Regenerate Collagen And Elastin Naturally In The Body With Radiesse

Since I was an adolescent, people have spoken openly about my body, sometimes as if I wasn’t even present. As awkward, inappropriate, sometimes mean spirited, and even creepy as these unsolicited comments may sound, not much has changed since I have gotten older. One of my most polarizing body parts, has been my backside.

I am very comfortable with myself both inside and out and while I typically don’t care what people think, after hearing persistent comments for years, they definitely chipped away at my confidence and made me a little more self-conscious that what I had physically wasn’t enough.

Now that I am embracing a new chapter in life, I decided to look at options to subtly plump up my derriere. I landed on the regenerative filler Radiesse, which is manufactured by Merz Aesthetics and stimulates the body to build collagen and elastin naturally adding volume to the area in which in the substance is injected.

“Radiesse is a dermal filler that serves as a regenerative biostimulator, designed for the enhancement of skin quality and appearance. It is primarily utilized for the smoothing of moderate to severe facial wrinkles and folds, such as nasolabial folds. Additionally, Radiesse is employed to address volume loss in the back of the hands,” explains Merz Medical Science Liaison Southeast Region, Alec McCarthy, PhD. “As we age, the extracellular matrix within our skin undergoes natural degradation, resulting in the diminishing effectiveness of proteins responsible for the skin's structural integrity and functionality. Radiesse offers a solution to rejuvenate and revitalize these essential components, aiding in the preservation of youthful and healthy-looking skin.”

What makes Radiesse different than similar injectables is that it regenerates elastin—something McCarthy tells me no other product currently on the market provides this effect. “This regenerative action also extends to the significant production of collagen and elastin, resulting in noticeable improvements in skin firmness and elasticity. Additionally, Radiesse regenerates proteoglycans, contributing to an enhanced skin glow and vibrancy,” continues McCarthy. “Furthermore, Radiesse promotes an increase in tissue blood flow, elevating blood flow volume, and enhancing the density of blood vessels within the treated area. These combined regenerative effects make Radiesse an effective and comprehensive solution for achieving desirable aesthetic outcomes, rejuvenating the skin, and promoting a more youthful and vibrant appearance.”

For my treatment, I decided to see Iani Silveira MSN, FNP-BC, CPN, owner of Bella Vida Aesthetics located in Miami (who is known as the “Booty Queen”). “Everything I do at Bella Vida is approached as concierge and very individualized. Not everyone needs the same form of beautification, so I take my time and go over a full head to toe assessment prior to treating someone,” responds Silveira when I ask her to describe her approach to aesthetics. “The same applies for the glutes. Some people want massive volume, some people want correction, some people do this for cellulite and stretch marks. I want to contour and create the glutes of your dreams as I encourage the basic health and wellness that I feel a lot of us got away from since the pandemic.”

Silveria received the patent for Bella Vida Instant BBL in 2021. “I use FDA-approved Radiesse®, a volumizing dermal filler that also yields certain biostimulatory benefits. What that means is that Radiesse not only creates instant volume for beautiful buttocks enhancement, but it also works to stimulate your natural collagen production over the course of about three to six months. It’s that wonderful attribute that helps Radiesse improve your skin’s appearance and quality by addressing concerns such as stretch marks, dimples, and other irregularities in addition to that gorgeous plumping effect,” she tells me.

Results typically last about 2 years. “Although, that can vary from person to person based on your body’s individual metabolic rate, lifestyle factors, certain medical conditions, and subsequent weight gain or loss. Radiesse has a general duration of two to five years in the body with the aesthetic result itself lasting up to 24 months (gradually wearing off after that). Results can be maintained with touch-up appointments if you choose to do so,” continues Silveira. When I ask McCarthy if Silveira and Merz collaborated on her patented technique he tells me that she innovated the protocol on her own. “The company did not have anything to do with its development because it is an off-label treatment. Many providers do the same thing and use the products in other parts of the body.”

In addition to utilizing Radiesse in the buttocks, Silveria has seen impressive results treating the hands, neck, décolleté, knees, and elbows. “For women who have had liposuction, we can help treat fibrotic skin where too much fat was removed. We can also use Radiesse to smooth out stretch marks and add volume if individuals lost too much weight while taking semalglutide. I actually use Radiesse everywhere because it activates the skin’s cellular matrix that keeps it tights, firm, and lifted. It gives patients all ages and skin tones what I refer to as ‘skin equity’. A recent study showed that skin is on average 43% thicker after twelve months of being injected. Radiesse can turn the clock back 5-8 years wherever it is injected. If you want to keep your skin healthy, this is one of the ways to do it in my opinion.”

It has been almost six months since I had my injections done by Silveira. My skin looks more youthful, and I love the subtle lift and volume the treatment provided where Silveira artfully injected me. I would definitely consider exploring this as an option for other body parts like my hands and even knees in the future. It is fast, the results are both immediate and accumulative, and the best part is that it stimulates the body to produce its own collagen and elastin naturally.