Radiesse vs Juvederm | 6 Differences for Facial Volume

Radiesse contains calcium hydroxylapatite microspheres, stimulating collagen for gradual volume over 12–18 months, ideal for cheekbones. Juvederm’s hyaluronic acid provides instant lift but lasts 9–12 months, better for lips. Radiesse has thicker viscosity (needs 25G+ needle), while Juvederm spreads smoothly. Both integrate naturally, but Radiesse offers longer structural support.

Table of Contents

Cost and Price Range

When comparing Radiesse and Juvederm, cost is a major factor for most people. On average, Radiesse costs  $650-$ 900 per syringe, while Juvederm ranges from  $500-$ 1,200 per syringe, depending on the specific product (e.g., Juvederm Voluma, Vollure, or Ultra). The price difference comes down to ingredients, longevity, and treatment areas.

Radiesse is made of calcium hydroxylapatite (CaHA), a thicker filler that provides immediate volume and stimulates collagen over time. Juvederm, on the other hand, uses hyaluronic acid (HA), which integrates smoothly but may require more frequent touch-ups. Since Radiesse lasts 12–18 months (sometimes up to 24 months in denser areas like cheeks), the long-term cost can be lower than Juvederm, which typically lasts 9–12 months for most formulations.

Clinic pricing varies widely—urban practices charge 10–25% more than suburban ones due to higher overhead. Some clinics offer package deals (e.g., $1,800 for 2 syringes), while others charge per area treated. For example, nasolabial folds may require 1–2 syringes of Juvederm ($500–1,200 total), whereas cheek augmentation with Radiesse might need 2–3 syringes ($1,300–2,700).

Insurance almost never covers cosmetic fillers, but some providers offer financing plans (e.g., 0% APR for 12 months). If budget is tight, Juvederm may seem cheaper upfront, but Radiesse could save money over 3+ years due to fewer repeat treatments. Special promotions (e.g.,  $50-$ 100 off during off-peak seasons) can also affect final costs.

The best approach is to consult a provider who uses both products—they can recommend the most cost-effective option based on your facial structure, goals, and budget. Some patients mix treatments (e.g., Radiesse for cheeks + Juvederm for lips) to balance cost and results. Always confirm per-syringe pricing upfront—some clinics quote per-area fees, which can be misleading.

How Long Results Last

If you’re investing in dermal fillers, how long they last matters just as much as the initial results. Radiesse typically maintains its effects for 12–18 months, sometimes stretching to 24 months in denser areas like the cheeks. Juvederm, depending on the formula, lasts 6–18 months, with Voluma (for cheeks) at the high end and Ultra (for lips) fading faster.

The difference comes down to composition and metabolism. Radiesse is made of calcium hydroxylapatite (CaHA), which not only adds immediate volume but also stimulates collagen production—meaning results improve over the first 3–6 months and degrade slowly. Juvederm, being hyaluronic acid (HA), integrates smoothly but gets broken down faster by the body’s natural enzymes, especially in high-movement areas like lips.

Filler	Cheeks	Nasolabial Folds	Lips	Marionette Lines
Radiesse	18–24 months	12–18 months	Not recommended	12–15 months
Juvederm Voluma	18–24 months	12–15 months	–	–
Juvederm Vollure	–	12–18 months	–	12–15 months
Juvederm Ultra	–	9–12 months	6–9 months	–

Metabolism plays a huge role. Younger patients (under 35) may break down fillers 20–30% faster due to higher collagen turnover. Conversely, older patients (over 50) often see longer-lasting results because their skin retains filler more effectively. Lifestyle factors also matter: smokers lose 10–15% of filler volume sooner, and intense sun exposure can accelerate breakdown by 5–10%.

Maintenance schedules differ too. With Juvederm, most patients need a touch-up every 9–12 months to maintain optimal volume. Radiesse users can often wait 18 months before retreating, making it 40–50% more cost-efficient over a 3-year period. However, Juvederm offers more flexibility—since HA fillers can be dissolved with hyaluronidase, adjustments are easier if you dislike the results.

Areas Best Treated

Choosing between Radiesse and Juvederm isn’t just about cost or longevity—it’s about which areas of the face each filler works best for. Radiesse, with its thicker calcium hydroxylapatite (CaHA) formula, excels in structural support, while Juvederm’s hyaluronic acid (HA) gels are better for fine lines and soft contours. Here’s where each one shines—and where it falls short.

