AESTHETICS GUIDE

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Before choosing a method, the question to ask is: what is happening in the body? These articles answer that question, with references. Details that vary from person to person, such as the number of sessions, duration and longevity, are on the treatment pages. You can discuss them in detail at a consultation.

TREATMENT PAGESTear Trough (Under-Eye) FillerTear trough (under-eye) filler is the treatment known on the market in Türkiye as ‘ışık dolgusu’ (literally ‘light filler’). Medically, it means supporting the hollow under the eye with a hyaluronic acid (HA) filler. The under-eye area is one of the parts of the face that needs particular care, and darkness here cannot be put down to a single cause. This page gives general information. Your doctor will assess you and make a recommendation; the decision is yours.

Buttock FillerButtock filler (popularly known as ‘bum filler’) means injecting a filler to address a need for volume and contour (outline) in the buttocks. The clinic uses hyaluronic acid (HA) fillers suitable for use on the body. It is an injectable treatment, not an operation; it is not permanent and is not a substitute for buttock augmentation surgery, fat injection or implants. This page gives general information. Your doctor will assess you and make a recommendation; the decision is yours.

Chin and Jawline FillerChin and jawline filler is a treatment that supports the chin and jawline with dermal filler. It is considered suitable for mild to moderate loss of contour and volume. It will not meet expectations if there is advanced skin sagging, marked fat under the chin (a double chin) or a receding chin caused by the bone structure. This page gives general information. Your doctor will assess you and make a recommendation; the decision is yours.

MesotherapyMesotherapy is the delivery of active ingredients into and under the skin through many small injections with very fine needles. It is considered for concerns such as skin quality on the face and around the eyes, thinning hair, pigmentation, post-acne redness and acne scars, localised pockets of fat and cellulite. There is no common standard for the mixture that is injected; the evidence varies with the contents and the area, and in most areas it is based on small studies. Atypical mycobacterial infection (a skin infection caused by mycobacteria other than those that cause tuberculosis) has been reported as a rare but serious risk. This page gives general information. Your doctor will assess you and make a recommendation; the decision is yours.

Skin RejuvenationSkin rejuvenation is the umbrella term for treatments that target the skin itself rather than the volume or contours of the face. The aim is skin quality: even tone, surface smoothness, hydration, elasticity and radiance. Skin boosters, PRP, and treatments for the neck and décolletage fall under this heading; mesotherapy and collagen stimulators can also be used for the same purpose. In studies, the most consistent finding is an increase in hydration. These treatments do not lift sagging tissue, do not correct volume loss and are not a substitute for surgery. This page gives general information. Your doctor will assess you and make a recommendation; the decision is yours.

Liquid Facelift with Collagen StimulatorsA liquid facelift is a non-surgical volume and support treatment using collagen-stimulating substances such as calcium hydroxylapatite (CaHA) or poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA). It is not a hyaluronic acid (HA) filler and cannot be reversed with the enzyme hyaluronidase; its effect becomes more noticeable over time. It is not suitable for every face and is not a substitute for a surgical facelift; whether it is suitable for you is assessed at a consultation.

Body Fillers‘Body fillers’ is the collective name for injectable treatments that address loss of volume and contour in areas other than the face; this page covers the backs of the hands, the legs, the abdomen and the décolletage. The clinic uses hyaluronic acid (HA) fillers that are suitable for use on the body. Information that applies to facial filler cannot simply be carried over to these areas; each area is assessed separately, according to the product to be used and the aim of the treatment. This page gives general information. Your doctor will assess you and make a recommendation; the decision is yours.

French Thread LiftA French thread lift is one of several thread lift techniques. It is a non-surgical treatment that uses dissolvable medical threads when the facial contour has lost its definition. It is not a substitute for a surgical facelift; whether it is suitable for you is assessed at a consultation. This page gives general information. Your doctor will assess you and make a recommendation; the decision is yours.

