Sculptra vs Radiesse in Gangnam: Which One Should You Choose?

Quick answer: Sculptra has no instant volume and fills in over several weeks; Radiesse corrects on injection. If you can wait, Sculptra. If it has to look right now, Radiesse. At REPIC Clinic in Gangnam, Seoul, they start at 600,000 KRW and 990,000 KRW respectively (November 2026, VAT not included).

I'm Dr. Jay (Yongheon Ha), a doctor at REPIC Clinic in Gangnam. When someone is torn between these two, my first question is a date. When do you need to look different? If the answer is next week, Sculptra is out. If you're thinking a few months ahead, it's a different conversation. These two aren't really rivals. They run on different clocks. Below, I explain how we split them at REPIC Clinic, using the numbers printed on their approved labels.

What's the difference between Sculptra and Radiesse?

Different ingredients, and so different speeds. Sculptra is PLLA microparticles; Radiesse is calcium hydroxylapatite particles. One is a material you wait on. The other shows its result where it's placed. Side by side, based on the US labels:

Neither has been studied beyond 3 years. Neither is permanent.

When does Sculptra start to show?

Gradually, over several weeks. Right after treatment, your face looks fuller. That's swelling from the dilution fluid, and it goes down within hours to a few days, so for a while you look as if nothing happened. This is where many people get discouraged. The change starts after that. In the cheek-wrinkle trial, improvement rates were 68% at 1 month, 90% at 2 months and 96% at 3 months.

The US label explains that as the particles break down, new collagen may form at the injection site. The material isn't taking up the space; you're waiting for your own tissue to change. That's why it isn't done in one session: up to 4 per course, at least 3–4 weeks apart. Slow, but the evidence runs long. In the nasolabial fold trial, improvement held up to 25 months after the last injection, although the deepest-wrinkle group didn't hold.

How long does Radiesse last?

In the jawline trial, 67% of people who responded at 12 weeks were still responding at 48 weeks. For nasolabial folds, effectiveness was assessed to 6 months. Next to Sculptra's 25 months that looks short. But those numbers come from different trials on different areas. They weren't measured on the same scale, and that needs to be kept in mind.

Radiesse's strength is speed. It corrects on injection, so when the treatment ends, the line has already changed. In the US it's approved for facial wrinkles and folds, including nasolabial folds, and for jawline contour, and it's also classed as a collagen booster. Does the discomfort end that fast too? No. Firmness or lumpiness along the jawline was reported in the 70% range, mostly settling within 14 days. If you have a fixed date, leave yourself that much room.

Which one suits which face?

For a face that has lost volume over a broad area, I look at Sculptra first. For a line that needs defining now, Radiesse. Before picking a product, I check whether the face has lost volume or has sagged, and then how thick the skin is.

• Sculptra first: broad hollowing in areas like the cheeks or nasolabial folds, you can wait a few months, and you'd rather not look suddenly different.
• Radiesse first: the jawline contour is the concern, or you have a set date you need to look different by.
• Neither: sagging, not volume loss, is the main problem. Filling won't lift tissue that has dropped.

Thin skin gets its own look. It's a risk factor for Sculptra nodules. That doesn't rule it out. It means depth and volume have to be more conservative.

Who shouldn't get Sculptra or Radiesse?

We don't treat during pregnancy or breastfeeding. Sculptra is contraindicated with hypersensitivity to its ingredients, a history of severe allergies, or a tendency to keloids or hypertrophic scars. Radiesse is contraindicated with a history of severe allergies, hypersensitivity to its ingredients or lidocaine, and bleeding disorders. Neither belongs in the lips: Sculptra must not be injected there, and Radiesse's safety in the lips and around the eyes hasn't been established, with lip nodules reported.

Side effects, without hiding anything. Sculptra nodules are not rare, and injection depth and amount drive the risk. Shallow injection, thin skin, the eye area and too much product are the risk factors, and granulomas appearing months to a year later have been reported. With Radiesse, delayed inflammation has been reported after infections, vaccinations and dental work. With both, rarely, a blocked blood vessel can lead to necrosis or vision loss. That's why where and how deep it goes comes before which product it is.

Tell us about any medication beforehand. Anticoagulants and antiplatelet drugs, including aspirin and warfarin, increase bruising. After treatment, avoid strong sun and heat for about 24 hours or until the swelling goes down. With Sculptra, use cold compresses for the first 24 hours; makeup is fine after a few hours. Radiesse shows on CT and X-ray, so tell the staff before any scan. If you're flying home soon, share your departure date at the consultation and we'll plan around it.

How much do Sculptra and Radiesse cost in Gangnam? (November 2026)

These are REPIC Clinic Gangnam prices as of November 2026, VAT not included, and the same for Korean and international patients. Sculptra: half vial 600,000 KRW for 1 session or 1,590,000 KRW for 3; full vial 990,000 KRW for 1 session or 2,690,000 KRW for 3. Radiesse: 990,000 KRW for 1 syringe, 1,790,000 KRW for 2, 2,490,000 KRW for 3. Both are booked as 25-minute treatments.

A full vial of Sculptra and 1 syringe of Radiesse cost the same 990,000 KRW. That doesn't mean they deliver the same amount of result. Sculptra builds up over sessions; with Radiesse, the number of syringes is the amount of correction. How much you need is decided after the exam. The full list is on our price page.

How we do it at REPIC

Diagnosis comes first: lost volume or sagging, and skin thickness. Then I ask about your timeline. By that point the product is usually obvious. Next we plan the amount and the injection layer: how many sessions for Sculptra, how many syringes and where for Radiesse. The doctor injects personally. With Sculptra, we judge the next session from your face after the early swelling has gone. With Radiesse, we check whether a top-up is needed once the firmness has settled.

Related reading

• How to choose a collagen booster: Sculptra, Radiesse, Juvelook Volume
• Sculptra: how many vials, how many sessions, and when it shows
• Radiesse: instant correction, the jawline, and what to watch for
• Filler in Korea: cost, brands and safety

Consultations and booking: book online

This article is general information and does not replace a medical consultation. Results vary from person to person.