Radiesse vs. Juvederm, Which Is the Best Anti-Aging Filler?

David Fuller

Last Updated On: March 27, 2024

No matter how thoroughly one takes care of the skin, facial contours become deformed as the years go by, nasolabial folds deepen, eye and lip corners lower, and wrinkles become visible. 

Formerly, these problems were solved by plastic surgery, but with the release of volumizing techniques, it is possible to restore face youthfulness without complex procedures and long-term rehabilitation.

Six Popular Dermal Filler Trends in 2023 – read more.

What Is Radiesse?

Radiesse is a multipurpose product based on calcium hydroxyapatite. When injected into the skin, the CaHA microspheres in Radiesse act as a scaffold to support collagen growth, which helps to restore volume and smooth out wrinkles and folds.

Unlike fillers based on hyaluronic acid, the use of Radiesse guarantees a long-term effect – the result remains visible for up to 15-20 months.

How Does It Work as an Anti-Aging Filler?

Calcium hydroxyapatite (CaHA) is the main component of the filler and is analogous to the human bone tissue material. It can be used to regulate phosphorus and calcium levels. When injected subcutaneously, it facilitates collagen synthesis. 

The effect is lifting cheekbones, removing wrinkles, and outlining the chin line. The gel is a water-based auxiliary ingredient that transports calcium hydroxyapatite to the tissues. It is also a safe ingredient that is eliminated from the body 30 days after the procedure.

Benefits of Using Radiesse

The correction of age-related changes with Radiesse filler has many advantages:

• Biocompatibility. The drug contains no components that can cause rejection, allergic or other adverse reactions.
• You’ll see the results immediately after the injection. The filler promotes the formation of strong collagen fibers so that the effect will be maximal after three months. On average, the result lasts up to 15 months.
• Versatility. The method has no age, sex, or seasonal restrictions.
• Safe and simple injection. Injections are made with thin cannulas, so blood vessels are not damaged, and there is minimal chance of bruising or swelling. With time, the filler is absorbed and excreted from the body.
• Correcting any facial zone, including areas around the lips, eyes, and nasolabial folds, is possible;
• No long-term rehabilitation;

Side Effects and Risks Associated With Radiesse

Using Radiesse may cause some minor side effects and risks:

• Local edema, which should subside on its own within 1-2 days
• Small bruises
• Mild pain in the problem areas
• Hyperemia.

Be careful: If you buy Radiesse wholesale, choose your supplier thoroughly to avoid counterfeit products. For example, you can buy Radiesse filler online at Med Supply Solutions – a reliable supplier of cosmetic products with a solid reputation working directly with the manufacturers.

What Is Juvederm?

Juvederm fillers are contouring and bio-revitalization products based on stabilized hyaluronic acid.

A distinctive feature of Juvederm fillers is a high concentration of hyaluronic acid. They are used in cases where a robust effect is required. 

The fillers are transparent of various densities and available in disposable syringes for intradermal injections. Along with purified hyaluronic acid, they contain an anesthetic.

How Does It Work as an Anti-Aging Filler?

Juvederm fillers compensate for an age-related hyaluronic acid deficiency in the skin, fill in folds, and correct facial tissue volume.

Hyaluronic acid’s primary function is to retain skin moisture. As we age, the production of hyaluronic acid decreases, and the skin begins to wither, becoming saggy, dry, and thin. In addition, hyaluronic acid levels affect fibroblast activity and collagen synthesis. 

Lack of collagen leads to flabbiness, decreased elasticity, turgor, wrinkles, and folds.

Injections of Juvederm fillers restore hyaluronic acid content and activate collagen synthesis. Thanks to this rapid rejuvenating and corrective results are achieved:

• The skin is well-hydrated
• Fine, medium, and deep wrinkles are smoothed out
• Nasolabial and other wrinkles are reduced
• The contours of cheekbones, cheeks, and chin are improved
• The skin becomes tighter, more elastic, and firm.

