Sculptra & Radiesse
When a face begins to lose its support,
these injectables prompt your skin to rebuild its own collagen.
What Are
Biostimulators?
Biostimulators are injectables that prompt your skin to make its own collagen. Radiesse, calcium hydroxylapatite in a gel, gives structure right away and builds collagen over the following months. Sculptra, poly-L-lactic acid, works gradually over several treatments, rebuilding the support under hollow temples and cheeks. Neither is better. They are different tools, and both often last longer than hyaluronic acid filler.
At a Glance
- Comfort
- Numbing; optional nitrous oxide
- Downtime
- Little; possible swelling or bruising
- Results in
- Radiesse right away; Sculptra over months
- Lasts
- Often longer than hyaluronic acid filler
- Sessions
- Sculptra: a series; Radiesse: as your plan needs
Who It’s For
Faces that have lost volume broadly, often with thinning skin.
Ideal For
Faces that have lost volume and under padding, usually from the forties on, often with thinning or crepey skin: hollow temples and cheeks for Sculptra, and structure and definition, such as the angle of the jaw, for Radiesse. Sculptra is FDA approved for nasolabial fold contour deficiencies, facial wrinkles, and fine lines and wrinkles of the cheeks. Radiesse is FDA approved for facial wrinkles and folds, volume loss in the backs of the hands, and, diluted, wrinkles of the décolleté. Our doctors may also use them off label, at their clinical judgment, for the neck and body, including cellulite. Compare all our injectables, or compare treatments for neck lines and chest wrinkles.
When to Wait
They are not where we start a first time patient, and not for chasing a trend, because they stay in your face far longer than traditional filler. If you are young and have not lost volume, you do not need them. Sculptra is not for anyone prone to keloids or raised scars, and Radiesse has not been shown safe or effective in the lips or the area around the eyes.
Biostimulator or filler?
Hyaluronic acid filler gives an immediate, precise result and can be dissolved. Biostimulators rebuild your own support over months and cannot be dissolved the same way. When filler is already holding your face well, you may not need Sculptra at all; when volume loss is broad, Sculptra can build a scaffold that light filler then maintains. Loose skin without volume loss is a different problem, often better suited to Ultherapy. Compare Sculptra, Radiesse and Ultherapy for skin tightening, or compare Sculptra, filler and fat transfer for volume loss.
“Neither one is better. They’re just very different tools for very different jobs.”
The Treatment
1
Volume, Structure
or Skin?
The first question is whether you have lost volume, structure or skin quality. Your doctor then chooses Sculptra, Radiesse, filler or none of them. If what you see is sagging from loose skin, that is a different problem with different treatments.
2
Placed
With Care
Radiesse is placed precisely where structure is needed, never on an area that is actively shifting. Sculptra is spread softly over a larger area, and you massage it at home afterwards as your doctor shows you.
3
Collagen,
Over Time
Your skin responds over the following months. Sculptra builds with each treatment in the series, and because your own collagen does the work, the change stays quiet.
Beneath the Surface
Often paired with: Dermal Fillers, Ultherapy and Botox.
“Sculptra and Radiesse prompt your own collagen, and once they are injected, they cannot be dissolved the way hyaluronic acid filler can. So I take real care in choosing the product, where it goes and how much.”
In Our Patients’ Words
“
I highly recommend Dr. Fisher. I followed her from her previous practice and I continue to be happy with my results. I’ve gotten fillers and laser. Whenever I’ve wanted to do more, she was always honest with me. If I didn’t need it, I could count on her to tell me
Lillian J.
“
I would recommend Dr Idriss a thousand times over and over. She is extremely knowledgeable, knows what will work and what won’t and will always give you an honest recommendations. You will never feel pushed into moving forward with any injections or procedures.
Hiva F.
“
Love Dr. Idriss and everyone on her team. I have been getting filler done for the past few years (39 y/o) and it’s always perfect/exactly what is needed to look great but not obvious – worth every penny!! She is so talented but also so personable – my appts have never felt rushed, no long waits, no pressure to get more treatments etc. …
Caroline G.
Bryant Park, New York
Your Dermatologists
A biostimulator cannot be dissolved, so the product, the depth and the dose are decided with care. Our doctors are board-certified dermatologists who know the anatomy beneath the skin and how to respond if a treatment does not go to plan.
Founder
Dr. Shereene Idriss
Reserves Sculptra and Radiesse for faces that have truly lost volume.
Board-certified, Practicing since 2013
Dermatologic Surgeon
Dr. Juliya Fisher
Has explained to RealSelf how biostimulators differ from filler.
Double Board-certified, Columbia Mohs fellowship
Both doctors share one philosophy, so either is a good place to start. Book online with Dr. Fisher, or call (212) 612-1520 for Dr. Idriss.
Questions, Answered
How much do Sculptra and Radiesse cost at Idriss Dermatology?
What is the difference between Sculptra and Radiesse?
Does Dr. Idriss do Sculptra?
When will I see results from Sculptra or Radiesse?
How long do Sculptra and Radiesse last?
Can Sculptra or Radiesse be dissolved?
Will Sculptra get in the way of a facelift later?
Am I too young for Sculptra or Radiesse?
We do not perform cosmetic treatments during pregnancy. Breastfeeding patients are evaluated case by case.