Rebuild from Within. Natural Volume, Lasting Structure.
Collagen-stimulating injectables restore facial structure and firmness by encouraging your skin to produce its own collagen. At Chicago Cosmetic Surgery & Dermatology, our expert team of injectors use advanced biostimulatory fillers—Radiesse® and Sculptra®—to provide subtle, long-lasting improvement in volume, contour, and skin quality while preserving a natural appearance.
What Is Collagen Stimulation?
Collagen stimulation uses injectable, biostimulatory products to trigger your skin’s natural repair processes. Rather than simply filling a space, these treatments induce gradual collagen formation—improving skin thickness, firmness, and contour over weeks to months. This approach is ideal for patients seeking natural, progressive rejuvenation with durable outcomes.
Radiesse® (Calcium Hydroxylapatite)
Radiesse is a volumizing filler composed of microspheres in a biocompatible gel. It provides immediate structural support and lift, while stimulating collagen over time. Radiesse is often used for cheek and midface augmentation, jawline definition, and to restore lost volume in the lower face. Results combine immediate shaping with progressive collagen remodeling..
Sculptra® (Poly-L-Lactic Acid)
Sculptra works more gradually by stimulating deep collagen production. It’s typically delivered across a series of treatment sessions and is especially effective for restoring overall facial volume, correcting hollowing, and improving skin thickness. Sculptra creates a scaffold for natural tissue growth, with results appearing progressively and lasting many months to years.
Treatment Overview
Consultation & Planning
A thorough consultation determines facial goals, injection sites, and an individualized plan—sometimes combining Radiesse and Sculptra for immediate contour plus long-term collagen renewal.
During Treatment
- Performed in-office with topical numbing and local anesthetic as needed.
- Radiesse provides more immediate lift; Sculptra is placed strategically for gradual collagen induction.
- Most sessions last 15-30 minutes depending on areas treated.
Typical Course
Radiesse: Often single-session volume with some patients choosing touch-ups at 6–18 months.
Sculptra: Usually administered as a series (commonly 2–3 sessions spaced several weeks apart) with results developing over 2–4 months and lasting a year or longer.
Why choose Chicago Cosmetic Surgery & Dermatology?
FAQ's for Collagen Stimulation
How is collagen stimulation different from HA fillers?
How is collagen stimulation different from HA fillers?
HA fillers primarily add immediate volume and are reversible; biostimulatory fillers (Radiesse, Sculptra) stimulate your body to produce collagen, creating longer-term structural improvement and skin quality changes.
When will I see results?
When will I see results?
Radiesse shows immediate improvement with further remodeling over weeks. Sculptra results develop gradually over 6–12 weeks and continue improving for months.
Is it painful?
Is it painful?
Most patients tolerate injections well with topical numbing and local anesthetic. Discomfort is usually mild and brief.
How many treatments will I need?
How many treatments will I need?
Radiesse often needs fewer sessions; Sculptra is typically given as a series (commonly 2–3). Your injector will recommend a personalized plan.
Are results permanent?
Are results permanent?
No—results fade over time as natural aging continues, but collagen stimulation provides longer durability than many temporary fillers.
Can multiple injectables be used together?
Can multiple injectables be used together?
Biostimulatory fillers often work best as part of a comprehensive plan—combined with hyaluronic acid fillers for targeted volume, neuromodulators for dynamic lines, or skin treatments (laser, peels, PRP) to optimize texture and tone. Your injector will recommend a staged approach tailored to your anatomy and goals.
What are the common side effects after treatment?
What are the common side effects after treatment?
Temporary swelling, redness, bruising, or tenderness at the injection sites are the most common and typically resolve in a few days.
What aftercare steps should I follow?
What aftercare steps should I follow?
Avoid strenuous exercise and excessive heat (like saunas or hot yoga) for 24–48 hours. Follow any massage or post-treatment instructions provided by your injector, and promptly report any persistent lumps or concerns.
Discover how collagen stimulation can help you achieve subtle, natural results.
Get started with a consultation and find out what our team of experts can do for you.