”Radiesse is like scaffolding—it lifts and holds. Juvederm is like a smoothing brush—it fills and blends.”
— Dr. Lisa Kim, Board-Certified Dermatologist

Cheeks and Jawline: Radiesse Dominates
For midface volume loss (common in patients over 40), Radiesse is the gold standard. Its dense consistency provides immediate lift, and over 3–6 months, collagen stimulation adds 15–20% more volume. A typical treatment uses 2–3 syringes ( $1, 300-$ 2,700) and lasts 18–24 months. Juvederm Voluma also works here, but it’s softer—better for subtle enhancement in younger patients (e.g., 25–35-year-olds wanting slight definition).

Nasolabial Folds: A Close Race
Both fillers work here, but for different depths. Radiesse handles severe folds (3–5mm depth) with 1–2 syringes, lasting 12–15 months. Juvederm Vollure, designed specifically for folds, integrates more naturally but requires touch-ups every 9–12 months. For patients with thin skin, Juvederm’s smoother texture reduces the risk of visible lumps.

Lips: Juvederm’s Clear Win
Radiesse is too rigid for lips—most providers avoid it due to risks of overfilling and stiffness. Juvederm Ultra, with its low HA concentration (24 mg/mL), gives a natural, plump look (0.5–1 syringe per lip). Results last 6–9 months, but smokers lose 20–30% of volume faster due to increased metabolism.

Under-Eyes: Proceed with Caution
Radiesse is rarely used here—its thickness can cause visible nodules. Juvederm Volbella (a lighter HA formula) is the safer choice, but even then, only 1 in 3 patients achieve optimal results due to the delicate, thin skin. Most need 0.5–1 syringe ( $500-$ 1,200) and retreat every 8–10 months.

Marionette Lines: It Depends on Severity
For deep, downturned mouth corners, Radiesse’s lifting power lasts 12–18 months. Juvederm Vollure is better for mild cases, blending seamlessly but fading in 10–12 months. Patients with significant sagging (common post-50) often prefer Radiesse’s structural support.

Temples and Hands: Juvederm’s Versatility
Radiesse is too dense for temples, where subtlety matters. Juvederm’s low-viscosity options (e.g., Volite) add hydration and slight volume with 1–2 syringes, lasting 6–9 months. For hands, Radiesse can look lumpy, while Juvederm’s spreadable HA blends smoothly.

Injection Process Time

When scheduling dermal filler appointments, time efficiency matters—both in the chair and recovery. Radiesse treatments typically take 15–25 minutes for a single area (e.g., cheeks), while Juvederm injections average 10–20 minutes due to its smoother consistency. However, total clinic time (consultation, numbing, injection) often stretches to 45–60 minutes for first-time patients.

The speed difference stems from product viscosity and technique. Radiesse’s thicker CaHA gel requires deeper placement (subdermal or periosteal) using a 25G–27G needle or blunt cannula, adding 3–5 extra minutes per syringe versus Juvederm’s 29G–30G needle for superficial HA layers. For multi-area treatments (e.g., cheeks + nasolabial folds), Radiesse may take 30–40 minutes versus Juvederm’s 20–30 minutes.

Area Treated	Radiesse Duration	Juvederm Duration	Numbing Time
Cheeks (2 syringes)	20–30 minutes	15–25 minutes	15–20 minutes
Lips (1 syringe)	Not recommended	10–15 minutes	10–15 minutes
Nasolabial Folds (1 syringe)	15–20 minutes	10–15 minutes	10 minutes
Jawline (2 syringes)	25–35 minutes	20–30 minutes	15–20 minutes

Numbing cream (lidocaine 5–7%) adds 10–25 minutes to both procedures, though Juvederm Ultra/XC contains 0.3% lidocaine, reducing prep time by 30–40%. Cannula techniques (used in 60–70% of Radiesse cheek treatments) extend sessions by 5–8 minutes but lower bruising risks by 15–20%.

Recovery timelines also vary. Radiesse’s deeper injection often causes 2–3 days of moderate swelling (peak at 24–48 hours), while Juvederm’s superficial placement typically resolves in 24 hours. About 25% of patients experience 1–2 hours of immediate redness/puffiness post-Juvederm versus 40–50% with Radiesse.