Filler DissolvingFiller dissolving means breaking down hyaluronic acid (HA) filler injected earlier, using an enzyme called hyaluronidase. It is not a beauty treatment chosen for its own sake; it is used to reverse an injection that has already been done or to manage a complication. This is why filler dissolving is a matter for assessment, not a matter of preference. This page gives general information. Your doctor will assess you and make a recommendation; the decision is yours.

Lip FillerLip filler is an injectable treatment using hyaluronic acid gel. It is considered for lip volume that decreases with age, a lip border that has become less defined, asymmetry and lines around the lips. The gel is not permanent and can be dissolved with the enzyme hyaluronidase. The lips are rich in blood vessels; swelling and bruising are common, while vascular occlusion (a blocked blood vessel) is a rare but serious risk. This page gives general information. Your doctor will assess you and make a recommendation; the decision is yours.

Nose FillerNose filler adds volume by placing hyaluronic acid (HA) filler at points such as the bridge, tip or root of the nose, or the columella (the small bridge of tissue between the two nostrils). By filling the area around a nasal hump, it can soften how the hump looks, and it can hide small irregularities left after surgery; however, it does not make the nose smaller, does not remove the hump and is not a substitute for surgical rhinoplasty. The nose is considered one of the high-risk areas for vascular occlusion (a blocked blood vessel), skin necrosis (tissue death) and vision loss. This page gives general information. Your doctor will assess you and make a recommendation; the decision is yours.

Hand RejuvenationHand rejuvenation uses fillers such as hyaluronic acid (HA) or calcium hydroxylapatite (CaHA) to restore volume lost under the skin on the backs of the hands. The aim is to give better cover over tendons and veins that have become more visible. It does not target pigmentation, enlarged veins or sun damage to the skin surface. HA can be reversed with the enzyme hyaluronidase; there is no such option for CaHA. This page gives general information. Your doctor will assess you and make a recommendation; the decision is yours.

Genital FillerGenital filler is a hyaluronic acid treatment for volume loss in the external genitalia, most often in the outer labia (labia majora), due to ageing or hormonal changes. The evidence on this comes from small case series and a small number of prospective studies. Professional bodies do not support the claim that the treatment improves sexual function. Symptoms such as pain, vaginal dryness or urinary incontinence need a gynaecological assessment first. This page gives general information. Your doctor will assess you and make a recommendation; the decision is yours.

Collagen Stimulator TreatmentsCollagen stimulator treatments are injections of substances such as calcium hydroxylapatite, poly-L-lactic acid or polycaprolactone that aim to stimulate the tissue’s own collagen production. Outside the face, they target skin quality and skin laxity (loose skin) in areas such as the neck, décolletage, arms, abdomen, buttocks and thighs. The effect develops gradually. They do not remove excess skin and are not a substitute for surgery. Whether the treatment can be reversed varies with the contents of the product used. This page gives general information. Your doctor will assess you and make a recommendation; the decision is yours.

Botulinum Toxin TreatmentsBotulinum toxin type A blocks the release of the chemical that carries the contraction signal at the nerve ending (acetylcholine), and temporarily reduces muscle contraction. In aesthetics, it has been studied most for the forehead, the area between the brows and the outer corners of the eyes. It works on lines that become visible with facial expressions, known as dynamic lines. The treatment is not permanent and does not correct volume loss or sagging skin; it is a medical procedure using a prescription-only medicine. This page gives general information. Your doctor will assess you and make a recommendation; the decision is yours.

Facial Thread LiftA facial thread lift is a treatment in which sagging tissue is repositioned using barbed or smooth medical threads placed under the skin. It usually does not require a surgical incision, and no skin is removed. Studies report improvement immediately after the procedure; however, long-term evidence on how long the effect lasts is limited. It does not meet expectations where there is marked excess skin, and it is not a substitute for a surgical facelift. This page gives general information. Your doctor will assess you and make a recommendation; the decision is yours.

Mid-Face Thread LiftA mid-face thread lift is a non-surgical thread lift treatment that aims to move soft tissue that has dropped in the cheek and cheekbone area back upwards with barbed threads. Studies on this treatment have included few people and were mostly done without a comparison group; the effect is reported to fade over time. It does not correct volume loss, and it is not enough for advanced sagging. This page gives general information. Your doctor will assess you and make a recommendation; the decision is yours.

