Home›Blog›Face›Radiesse Nose Filler, Longer Lasting but Not Reversible
Written by Dr Gerard Ee, MBBS (UK), MRCS (Edinburgh), PGDip Practical Dermatology (Cardiff). Founder and Medical Director, The Clifford Clinic and The Clifford Surgery, Singapore. Last medically reviewed and updated September 2026.
Key points
- Radiesse is calcium hydroxylapatite (CaHA), microspheres in a gel that give immediate height and then stimulate collagen.
- In the nose it holds a firm line and usually lasts longer than hyaluronic acid (HA).
- Radiesse cannot be dissolved, and there is no direct antidote if the result is unsatisfactory or a vessel is blocked.
- Radiesse suits a patient who has had HA nose filler before, liked the shape and wants a longer-lasting result. It is not suitable for a first nose filler.
- Radiesse costs $1,400 per syringe before GST.
How Radiesse nose filler works
Radiesse consists of tiny CaHA spheres suspended in a gel carrier. The gel provides height on the day of injection. Over the following months the gel is absorbed, and the spheres act as a scaffold that stimulates fibroblasts to lay down new collagen around them. Part of the result is therefore the patient’s own tissue, and Radiesse consequently lasts longer than most HA fillers.
The firmness of Radiesse is an advantage in the nose, as it holds a crisp line along the bridge and spreads less than a soft gel. In one study, Radiesse corrected nasal bridge deformities, with results followed for a year.
Radiesse nose filler for small dips after rhinoplasty
Radiesse has a particular role after surgical rhinoplasty, where a small dip, step or asymmetry remains. In a prospective study of 13 patients with contour defects after rhinoplasty, an average of only 0.19 ml of Radiesse was required, 85% of patients were satisfied, and photographs showed improvement at 88% of treated sites. Where there is a silicone implant and the skin cover is healthy, I place it carefully in the dip, away from the implant. Treatment of the operated nose is covered in more detail on nose filler after rhinoplasty or a nose implant.
How long Radiesse lasts in the nose
The immediate effect of the gel lasts several months, and the collagen response then extends the result. In facial studies Radiesse has lasted a year or longer. In the nose, where there is little muscle movement to disperse it, Radiesse tends to last longer than HA. It is fully broken down by the body in time and is not permanent.
Who Radiesse nose filler suits
- Suits. A patient who has had HA nose filler before, liked the result and wants it to last longer, with a bridge that needs a firm, straight line.
- Suits. Small contour irregularities after rhinoplasty, where only a fraction of a syringe is needed.
- Does not suit. A first nose filler, where the shape is still being decided.
- Does not suit. The nasal tip, which requires the smallest and most reversible amounts of filler.
- Does not suit. Anyone who would be distressed by a result that cannot be reversed quickly.
Why Radiesse and polycaprolactone nose fillers cannot be dissolved
HA can be broken down within hours by hyaluronidase, an enzyme that acts on HA only, whereas Radiesse is unaffected by it. Sodium thiosulfate has dissolved CaHA in laboratory studies, but it is not an established treatment.
The nose is among the areas of the face where the blood supply is most at risk from filler. If Radiesse were to block a vessel, treatment would depend on restoring blood flow by other means, set out in an international expert consensus, without the simple reversal that HA offers. My practice has its own hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) chamber on site, which can raise the oxygen supply to the affected skin while blood flow is restored. An unsatisfactory shape likewise cannot be corrected until the body breaks the Radiesse down.
Polycaprolactone (PCL) filler cannot be dissolved either, and its use in the nose is supported by only two small studies, of 10 and 12 patients. I use PCL filler in the deep areas of the face, described on PCL filler in Singapore, and HA or Radiesse in the nose. HA products are compared on best filler for the nose.
Radiesse nose filler side effects
Swelling and bruising for a few days are usual. Small lumps can occur if Radiesse is placed too superficially, and it is therefore placed deep on the bone and cartilage. A review of CaHA safety found nodules to be the most common complication, generally avoidable with correct depth and dilution. The rare vascular risk is the same as for any nose filler, without the option of dissolving the product.
Radiesse nose filler cost in Singapore
Radiesse costs $1,400 per syringe before GST, including the review. Most noses require less than one syringe. The nose filler treatment itself is described on nose fillers in Singapore.
Dr Gerard Ee, Aesthetic Doctor in Singapore
Dr Gerard Ee is an aesthetic doctor in Singapore and the Medical Director of his practice at 50 Raffles Place. He graduated from St George’s, University of London, trained in surgery at Singapore General Hospital and the National University Hospital, and holds the MRCS (Edinburgh) and a postgraduate diploma in practical dermatology from Cardiff University.
He has practised aesthetic medicine since 2012, is the author of sixteen peer-reviewed papers, and writes and medically reviews every article on this site. Read more about Dr Gerard Ee.
Book a consultation with Dr Gerard Ee
Dr Gerard Ee consults and performs Radiesse and hyaluronic acid nose filler at his practice at 50 Raffles Place, Singapore. Consultations are by appointment. Message the clinic on WhatsApp, or call 6532 2048.
Radiesse nose filler, frequently asked questions
Is Radiesse better than hyaluronic acid for the nose?
Radiesse lasts longer and holds a firmer line, but it cannot be dissolved if a complication occurs. For most noses, and for every first nose filler, HA is therefore the better choice.
Can Radiesse in the nose be removed?
Radiesse cannot be dissolved, and it is broken down by the body over a year or longer.
How long does Radiesse last in the nose?
Radiesse usually lasts a year or longer in the nose, often longer than HA, as the nose has little muscle movement.
Can Radiesse be used on the nose tip?
I do not use Radiesse at the tip. The tip requires the smallest and most reversible amounts of filler.
Can poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA) filler be used in the nose?
PLLA is not suitable for the nose. It gives no immediate lift and stimulates collagen evenly across the treated area, which broadens the nose without adding height or definition.
Selected References
- Siclovan HR, Jomah JA. Injectable calcium hydroxylapatite for correction of nasal bridge deformities. Aesthetic Plast Surg. 2009. PMID 19067034.
- Stupak HD, Moulthrop TH, Wheatley P, et al. Calcium hydroxylapatite gel (Radiesse) injection for the correction of postrhinoplasty contour deficiencies and asymmetries. Arch Facial Plast Surg. 2007. PMID 17372068.
- Kadouch JA. Calcium hydroxylapatite, a review on safety and complications. J Cosmet Dermatol. 2017. PMID 28247924.
- Merkel EA, Worley B, Christensen RE, et al. In vitro and ex vivo investigation of intralesional sodium thiosulfate as a reversal agent for calcium hydroxylapatite. J Invest Dermatol. 2022. PMID 35526562.
- van Loghem J, Funt D, Pavicic T, et al. Managing intravascular complications following treatment with calcium hydroxylapatite, an expert consensus. J Cosmet Dermatol. 2020. PMID 32185876.
- Huang H, Zhang H, Jin J. Efficacy and safety of polycaprolactone filler in nonsurgical rhinoplasty, a pilot study. Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol. 2026. PMID 41878545.
Dr Gerard Ee consults and performs Radiesse and hyaluronic acid nose filler at 50 Raffles Place, Singapore.
This page is written from published research and clinical experience in Singapore since 2012. It is for general education, not medical advice. Suitability, results, downtime and cost vary from person to person. Please arrange a consultation for advice specific to your nose.