Benefits of Using Juvederm

Juvederm will help your patients to gain a lot of positive effects. Here are some of them listed:

Long-Lasting Effect

Many Juvederm products use hyaluronic acid created with Vycross technology, which makes a much more stable molecular structure and increases its strength.

Non-Invasiveness

Juvederm injections use thin needles (cannulas) to increase accuracy and minimize discomfort and skin damage.

Convenience

The session lasts less than an hour. 

Immediate Results

Results are noticeable almost immediately after the procedure.

The Best Juvéderm Products You Can Buy for Your Clinic – read more.

Side Effects and Risks Associated With Juvederm

Using Juvederm may cause some minor side effects and risks:

• Redness, irritation
• Pain
• Skin discoloration
• Swelling, edema, and bruising.

Be careful: If you buy Juvederm wholesale, choose your supplier thoroughly to avoid counterfeit products. For example, the best place to buy Juvederm fillers online is Med Supply Solutions – a reliable supplier of cosmetic products with a solid reputation working directly with the manufacturers.

Comparison of Radiesse and Juvederm

Let’s compare Radiesse and Juvederm in terms of price, effect duration, effectiveness, safety, and painfulness.

Cost Comparison

The cost of any anti-aging procedure can vary depending on many factors and the cosmetic surgeon’s task. Patients can’t buy Juvederm products online and ask a doctor for treatment. 

Only certified specialists and clinics can buy Juvederm and Radiesse fillers and are authorized to perform the procedure.

The price of Radiesse is, on average, higher than the Juvederm treatment. At the same time, it is compensated by the duration of the effect.

Effect Duration

Juvederm effect duration depends on many parameters, including the individual patient’s characteristics, application area, and type of filler used. The average duration is 6-12 months for most fillers and up to 18 months for high-viscosity fillers.

The average duration of Radiesse treatment is 15 to 18 months.

Effectiveness Comparison

Both products are effective in the fight against aging and wrinkles. The effectiveness of Juvederm differs from one product to another, as some are designed to combat fine lines and wrinkles, while others are used for medium, deep lines or lip augmentation. 

Radiesse, on the other hand, is usually used to correct deep wrinkles. 

The result after the Radiesse injection is visible immediately; no correction is necessary. After the injection of Juvederm filler (as well as any filler based on hyaluronic acid), correction is needed since hyaluronic acid has a cumulative effect. It will be possible to assess the degree of filling in about two weeks.

Safety Comparison

For Radiesse and Juvederm, serious side effects such as discoloration, numbness, scarring, allergic reactions, or infection are possible but very rare. 

Mild side effects (bruising, swelling, itching, rashes, or redness) occur with both products, although not often, and disappear after a few days.

Pain Level Comparison

It’s hard to single out one product as more painful. Since both Juvederm and Radiesse are minimally invasive and the insertion of a thin cannula by an experienced practitioner further reduces the chance of a painful experience during the session. 

In addition, most Juvederm products, as well as many by Radiesse, contain the anesthetic agent lidocaine. 

If the patient is hypersensitive to pain, the doctor may apply an anesthetic cream to the injection site before the procedure.

If you are still trying to decide where to buy Radiesse online, Med Supply Solutions also offer anesthetics at a reasonable price.

Which One Is Better Suited for Specific Needs?

The two main features of Radiesse are:

• Long retention time in the tissue with a retained visual effect
• Contouring in patients allergic to hyaluronic acid.

Radiesse fillers are recommended to patients aged 35 and older when age-related changes and volume loss are evident. They are excellent for smoothing scars, modeling and lifting cheekbones, filling cheeks and chin volume, injection rhinoplasty, and making up for soft tissue deficiencies (neck wrinkles, thin skin on the back of the hands).