Lower Face & Jawline Thread LiftA lower face and jawline thread lift uses barbed (cog) threads to support jowls (sagging along the jawline) and a jawline that has lost its definition, usually without surgical incisions. It has been studied in mild to moderate sagging; the scientific data are limited, and it is unclear how long the effect lasts. Volume loss is a matter for fillers, muscle pull for botulinum toxin and excess skin for surgery; these are assessed separately. This page gives general information. Your doctor will assess you and make a recommendation; the decision is yours.

Brow Thread LiftA brow thread lift repositions the brow upwards using barbed (cog) threads placed under the skin. It is a separate method from both a botulinum toxin brow lift and surgery. Brow-specific data come from small, uncontrolled case series. The result is more limited and more temporary than with a surgical brow lift. The treatment area lies next to the region where the temporal branch of the facial nerve and the blood vessels of the temple run. This page gives general information. Your doctor will assess you and make a recommendation; the decision is yours.

Fox Eye / Cat Eye Thread LiftThe fox eye / cat eye thread lift is not the name of a medical procedure. It is the social media name for a lifting treatment that uses threads placed in the temple to support the tail of the brow and the area around the outer corner of the eye, upwards and outwards. The published data specific to this area come from small, uncontrolled case series; the change achieved is limited and temporary. This page gives general information. Your doctor will assess you and make a recommendation; the decision is yours.

Neck Thread LiftA neck thread lift is a treatment that repositions loose tissue in the neck and under the chin using barbed (cog) threads placed under the skin. Evidence specific to the neck comes from small case series with no control group; how long the effect lasts is not yet clear. Neck bands that appear when the neck muscle contracts (platysma bands), skin quality and excess skin are outside the scope of this treatment and are addressed with other methods. This page gives general information. Your doctor will assess you and make a recommendation; the decision is yours.

Nose Thread LiftA nose thread lift is a treatment in which fine medical threads are placed under the skin of the nose to lift the nose tip or support the bridge of the nose. What is known about it comes largely from small case series and the experience of individual practitioners; no controlled study that randomly assigned patients to groups was found. Reported problems include threads becoming visible or working their way out, infection and distortion of the shape of the nose. This page gives general information. Your doctor will assess you and make a recommendation; the decision is yours.

Upper Lip Thread Lift (Nose-to-Lip Distance)An upper lip thread lift (nose-to-lip distance) is a treatment that aims to make the skin-covered area between the base of the nose and the upper lip (the philtrum area) look shorter by lifting it with threads. No controlled study looking at this use has been found; for a lengthened upper lip, the most researched method is a surgical lip lift. Options other than threads, such as botulinum toxin or filler, are also discussed separately. This page gives general information. Your doctor will assess you and make a recommendation; the decision is yours.

Botulinum Toxin for Brow LiftingBotulinum toxin for brow lifting temporarily weakens the muscles that pull the brow down: the upper outer part of the ring-shaped muscle around the eye (orbicularis oculi) and the muscles between the brows. This changes the muscle balance that sets the position of the brow. The data on this are limited to small randomised trials (trials in which participants are randomly assigned to groups) and one systematic review; the measured lift is in the millimetre range. The effect is not permanent, treatment to the forehead can also lower the brow, and skin laxity is not corrected this way. This page gives general information. Your doctor will assess you and make a recommendation; the decision is yours.

Botulinum Toxin for Bunny LinesBotulinum toxin for bunny lines is a treatment for the lines that appear when you scrunch up your face or laugh: on the upper part of the bridge of the nose, and between the inner corner of the eye and the root of the nose (where it meets the area between the brows). In scientific publications, this area is usually discussed together with treatments between the brows and in the upper face; most of the data specific to this area come from case series, expert consensus and anatomical studies. The effect is not permanent. This page gives general information. Your doctor will assess you and make a recommendation; the decision is yours.

