She commanded attention the moment she stepped out. She is, after all, Mun Ka Young—one of Korea’s most prominent superstars, followed by millions, lauded for her numerous roles in the world of K-drama, and here, in Bangkok, unveiled as the first Asia-Pacific ambassador of Radiesse.
As for some of us who only learned about her here, she was a vision in white. Her lithe physique didn’t go unnoticed, but what drew us in was her plump, lifted skin–glowing in the perfect places. The radiance on her cheekbones. The subtle luminosity of her filled lips. The dewy, fresh complexion of her poreless face. There was nothing overly perfected or unnatural about how she looked. This–we were instantly convinced–is youth.
We’re fortunate to live in an era where youth and de-aging can look natural. The days of overdone facelifts and procedures—where faces were stretched smooth, unnaturally frozen, or ballooned into what seemed like puffy caricatures—are thankfully behind us.
Today, we have perfectly placed botulinum toxin that softens lines while preserving natural expression; next-generation energy treatments like ultrasound and radiofrequency that lift and restore without invasive surgery; and a plethora of modern-day injectables that go beyond being a traditional volumizer–the most intriguing, if not most popular, of which are biostimulators.
Biostimulators are an innovative class of cosmetic treatments designed to promote the body’s natural production of collagen and elastin—key proteins responsible for the skin’s firmness, elasticity, and youthful appearance. These decrease as much as 1% in adults every year after turning twenty years old. Unlike traditional fillers, which primarily add immediate volume by placing a substance under the skin, biostimulators work over time to stimulate tissue regeneration.
But not all biostimulators are created equal, nor are they made of the same thing. Radiesse, for instance, uses calcium hydroxyapatite or CaHa. Having been around for over 20 years, CaHa is one of the most well-studied in the world. Radiesse, for instance, has over 250 publications. What makes Radiesse distinct is how it can provide volume replacement as a filler and collagen biostimulation as a primary mechanism of action. “CaHA is biodegradable and reabsorbed naturally by the host’s metabolic processes. This biostimulatory mechanism of action, with ultimate reabsorption, results in a performance profile that is unique to Radiesse,” states an independent 2015 review on Calcium Hydroxylapatite in the Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology.
But not all biostimulators are created equal, nor are they made of the same thing. Radiesse, for instance, uses calcium hydroxyapatite or CaHa. Having been around for over 20 years, CaHa is one of the most well-studied in the world.
To fully appreciate Radiesse, it was crucial to first understand the broader landscape of fillers and biostimulators. Merz Aesthetics, the company behind Radiesse—distributed in the Philippines by Vanguard Aesthetics—knew perfectly how to communicate this to nearly 300 journalists and creators from across the Asia Pacific present that day.
Enter Dr. Niamh Corduff, the well-respected Plastic Surgeon and Clinical Director of RiverEnd Aesthetics in Australia. She knew our questions before we could even ask. While she used animated visuals to deliver a comprehensive understanding of Radiesse’s innovation and impact, she did so without talking down to her audience.
Radiesse is able to tap into our quiescent cells. These dormant cells in the body are key to regenerative aesthetics, according to Dr. Corduff. The goal is to “wake” these cells and encourage them to create new, healthy tissue rather than simply filling in gaps with collagen. By providing an environment that mimics the cells’ natural habitat, such as using scaffolds that simulate their home, these cells can regenerate effectively.
“Regeneration is the holy grail of medicine,” she states. She started off with the example of heart valve replacement, where current methods involve using a pig’s valve or metal, but the future lies in getting the body to regrow its own healthy valve. Applying this concept to aesthetics, regenerative techniques aim to renew and restore tissues to a more youthful, healthy state. Although we lose much of our regenerative ability after birth, the potential still exists within our bodies. The key is understanding and leveraging the “ecosystem” of cells, such as fibroblasts, which are responsible for building collagen and elastin. By focusing on tissue repair and stimulating these processes, regenerative aesthetics can help restore and rejuvenate the skin.
Dr. Corduff goes further to illustrate: “So say, I cut your leg off, right? You’re going to heal and just with a fibrous old patch, right? That’s what our body does as we get older. We just throw collagen, collagen, collagen. But it all goes chucked in haphazardly and forms a patch–that’s replacement. But wouldn’t it be cool if I cut your leg off, and over a few weeks, I can see new skin, muscle, new fat? This is looking a bit like a new leg–that’s regeneration.”
