Radiesse® — Glossary

BioForm Medical has composed the following glossary of terms as an educational tool for patients. It includes relevant Radiesse® terms as well as other terms associated with dermal fillers. Some of the terms listed in this glossary are used throughout this web site, while others are terms you will often hear in conjunction with dermal fillers and cosmetic correction in general. Be sure to discuss specific verbiage and questions with your physician.

A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z

A

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS): An epidemic disease caused by an infection from human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), a retrovirus that causes failure of the immune system. Radiesse® can be used to treat facial lipoatrophy in HIV patients.
Antiretroviral therapy: The treatment of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) – or other types of retroviruses that multiply in the body – using drugs.
Aqueous: Water-based.

B

Biocompatible: A material that is biologically compatible with the body. The calcium-based microspheres used in Radiesse are biocompatible.
Botulinum toxin Type A (Brand name: BOTOX®): A purified protein used to temporarily relax muscles that can cause facial lines to form. Although injectables like BOTOX® Cosmetic smooth and relax the lines and wrinkles caused by dynamic muscle movement, they do not fill tissue or replace volume to correct deep lines and wrinkles.
Bruise: An injury in which the capillaries are damaged, allowing blood to seep into the surrounding area and become visible.

C

Calcify (or Calcification): To become hard, stony, or inflexible.
Calcium Hydroxylapatite (CaHA): The naturally occurring mineral that largely makes up bones and teeth in humans and animals. Synthetic micronized CaHA microspheres are a primary component of Radiesse®.
CE or CE Mark: Abbreviation for "Conformité Européenne" Mark indicating marketing authorization of a product in the European Union.
Clinical Trials: Controlled studies in humans to establish the efficacy or safety of medical products. .
Collagen: Fibrous proteins that assist in providing form and structure within the skin. The loss of collagen is a contributing factor to the visible signs of aging on the face.
Collagen (Injected): Collagen can be injected into the skin to address lines and wrinkles. Injectable collagen is typically derived from cow skin or from human sources, including a patient's own tissue, donor tissue from the thigh, tissue grown in a lab, or sterilized tissue from cadavers.
Contraindications: A reason or situation that makes the use of a treatment or a product inadvisable because the risk clearly outweighs any possible therapeutic benefit.

D

Dynamic Lines: (Wrinkles) Lines caused by dynamic muscle movement (i.e. the natural muscle-caused movement of the face).

E

Edema: Swelling of tissue due to an accumulation of excess fluid.
Enzymatic Biodegradation: Enzyme-induced biological breakdown of materials.
Erythema: Redness of the skin caused by increased blood flow to the capillaries. Photosensitivity is an example of erythema.

F

Facial Lipoatrophy: see Lipoatrophy.
Facial Wasting: see Wasting.
Fat Transfer: A procedure, also known as "fat grafting," in which fat is harvested from one part of the patient's body and then reinjected into the face. Fat grafting results vary widely.
FDA 510(k) Premarket Notification: A premarket submission made to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to demonstrate that a device is at least as safe and effective (substantially equivalent) as a legally marketed device that is not the subject of a Premarket Approval (PMA).
Food and Drug Administration (FDA): A United States federal agency that is responsible for protecting the public health by assuring the safety, efficacy, and security of human and veterinary drugs, biological products, medical devices, food supply, cosmetics, and products that emit radiation. The FDA is also responsible for advancing the public health by helping to speed innovations that make medicines and foods more effective, safer, and more affordable; and helping the public get the accurate, science-based information they need to use medicines and foods to improve their health.

H

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV): A retrovirus that is known to cause acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS).
Hyaluronic Acid: A gel-like substance naturally found in tissue, the joints, and the eye. HA-based injectables are short-term treatments used to correct lines and wrinkles. Patients with known allergies to avian proteins may be in danger of experiencing allergic reactions if they use these rooster-derived products.

L

Lipoatrophy: The loss of fat stored under the skin leading to small indentations, especially in the face. A common side effect of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART).
Lipodystrophy: HIV associated lipodystrophy is a condition that may affect patients with HIV infection, especially those taking HAART. The syndrome first described in 1998 is characterized by hyperlipidemia, insulin resistance, and lipodystrophy. The lipodystrophy manifests as lipoatrophy of the face, arms, legs, and buttocks. Patients have different combinations and degrees of severity.

M

Marionette Lines: Also known as "oral commissures," marionette lines run downward from the corners of the mouth.
Maxillofacial Surgery: The surgical correction of structures and tissues in the upper jaw and face.
Microspheres: The microspheres in Radiesse are made of Calcium Hydroxylapatite.
Migration: As related to injections, the movement of material away from the injection site.

N

Nasolabial Folds: Folds that run from the sides of the noses to the corner of the mouth.

P

Perioral Lines: Vertical lines around the lips and mouth, sometimes called "smokers lines."
Pre-Market Approval (PMA): The FDA process of scientific and regulatory review to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of Class III medical devices.
Poly-L Lactic Acid: A synthetic injectable material composed of Poly-L-Lactic Acid (PLLA) first synthesized by the French in 1954. . Currently marketed by the brand name Sculptra® and approved for the treatment of HIV-related facial lipoatrophy.

R

Retrovirus: A type of virus that has RNA instead of DNA as its genetic material. This type of virus becomes a part of a host cell's DNA, allowing many copies of the virus to be made. The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a type of retrovirus.

S

Smile Lines: The lines or wrinkles that appear on the cheeks over time.
Sodium Carboxymethylcellulose (NaCMC): A material that is mixed with sterile water to form a gel, which acts as a carrier for the CaHA particles in Radiesse®. As it is biocompatible, the gel is gradually absorbed by the body.
Static Lines: Lines or wrinkles that remain unchanged, even with dynamic muscle movement.

V

Vocal Fold Insufficiency (VFI ): A state in which one or both vocal folds (also called vocal cords) lack the physical capacity to vibrate. The FDA has cleared Radiesse® for the treatment of vocal fold insufficiency.

W

Wasting: The process by which a debilitating disease causes muscle and fat tissue to "waste" away. Many drugs used in antiretroviral therapy have been found to cause face wasting, or facial lipoatrophy.
Wrinkle (Rhytides): Lines and creases in the face caused by natural aging, the cumulative effects of sun damage, moderate to dramatic loss of tissue volume, dynamic muscle movement, gravity, smoking, and a variety of other factors. The combination of a thickened dermis and the loss of volume in the skin creates lines and furrows that deepen over time as the skin continues to lose the ability to retain moisture and volume.