Jaw Clenching and Masseter Botulinum ToxinMasseter botulinum toxin is an injection of botulinum toxin into the chewing muscle over the angle of the jaw. It is considered for two separate purposes: a wide lower face caused by an enlarged muscle, and teeth clenching or grinding (bruxism). Randomised trials report short-term improvement for the first purpose; for clenching, the evidence is mixed. The effect is temporary. It does not narrow width that comes from the bone, and it does not treat the cause of bruxism. This page gives general information. Your doctor will assess you and make a recommendation; the decision is yours.

Botulinum Toxin for a Gummy SmileThere is no single reason why too much gum shows when you smile (a gummy smile): an upper lip that rises too high, excess vertical growth of the upper jaw, or conditions affecting the teeth and gums can play a part. Botulinum toxin targets only the muscle-related part. It reduces gum display temporarily, and when the cause lies in the bone or teeth, it is not a substitute for orthodontic or surgical options. This page gives general information. Your doctor will assess you and make a recommendation; the decision is yours.

Botulinum Toxin for Upper Lip LinesBotulinum toxin for upper lip lines is a treatment in which a small amount of botulinum toxin is injected into the muscle around the mouth to soften the muscle contraction that deepens vertical lines on the upper lip. Because this muscle is used for speaking, eating and drinking, side effects mostly relate to how the mouth works. For static lines, it can be used together with filler; however, scientific evidence specific to this area is limited. This page gives general information. Your doctor will assess you and make a recommendation; the decision is yours.

Lip FlipA lip flip aims to turn the upper lip slightly outwards by injecting a small amount of botulinum toxin into the part of the muscle around the mouth that lies at the edge of the upper lip. It is an off-label treatment (outside the uses covered by the product's licence or approval). It adds no volume to the lip; the change is subtle and temporary, and the scientific evidence for it is limited to small case series and one systematic review. Reported side effects include temporary difficulty with drinking through a straw and with whistling. This page gives general information. Your doctor will assess you and make a recommendation; the decision is yours.

Botulinum Toxin for the ChinBotulinum toxin for the chin is an injection of botulinum toxin into the mentalis, the muscle at the tip of the chin. It aims to soften the ‘orange peel’ look and chin strain caused when this muscle is overactive. It is included in expert consensus statements, but there are few controlled studies, and the information is based mostly on expert opinion and small case series. Its best-known risks are asymmetry of the lower lip and difficulty closing the mouth. It does not add volume to the chin, and a receding chin is a separate issue. This page gives general information. Your doctor will assess you and make a recommendation; the decision is yours.

Jawline and Neck (Nefertiti Lift)The Nefertiti lift is a treatment in which botulinum toxin is injected into the platysma muscle along the lower border of the jaw and in the neck. The scientific evidence on this treatment comes mostly from case series and reviews. The treatment does not correct marked sagging or volume loss. Its effect is temporary, and in the neck area it carries risks that must be taken seriously, such as difficulty swallowing (dysphagia). This page gives general information. Your doctor will assess you and make a recommendation; the decision is yours.

Botulinum Toxin for the NeckBotulinum toxin for the neck is a treatment that uses botulinum toxin to temporarily reduce the movement of the platysma, the thin muscle at the front of the neck. The strongest scientific evidence comes from randomised, placebo-controlled trials (trials in which participants are randomly assigned to groups) on vertical neck bands (platysma bands) that become prominent when the muscle contracts; the evidence for horizontal neck lines (sometimes called ‘necklace lines’) is weaker. The treatment does not correct skin laxity or excess skin, is not a substitute for surgery, and is carried out close to the structures involved in swallowing and voice production. This page gives general information. Your doctor will assess you and make a recommendation; the decision is yours.

Botulinum Toxin for Excessive SweatingBotulinum toxin for excessive sweating means injecting botulinum toxin type A into the skin to treat primary hyperhidrosis of the underarms, palms or soles of the feet; the effect is temporary. The evidence is strongest for the underarms. On the palms, the treatment has been found effective, but injection pain and temporary loss of strength are reported; on the soles, the evidence is limited. If sweating is caused by an illness or a medicine (secondary hyperhidrosis), the cause is investigated first. This page gives general information. Your doctor will assess you and make a recommendation; the decision is yours.