In similar ways, this is how Radiesse works. “Radiesse is the only regenerative biostimulator capable of regenerating not just collagen and elastin, but five key components of the skin’s structure for up to a year or longer,” adds Merz Aesthetics senior vice president for regional scientific and clinical services in Asia-Pacific Dr. Owen Sunga. It is able to help in the regeneration of blood vessels and tissues as well. This is what makes Radiesse different from other biostimulators usually made of polymers.
Dr. Corduff made sure to highlight the difference between polymer-based biostimulants like polylactic acids and ceramic ones like calcium hydroxyapatite or CaHa, which composes Radiesse. The latter is more familiar to cells, inducing the production of balanced, functional collagen and elastin. This approach leads to skin that is not only rejuvenated but also structurally sound, thicker, and more pliable. When materials like calcium hydroxyapatite are introduced, the immune system recognizes them as familiar and regenerates healthy tissue. In contrast, polymers are treated as foreign by the body, causing inflammation and a haphazard production of collagen, which results in volume but lacks the structure and balance of true regeneration.
Simply put, Radiesse offers a more natural, gradual rejuvenation. The results don’t appear overnight but rather develop subtly as the skin naturally rebuilds itself, providing a refreshed appearance that doesn’t look overly “done.”
As new biostimulators continue to enter the Philippine market, it’s worth revisiting a trusted option that has stood the test of time. Radiesse, which has been around for nearly two decades, remains a staple among practitioners who have long recognized and trusted its technology. We spoke with two seasoned practitioners in the Philippines who are highly familiar with Radiesse, drawing from years of experience using it on their patients.
Board certified cosmetic surgeon Dr. Lindsay Torralba Garia is among those who have earlier discovered Radiesse. In an interview with The Beauty Edit, she discussed her 10-year experience with it, something she usually recommends to treat lipoatrophy, a condition where facial fat shrinks, leading to a sunken appearance and for patients in their 30s, noting its ability to stimulate collagen production and restore lost youth. “It lasts up to a year and can strengthen facial structure, addressing issues like nasolabial folds and jowls,” she says. Dr. Garia emphasized its natural-looking results and the importance of healthy tissue for effective treatment. She mentioned minimal side effects like bruising and swelling, and noted that allergic reactions are rare with proper patient history and precautions.
Board-certified dermatologist Dr. Beverly Ong Amoranto, who has been using Radiesse since 2018, on the other hand, notes its function as a filler apart from how it is used to stimulate collagen production. She explained its application in the lower face, including the jawline, and its superior lifting capabilities compared to HA fillers. Radiesse is typically diluted and used in two layers: first, as a pure material for lifting, and second, as a bio-stimulant, she notes. While common side effects are minimal, such as puffiness and inflammation, she also emphasizes that it is not reversible, unlike HA fillers, which can be dissolved with hyaluronidase. Worst-case scenarios include vascular necrosis and blindness, which are “rare but possible not just with this but with any injectable material. This is why proper training and experience are crucial to minimize risks and handle complications effectively,” Dr. Amoranto says.
The Vanguard Aesthetics team, which distributes Radiesse in the Philippines, ensured Filipino doctors and media representatives were part of this important gathering held in Bangkok, aptly titled “Me, My Skin on the Reset.” The event brought together experts and innovators to explore the latest advancements in regenerative aesthetics, and truly offered a deep dive into the future of skin rejuvenation and the role of cutting-edge treatments like Radiesse in redefining beauty standards.
It astounds us every time we go to these de-aging conventions. Everyone, of course, seems to walk the talk. The Merz Aesthetics teams from around the world who are the perfect ambassadors to their treatments–radiant in every sense of the word, brimming with youth and joy. The doctors whose decades of experience we will never see on their faces–plump, fresh, snatched. But also not devoid of lines, expression, life.
These remind us of something we’ve always believed in. Much about youth is not getting wrapped up in the minute details, like that faint groove on our forehead or this tiny wrinkle that appears when we squint. It’s as much about looking young as never losing sight of the bigger picture. Mun Ka Young also talks about these things that keep her balanced and alive, from things as simple as warm foot soaks and immersing in fragrances to indulging in little pleasures like Mango Sticky Rice. Preserving our youth also means preserving those that keep us real, alive, and undeniably ourselves.
