just a volumizer.
How is Radiesse different from Juvederm or other HA fillers?
Most fillers — Juvederm, Restylane, Evolysse — are hyaluronic acid (HA): soft, reversible, and great for volume and lips. Radiesse is calcium hydroxylapatite: firmer, longer-lasting, and collagen-stimulating, which makes it better suited to structure — jawline, chin, hands — than to soft or delicate areas. The tradeoff is that Radiesse is not reversible. We carry both categories and match the material to the job.
What is hyperdilute (diluted) Radiesse?
Hyperdilute Radiesse is the same product diluted with saline (and often lidocaine) and spread across a broader area in thin passes. Instead of adding volume, it works almost purely as a biostimulator — waking up collagen to firm crepey, lax skin on the neck, décolleté, jawline, hands, and other areas. It is a skin-quality and tightening treatment rather than a contouring one. At Reviv it is priced separately from standard Radiesse.
How long does Radiesse last?
Most patients see results for about a year or more — often longer than HA fillers — because the collagen your own body builds outlasts the product. Duration varies by area, dose, and individual metabolism, and results can be maintained with periodic treatments. We give you an honest expectation for your specific plan at consultation.
Can Radiesse be dissolved if I do not like it?
No — and this is the most important thing to understand before choosing it. Unlike HA fillers, which can be dissolved with hyaluronidase, Radiesse is calcium hydroxylapatite and is metabolized by your body gradually over time; there is no instant reversal. That is precisely why we place it conservatively, only in areas where structure is the goal, and only after mapping your anatomy carefully. If reversibility matters to you, we will steer you to an HA filler instead.
Can Radiesse be used in the lips?
No. Radiesse carries a higher risk of nodules in the lips, so we never use it there — lip augmentation is a hyaluronic-acid treatment. See our lip filler page for that. Radiesse belongs on the jawline, chin, cheeks, folds, hands, and in hyperdilute skin tightening.
Is Radiesse FDA-approved for hands?
Yes. Radiesse is FDA-approved for hand augmentation — restoring lost volume to the back of the hands so tendons and veins are less prominent — a clearance most dermal fillers do not carry. It is also FDA-approved for correcting moderate-to-severe facial wrinkles and folds, such as the nasolabial folds.
Does it hurt? Is there downtime?
Radiesse is mixed with or injected alongside lidocaine, and we use topical numbing, so most patients describe it as very tolerable. Downtime is minimal — possible swelling or bruising for a few days. Avoid heavy exercise, alcohol, and saunas for 24 hours.
How much does Radiesse cost?
Standard Radiesse starts at $800 per syringe. Hyperdilute (biostimulation) treatments, which cover larger areas, are quoted separately and typically start higher. Your exact plan and price are mapped in writing at consultation, before any treatment begins — no surprise charges.
Who should not get Radiesse?
Anyone wanting lip filler or a reversible result, patients who are pregnant or breastfeeding, and anyone with a bleeding disorder or active infection at the injection site. We screen for all of this at consultation and will tell you honestly if a different treatment is the better fit.
Patients come to us from across the peninsula.
Reviv Med Spa is at 31 S El Camino Real in Millbrae, California — easy to reach from across the Bay Area peninsula. Patients come to us from Burlingame, San Mateo, Hillsborough, San Bruno, Foster City, and the broader peninsula including Atherton, Belmont, Brisbane, Daly City, Half Moon Bay, Menlo Park, Pacifica, Palo Alto, Portola Valley, Redwood City, San Carlos, and South San Francisco. Off the 101, just south of SFO. Free parking on site.