Cheek FillerCheek filler is a treatment that uses hyaluronic acid gel to support the cheekbone and cheek area of the mid-face where volume and contour are lacking. Randomised trials have reported significant improvement compared with control groups. The gel is not permanent and can be dissolved with the enzyme hyaluronidase. It does not tighten sagging skin, it is not a substitute for a surgical facelift, and it is done in an area close to important blood vessels and nerves. This page gives general information. Your doctor will assess you and make a recommendation; the decision is yours.

Nasolabial Fold FillerNasolabial fold filler is an injectable treatment with hyaluronic acid gel for a deepening fold running from the side of the nose to the corner of the mouth, and it has been studied in detail in randomised trials. Volume loss in the mid-face and changes in the skin also play a part in the fold deepening; filler does not work on all of these causes, and the area needs care because of its blood vessels. This page gives general information. Your doctor will assess you and make a recommendation; the decision is yours.

Marionette Line FillerMarionette line filler is an injectable treatment using hyaluronic acid (HA) gel for the lines that run from the corners of the mouth down to the chin and for volume loss around the corners of the mouth. Volume loss, sagging along the jawline and the pull of the muscle that draws the corners of the mouth down all play a part in these lines; filler addresses only the volume loss. The scientific data specific to this area are more limited than those for the lips and the nose-to-mouth lines (the nasolabial area). This page gives general information. Your doctor will assess you and make a recommendation; the decision is yours.

Temple FillerTemple filler is the injection of hyaluronic acid gel into the layers of the temple to support a hollow area in the temple. The gel breaks down in the body over time and can be dissolved with the enzyme hyaluronidase. The scientific evidence on this is largely based on small studies and case reports; there are few randomised trials (trials in which participants are randomly assigned to groups). In the temple, arteries and veins run in different layers, so vascular occlusion (a blocked blood vessel) and vision loss are rare but serious risks. This page gives general information. Your doctor will assess you and make a recommendation; the decision is yours.

Forehead FillerForehead filler is an injectable treatment with hyaluronic acid gel for hollowing and contour irregularities of the forehead. The data on this treatment come mostly from anatomical studies and small case series. Because their arteries are connected to the blood vessels that supply the eye, the forehead and the area between the brows are among the areas most often involved in reported cases of vision loss. Forehead lines caused by muscle movement are a separate matter. This page gives general information. Your doctor will assess you and make a recommendation; the decision is yours.

Facial Contouring / Full-Face FillerFacial contouring, or full-face filler, is an approach that treats the face as a whole rather than area by area, using hyaluronic acid filler in several areas within the same plan. Scientific publications emphasise this whole-face view, but they also discuss the overfilled look, the build-up of repeated treatments and the fact that filler can stay in the tissue longer than expected. On its own, the treatment does not fix sagging or improve skin quality. This page gives general information. Your doctor will assess you and make a recommendation; the decision is yours.

Genital RejuvenationGenital rejuvenation is a marketing term used for a range of quite different treatments for the female external genitalia (the vulva) and the vagina. Non-surgical options include energy-based devices (laser and radiofrequency), hyaluronic acid injections into the labia majora (outer labia), and PRP injections. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a safety warning about energy-based devices, and professional bodies do not support claims about sexual function. This page gives general information. Your doctor will assess you and make a recommendation; the decision is yours.

Genital PRP TreatmentsGenital PRP treatment involves injecting platelet-rich plasma, separated from a sample of your own blood in a centrifuge, into the vulva or the vaginal wall. It has been studied mostly in vulval lichen sclerosus, menopause-related vaginal atrophy, stress incontinence (leaking urine when you cough, sneeze or exercise) and sexual function concerns. However, the studies are small, the protocols differ, and it has not become established as a standard treatment for any of these conditions. This page gives general information. Your doctor will assess you and make a recommendation; the decision is yours.

