Is Radiesse Just as Dangerous as Sculptra?

Laser&SkinBelfast
Nov 11, 2025
4 min read

In recent years, collagen-stimulating injectables such as Sculptra and Radiesse have gained attention for their ability to restore firmness and volume. However, while they share a similar goal, they also share the same fundamental risks: non-reversibility, inflammatory reactions, and the potential for fibrotic collagen formation.

At Laser & Skin Belfast, we do not use either product — and this is why.

Understanding What They Are

Both Sculptra and Radiesse are classed as biostimulators. Rather than adding volume like hyaluronic acid (HA) fillers, they trigger your body’s own collagen production. The issue lies in how they do this — and what kind of collagen is created as a result.

Product	Main Ingredient	Mechanism	Reversible	Safety Rating
Sculptra	Poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA)	Inflammatory collagen stimulation	❌ No	⭐ (High risk)
Radiesse	Calcium hydroxylapatite (CaHA)	Fibrotic collagen stimulation	❌ No	⭐⭐ (Moderate–high risk)

Sculptra – High Risk and Highly Inflammatory

Sculptra is a synthetic polymer that works by causing controlled inflammation in the skin. The immune system responds by forming fibrotic collagen around the injected particles.

While the goal is to rebuild volume, the body’s healing response can lead to:

Firm, dense collagen (fibrosis) instead of soft, natural collagen
Nodules and granulomas that appear months after treatment
Uneven or asymmetric results
No way to reverse or dissolve the product once injected

This makes Sculptra one of the least predictable and highest-risk injectables available today.

Radiesse – Less Inflammatory, But Still Non-Reversible

Radiesse contains calcium hydroxylapatite microspheres suspended in a gel. The gel provides initial lift, while the particles act as a scaffold that fibroblasts build collagen around.

Although Radiesse causes a milder reaction than Sculptra, it’s still a foreign material, and the collagen that forms can become fibrotic depending on how the body responds.

Risks include:

Nodules or granulomas (localised inflammation around calcium particles)
Visible whiteness or firmness if injected too superficially
Non-reversible results — cannot be dissolved or adjusted
High placement sensitivity — safe only when injected deep on bone, in limited facial zones

While Radiesse is often described as “biocompatible,” it still triggers a foreign-body healing response, and over time, this can lead to a firmer or thicker texture under the skin.

Fibrotic vs Structured Collagen — The Real Difference

Both Sculptra and Radiesse stimulate collagen, but the type and quality of that collagen differ greatly.

Sculptra primarily triggers an inflammatory response, leading fibroblasts to produce type I collagen in a dense, disorganised pattern — this is fibrotic collagen, similar to scar tissue. It’s rigid, less elastic, and dehydrated — which is why treated areas can feel unnaturally firm or lumpy.

Radiesse, in contrast, can initially promote type III collagen (softer, early collagen) followed later by type I. In ideal conditions — when injected deeply and evenly — this can create more structured collagen, which feels smoother and more natural. However, if the product is injected too superficially or in excess, even Radiesse can lead to fibrotic, firm collagen or small granulomas.

Feature	Sculptra (PLLA)	Radiesse (CaHA)	HA / Polynucleotides / Profhilo Structura
Trigger Mechanism	Inflammatory	Mild immune stimulation	Cellular regeneration
Collagen Type	Type I (dense, fibrotic)	Type III → Type I (structured, can become fibrotic)	Type I + III (balanced, healthy)
Texture in Skin	Firm, scar-like	Firmer, smooth if correct depth	Soft, hydrated, elastic
Inflammatory Risk	High	Moderate	Low
Reversibility	❌ No	❌ No	✅ Yes / Biodegradable

In short: Sculptra always produces fibrotic collagen, while Radiesse may produce structured collagen if injected correctly — but both depend on the body’s inflammatory repair pathway, not regenerative signalling.

Can These Products Stay in the Body Long-Term?

Yes — both Radiesse and Sculptra eventually dissolve, but their collagen stimulation effects can persist for years, especially if fibrotic tissue develops. Even when the particles themselves are metabolised, the scar-like collagen they create can remain.

In contrast, hyaluronic acid (HA) can also persist longer than expected in trace amounts, but it’s biologically identical to the body’s own HA, remains soft, hydrated, and non-inflammatory, and can be fully dissolved with hyaluronidase if required. That makes HA-based treatments a much safer long-term option.

The Core Problem: Fibrotic Collagen and Irreversibility

Both products trigger collagen through inflammatory or mechanical trauma, not true regeneration. The result can be collagen that is rigid, dehydrated, and less elastic, creating an unnatural firmness or irregular texture. If nodules or granulomas develop, treatment is complex — often involving steroid injections or even surgical removal.

The Safer, Regenerative Alternatives

At Laser & Skin Belfast, we focus on reversible, bio-regenerative injectables that encourage healthy collagen without inflammation:

Polynucleotides

Derived from purified DNA fragments
Stimulate fibroblast activity through regenerative cellular signalling
Improve hydration, elasticity, and dermal quality
Anti-inflammatory and biodegradable

Profhilo Structura

The newest generation of hybrid hyaluronic acid
Works deeply in the subcutaneous layer to rebuild structure and firmness
Promotes natural collagen and elastin without inflammation or fibrosis
Fully reversible and biocompatible

These treatments remodel skin gently and safely — achieving rejuvenation without the risks associated with older biostimulators.

The Bottom Line

Feature	Sculptra	Radiesse	HA / Profhilo Structura / Polynucleotides
Reversible	❌ No	❌ No	✅ Yes
Inflammatory Response	High	Moderate	Minimal
Nodule / Granuloma Risk	High	Moderate	Very low
Collagen Type Produced	Fibrotic	Structured → Fibrotic (if overstimulated)	Regenerative
Duration of Effects	18–24 months (fibrotic collagen may persist)	12–18 months	6–18 months
Safety Rating	⭐	⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

In Summary

Both Sculptra and Radiesse stimulate collagen, but they do so through foreign-body reaction, not true regeneration. Sculptra tends to produce dense, fibrotic collagen, while Radiesse can create structured collagen if injected perfectly — yet both remain non-reversible and highly technique-sensitive. In contrast, modern injectables such as Hyaluronic Acid fillers, Profhilo Structura, and Polynucleotides work with your body to build healthy, hydrated collagen that keeps skin soft, elastic, and naturally youthful.