Radiesse is a very dense filler that is not recommended for volumizing lips and fine wrinkles, so it is better to use more delicate and soft gels based on hyaluronic acid. But for the areas prone to swelling, Radiesse will be the best option since it does not retain moisture, which is sometimes the cause of a swollen face.

As for Juvederm, its product line is broad and versatile. You can buy Juvederm products for excellent contouring and modeling of various facial and body imperfections. 

• For superficial wrinkles around the mouth, forehead, and corners of the eyes, the light and soft filler Juvederm Ultra 2 is an excellent choice.
• For wrinkles in the cheekbone area, smoothing out marionette lines, and adding a seductive contour to the lips, the Juvederm Ultra 3 is the best option available.
• Correction of deep wrinkles and folds of the so-called “triangle of youth” cosmetologists prefer to use dense and viscous Juvederm Ultra 4 filler, which perfectly models the volume of thinning areas (cheekbones, cheeks, chin), creates full lips, and eliminates asymmetry.
• Juvederm Ultra Smile was developed especially for the perioral zone. It is suitable for increased mimicry and has a homogeneous consistency, making it possible to create lovely lips with the most natural effect.

The Benefits of Juvederm Ultra Smile: What You Need to Know – read more.

Choosing the Right Anti-Aging Filler

It is only possible to choose a suitable dermal filler by consulting an expert and considering the patient’s contraindications. Let’s start with the latter.

Contraindications: What to Consider?

Juvederm

Juvederm is not recommended for those who have:

• Severe allergies leading to anaphylaxis
• Multiple severe allergies
• Allergy to lidocaine or similar medications.

Radiesse

People with any of the following conditions should avoid treatment with Radiesse:

• Severe allergies leading to anaphylaxis
• Multiple severe allergies
• Blood clotting disorders.

Both product lines are also not recommended for pregnant or nursing women.

What Are the Different Types of Dermal Fillers?– read more.

Consulting a Professional

Since filler injections are a medical procedure, it is crucial to find a qualified provider. The physician must be certified by the appropriate authority in the country, and the physician must have the necessary training and experience to administer dermal fillers.

In addition, when choosing a filler, the patient should base their choice not on the advice of friends/relatives but on the expert opinion of professionals.

Conclusion

The decision to use either Juvederm or Radiesse depends on the specific circumstances and requirements of each patient. 

A qualified doctor with expertise in evaluating skin characteristics and conditions, estimating future outcomes, and informing patients of the potential risks and consequences of each option is needed. 

An informed decision and personalized approach are essential to ensure that each patient attains the desired outcome and experiences long-lasting skin rejuvenation.

References

1. FDA-Approved Dermal Fillers. (2020, November 9). FDA. Retrieved February 17, 2023, from https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/aesthetic-cosmetic-devices/fda-approved-dermal-fillers
2. (SUMMARY OF SAFETY AND EFFECTIVENESS DATA (SSED) I. GENERAL INFORMATION II. INDICATIONS FOR USE III. CONTRAINDICATIONS, 2020)
3. Bogdan Allemann, I., & Baumann, L. (2008). Hyaluronic acid gel (Juvéderm) preparations in the treatment of facial wrinkles and folds. Clinical interventions in aging, 3(4), 629–634. https://doi.org/10.2147/cia.s3118
4. Monheit, G. D., & Prather, C. L. (2007). Juvéderm: a hyaluronic acid dermal filler. Journal of drugs in dermatology: JDD, 6(11), 1091–1095.
5. González, N., & Goldberg, D. J. (2019). Evaluating the Effects of Injected Calcium Hydroxylapatite on Changes in Human Skin Elastin and Proteoglycan Formation. Dermatologic surgery : official publication for American Society for Dermatologic Surgery [et al.], 45(4), 547–551. https://doi.org/10.1097/DSS.0000000000001809
6. Kadouch J. A. (2017). Calcium hydroxylapatite: A review on safety and complications. Journal of cosmetic dermatology, 16(2), 152–161. https://doi.org/10.1111/jocd.12326