Facial MesotherapyFacial mesotherapy involves making many small injections into the skin of the face with fine needles to deliver vitamins, amino acids, non-cross-linked hyaluronic acid or similar substances. It targets qualities of the skin such as hydration, elasticity and surface texture; it is not meant to add volume or lift the face. The mixtures used and the treatment plans are not standardised, and the scientific evidence varies depending on the mixture. This page gives general information. Your doctor will assess you and make a recommendation; the decision is yours.

Eye Area MesotherapyEye area mesotherapy is the delivery of active ingredients into the skin around the eyes through very small injections. Dark circles under the eyes have several sources, such as pigment, blood vessels, hollows and skin laxity; of these, mesotherapy can at most target skin quality and pigment. Hollows are a matter for fillers, and marked sagging for surgery; there are also only a few small studies in this area. This page gives general information. Your doctor will assess you and make a recommendation; the decision is yours.

Hair MesotherapyHair mesotherapy is the delivery of active ingredients into the scalp as small injections through very fine needles. Studies have tested medicated preparations, vitamin and peptide mixtures, and products containing growth factors. These studies are small, their treatment protocols differ from one another, and the available data are not considered sufficient to recommend the method as a routine treatment; the type of hair loss needs to be identified before treatment. This page gives general information. Your doctor will assess you and make a recommendation; the decision is yours.

Pigmentation MesotherapyPigmentation mesotherapy delivers active ingredients that target pigmentation into the skin by micro-injections, that is, through very fine needles. The most widely studied ingredient is tranexamic acid, and most of the data relate to melasma. Most studies report a reduction in the severity of melasma; however, the results are not the same in every analysis, the studies are small and the way the treatment is given varies from study to study. Melasma is a condition that tends to recur, and sun protection is the foundation of treatment. This page gives general information. Your doctor will assess you and make a recommendation; the decision is yours.

Acne & Acne Scar MesotherapyAcne and acne scar mesotherapy is the use of mesotherapy for acne-related problems. In mesotherapy, active ingredients are delivered into the skin through many small injections. Active acne and acne scars are separate issues. Active acne is a skin disease with a medical treatment set out in clinical guidelines. Acne scars are a permanent change in the tissue, and the evidence for mesotherapy in this area is limited. This page gives general information. Your doctor will assess you and make a recommendation; the decision is yours.

Body MesotherapyBody mesotherapy is the umbrella term for injections into localised pockets of fat. The most studied are solutions containing deoxycholate (deoxycholic acid) and phosphatidylcholine, which break down fat cells (injection lipolysis). Use on body areas falls outside the approved use in the US, which is the area under the chin; evidence for body areas is limited, and there are few studies with a high level of evidence. Swelling and numbness are common; nodules, infection and skin damage have also been reported. This page gives general information. Your doctor will assess you and make a recommendation; the decision is yours.

Cellulite MesotherapyCellulite mesotherapy is the delivery of mixtures of active ingredients into and just under the skin through very small injections (micro-injections), aimed at the appearance of cellulite. Cellulite is a very common, non-inflammatory change in appearance that is linked to the structure of the connective tissue under the skin. There are very few controlled studies of this use, and the results are inconsistent; other approaches, such as collagen stimulators, have also been studied. This page gives general information. Your doctor will assess you and make a recommendation; the decision is yours.

Skin Boosters‘Gençlik aşısı’ (Turkish for ‘youth vaccine’) is the name that has taken hold in Turkish advertising for treatments known as skin boosters: mostly hyaluronic acid is delivered into the skin through small injections. It is not a vaccine; it does not add volume or lift sagging skin. In studies, the most consistent finding is an increase in hydration and radiance; results on elasticity are mixed, and much of the data comes from studies with short follow-up. This page gives general information. Your doctor will assess you and make a recommendation; the decision is yours.

PRPPRP is a treatment in which platelet-rich plasma, prepared from a small sample of your own blood, is applied to the skin or scalp. It has been studied in randomised trials (trials in which participants are randomly assigned to groups) and meta-analyses for skin ageing, the area around the eyes, acne scars and hair loss (most of all androgenetic alopecia, that is, male- or female-pattern hair loss). However, because preparation methods are not standardised, results vary from study to study. PRP does not add volume or lift sagging skin. This page gives general information. Your doctor will assess you and make a recommendation; the decision is yours.

