Radiesse Receives FDA Approval
Tests Prove Its Superiority as a Wrinkle Filler

When it comes to rejuvenating the face, the more tools you have at your disposal the better the results you can give.

Therefore I was pleased when, in late December, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Radiesse for correcting facial wrinkles. Radiesse now joins the popular cosmetic filler Restylane and other fillers like Hylaform and Cosmoplast in the battle against facial creases.

It Has Unique Properties
All injectables have slightly different properties - different textures, behaviors during injection, etc. - that make them more useful in certain situations and certain areas of the face. Radiesse's forte is nasolabial folds (the lines that run from the sides of the nose to the sides of the lips). It's also effective for:

• Filling in "frown lines"
• Diminishing blemishes like acne scars.
• Restoring the natural contours of the cheeks

Longer-Lasting Than Other Fillers
Arguably its most attractive feature is Radiesse's longevity. It remains in the tissues longer than the other fillers. Its benefits remain in place for up to 12 months (twice the average longevity of Restylane).

A Synthetic Compound - It Can't Cause Allergic Reactions
Radiesse is a completely synthetic compound comprised of micro-spheres of calcium hydroxylapatite, combined with an aqueous gel. Calcium is a natural substance that occurs in the human body, so Radiesse causes no allergic reactions or inflammation. There is no need to take a skin test before receiving your first injection.

As Radiesse is gently injected, it builds up the tissues of the face, reducing folds and creases and restoring fullness.

Stimulates Your Own Production of Collagen
In addition to filling in folds and creases, Radiesse stimulates the skin's own natural production of collagen. So when you receive a Radiesse treatment, you're not only getting the immediate result (smoother skin), you're also getting a more long-lasting result (a stronger, healthier underlying dermal structure).

About the Nasolabial Fold Study
In a study of Radiesse and nasolabial folds, conducted at four medical centers in the United States, 117 patients with nasolabial folds were treated with Radiesse on one side of the face and a control agent (Cosmoplast, a human collagen product) on the other. Results based on ratings of three blinded evaluators showed that six months after treatment, Radiesse was more effective than the control on every comparative efficacy outcome.

Key clinical findings include:

• 82 percent of nasolabial folds treated with Radiesse showed improvement after six months. The control showed improvement in only 27 percent of treated folds.
• The nasolabial folds treated with Radiesse required approximately half as much volume (1.22cc) as the folds treated with the control. (2.35cc).

What About Safety?
In a study of facial fillers summarized in the July 2005 Annals of Plastic Surgery, Radiesse was recommended as a completely safe strategy for filling in nasolabial folds.

No Waiting for Results or Recovery
You can comfortably return to normal activities after your treatment. Radiesse is relatively painless, and any minor swelling from the injection typically disappears within 24 hours. Best of all, you will see results immediately. You'll walk out of my office looking refreshed, and in the next day or two your final results will fall into place.

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