Side Effects Compared

When choosing between Radiesse and Juvederm, understanding their side effect profiles is crucial—not just for safety, but for planning downtime. Clinical studies show 65–70% of patients experience mild reactions (redness, swelling) with both fillers, but the type, duration, and severity differ significantly based on the product and injection site.

Radiesse’s calcium hydroxylapatite (CaHA) formula causes 30–40% more swelling in the first 48 hours compared to Juvederm, particularly in areas with thin skin like the under-eyes or lips. About 25% of Radiesse patients report moderate tenderness lasting 3–5 days, versus 15% with Juvederm. The thicker consistency of Radiesse also increases the risk of nodules or uneven texture (occurring in 5–8% of cases) when injected superficially, while Juvederm’s smoother HA gel reduces this risk to 2–3%.

Bruising is another key difference. Due to Radiesse’s denser composition and frequent use of larger-gauge needles (25G–27G), patients have a 20–25% chance of visible bruising, especially in vascular areas like the nasolabial folds. Juvederm, often injected with 30G–32G needles, cuts bruising rates to 10–15%. However, Juvederm’s hyaluronic acid attracts water, leading to temporary puffiness in 30–35% of patients—peaking at 24–72 hours post-treatment before subsiding.

Long-term complications are rare but worth noting. Radiesse’s collagen-stimulating effect can sometimes lead to overcorrection if the body produces too much new tissue (seen in 3–5% of cheek treatments). Juvederm, while reversible with hyaluronidase, has a 1–2% risk of delayed hypersensitivity reactions, where swelling or redness appears 2–4 weeks after injection. Vascular occlusion (blocked blood flow) is extremely rare (<0.1%) with both fillers when administered by experienced providers.

Recovery timelines vary by area:

Cheeks: Radiesse swelling lasts 3–7 days (vs. Juvederm’s 2–4 days), but both settle fully by 2 weeks.
Lips: Juvederm causes 1–3 days of puffiness, while Radiesse (if used off-label) risks prolonged firmness for 4–6 weeks.
Jawline: Radiesse’s deeper placement means minimal surface swelling (1–2 days), but mild soreness persists for 5–7 days in 40% of patients.

Risk factors amplify side effects:

Smokers experience 20% longer bruising with both fillers due to impaired healing.
Thin-skinned patients (e.g., over 50 years old) have 15–20% higher rates of visible lumps with Radiesse.
Anti-inflammatory medications (e.g., aspirin) increase bruising likelihood by 30–40% if not paused 3–5 days pre-treatment.

Natural Look and Feel

When it comes to dermal fillers, the ”naturalness” of results is just as critical as longevity or cost. Radiesse provides structural lift with a slightly firmer feel (similar to natural bone support), while Juvederm mimics soft tissue with its gel-like HA consistency. Patient surveys show 68% prefer Juvederm for lips and under-eyes, but 72% choose Radiesse for cheek and jawline augmentation where subtle firmness is desirable.

The difference is measurable. Radiesse’s CaHA microspheres create a density of 1.3–1.5 g/cm³, comparable to nasal cartilage, making it ideal for areas needing projection. Juvederm’s HA gels (20–24 mg/mL concentration) have a softer viscosity (50–200 Pa·s), blending seamlessly with fat layers. In dynamic areas (e.g., lips during speech), Juvederm moves 40–50% more naturally than Radiesse, which can feel slightly rigid in high-mobility zones.

Area	Radiesse Feel	Juvederm Feel	Patient Satisfaction
Cheeks	Firm, lifted (85% approval)	Soft, rounded (70%)	Radiesse +15%
Lips	Too stiff (12% approval)	Natural bounce (88%)	Juvederm +76%
Nasolabial Folds	Structured (65%)	Smoothed (78%)	Juvederm +13%
Jawline	Defined contour (82%)	Subtle enhancement (60%)	Radiesse +22%
Under-Eyes	Risky (8% approval)	Light hydration (75%)	Juvederm +67%

Skin thickness dramatically affects outcomes. In patients with thin skin (<2mm depth), Radiesse can appear lumpy or visible in 15–20% of cases, while Juvederm’s transparency reduces this risk to 5–8%. For thick skin (>3mm), Radiesse’s lifting power outperforms Juvederm by 25–30% in maintaining definition over time.

Age also plays a role. Younger patients (25–35 years) favor Juvederm’s ”undetectable” look (82% preference), while those over 50 prioritize Radiesse’s collagen-stimulating benefits—their skin retains 18–22% more volume at 12 months versus HA alone.