Neck & Décolletage RejuvenationNeck and décolletage rejuvenation is not a single procedure. It is an umbrella term for mesotherapy, collagen stimulator, hyaluronic acid, botulinum toxin and thread lift treatments aimed at different concerns, such as sun damage, loss of skin quality, horizontal neck lines (sometimes called ‘necklace lines’), neck bands and laxity. These treatments do not remove excess skin and are not a substitute for surgery, and the scientific evidence for this area is mostly based on small studies. This page gives general information. Your doctor will assess you and make a recommendation; the decision is yours.

Combined Facial RejuvenationCombined facial rejuvenation combines non-surgical methods aimed at different aspects of ageing, such as sagging, volume loss and skin quality, into a single plan in which each method has its own role. At the clinic, a thread lift can be planned together with calcium hydroxylapatite (CaHA) or PLLA (poly-L-lactic acid) treatments. Studies of these combinations have mostly involved small numbers of people and differing protocols, and each method also brings its own risks into the plan. This page gives general information. Your doctor will assess you and make a recommendation; the decision is yours.

Calcium Hydroxylapatite (CaHA)Calcium hydroxylapatite (CaHA) is an injectable substance made of microspheres in a carrier gel; it both adds volume and stimulates collagen production. Undiluted, it is used for volume and contour; diluted, it is used for skin quality and laxity. It cannot be reversed with hyaluronidase, it can show up on X-rays and CT scans, and it is not recommended for the lips or the area around the eyes. This page gives general information. Your doctor will assess you and make a recommendation; the decision is yours.

PLLA (Poly-L-Lactic Acid)Poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA) is a collagen stimulator that comes as a powder and is reconstituted (mixed with a liquid) before injection; its first medical use was for HIV-associated facial fat loss. It starts a controlled response in the tissue, and because collagen production increases over time, its effect develops with a delay. There is a nodule risk specific to this substance, and PLLA cannot be dissolved with the enzyme hyaluronidase. This page gives general information. Your doctor will assess you and make a recommendation; the decision is yours.

Hybrid Collagen StimulatorsHybrid collagen stimulators are injections that combine hyaluronic acid gel, which adds volume straight away, with a substance that stimulates collagen production, such as calcium hydroxylapatite, in the same syringe. On this page you will find the difference between ready-made hybrid products and mixtures a doctor prepares from two separate products, the early evidence, why reversibility is only partial, and the risks. The evidence is based largely on retrospective case series. This page gives general information. Your doctor will assess you and make a recommendation; the decision is yours.

The information on these pages is for general information only; whether a treatment is suitable for you is assessed at a consultation.

All treatments

ARTICLES

In-depth
articles.

Before naming any method, the guide explains “what is happening in the body”. Every article is referenced, and none makes claims about the number of sessions, duration or longevity.

Skin and tissueWhy does the face sag?What changes in the skin, fat, bone and ligaments?

What causes pigmentation (dark patches) on the skin?How sun spots, melasma and post-inflammatory marks differ.

What Causes Hair Loss?The hair cycle, temporary hair shedding and permanent thinning.

What Is Hyaluronic Acid?The hyaluronic acid in a cream is not the same thing as an injected gel.

Which method?Non-surgical facial rejuvenation: what are the options?The name of a result, not a single method: what are the options?

Neck rejuvenation: what changes in the neck?Why is the neck assessed separately from the face?

Hand rejuvenation: what changes on the back of the hand?Volume loss, skin quality and pigmentation on the back of the hand are addressed separately.

Skin-tightening treatments: what do they do to the tissues?What heat, mechanical support and injections do in the tissues.

Methods and how they differFillers or a Thread Lift?The difference between adding volume and repositioning tissue.

Volume Loss or Sagging?Most of what is called “sagging” in the mirror is volume loss.

Mesotherapy and PRP: What Is the Difference?Both are given as micro-injections; the fluid injected is different.

Botulinum Toxin or Fillers?Dynamic lines or volume loss?