A 15-minute nose job without the cutting? It sounds almost too good to be true. Thanks to Radiesse, an injectable facial filler, patients can get the nose of their dreams in literally minutes. Radiesse, manufactured by BioForm Medical, Inc., is a gel like substance that is made up of calcium hydroxylapatite. Because calcium is a natural mineral found in our bones, it will not cause any allergic reactions and is completely biodegradable says the Cosmetic & Laser Skin Surgery Center of New York. What's more, says Bioform, Radiesse both volumizes and stimulates new collagen growth to provide a fresh layer of soft tissue.
Originally used as a wrinkle-filler, doctors are finding multiple uses for Radiesse. It is also used to inject into sunken areas of facial fat loss in people with HIV. Now, cosmetic surgeons are using it to reshape the nose.
To do the nose job, numbing cream is first applied to the outside of the nose. The doctor then uses a thin needle to inject small amounts of Radiesse to the irregular surfaces patient wants to change. Once injected, the doctor can then mold the substance into a more desirable nose for the patient, with simply his fingers! The molding process is similar to re-shaping a block of clay. In all, the procedure takes about 15 minutes and lasts for one to two years. This is a big difference from other facial fillers, which only lasts about half of that time, says the Cosmetic & Laser Skin Surgery Center of New York.
Unlike rhinoplasty, which involves surgically cutting the nose to reshape it, there is no recovery time with Radiesse. Thus, patients do not have to miss work. Radiesse is best suited for those who want to smooth out bumps or other small deviations on the bridge of the nose. Doctors also say it's good for ethnic patients like certain Asian and African groups that tend not to have a nose bridge.
"Throughout my life, being Filipino, they say I don't have a nose bridge," says Radiesse recipient Bernadette Andres in a recent "Good Morning America" interview.
As revolutionary as this treatment is, patients must still practice caution. The FDA says side effects can include: bruising, redness, swelling, pain, tenderness and itching. Futhermore, adds the regulating board, those with a hypersensitivity to any of the components of the product, including anaphylaxis, or history of severe allergies, should not use this product.
The average cost for Radiesse is $1,000 per syringe. The number of syringes used is based on how many injections the patient needs for the desired results.