Legal note
The content is for information. It does not replace a consultation, an examination or an individual medical assessment.
Biostimulating preparations are medical devices intended for administration by people with the appropriate qualifications. This page describes a health service carried out at our clinic and is not an advertisement for any particular device. We do not give trade names, because the doctor decides which preparation to use during the assessment, on the basis of the state of the skin and the treatment area.
On this page
What tissue biostimulators are
A biostimulator is a preparation injected into the skin or the subcutaneous tissue in order to prompt it to work. In itself it is not a material meant to fill a deficit. It is a signal: a stimulus to which the tissue responds by remodelling.
This group covers preparations of very different composition, from those prepared from the patient's blood to synthetic ones. What links them is the direction of their action rather than the substance. That is why we describe them together, and show the differences that matter in practice below.
They are sometimes called regenerative therapy or tissue stimulators. It is the same method described by three names, which are used interchangeably in conversation at the clinic.
How biostimulators act on the skin
The injected preparation causes a controlled response in the tissue: an influx of cells involved in healing and stimulation of fibroblasts, that is the cells responsible for producing collagen and elastin. It is the same mechanism the body starts when repairing tissue, brought about deliberately and in a chosen place.
The newly formed fibres do not appear at once. Remodelling of tissue is a process counted in weeks rather than days, and it sets the rhythm of the whole therapy: a course of treatments at intervals, and assessment of the result long after the last of them.
The extent of the tissue's response depends on age, the state of the skin, coexisting conditions, smoking and exposure to the sun. In two people of the same age the same course of treatments gives a different outcome, and there is no way of predicting it in advance.
Three groups of biostimulators
The division we use when talking to patients rests on where the preparation comes from and on how it behaves in the tissue.
Autologous
Prepared from the patient's blood taken just before the treatment, for example platelet-rich plasma. The material comes from the same person it will be given to.
No foreign substances. The composition and platelet content differ between patients and between samples.
Soft
Preparations working on the quality of the skin: its hydration, density and elasticity, among them ones based on collagen and on hyaluronic acid. Injected shallowly, including in delicate areas such as around the eyes.
They do not build support. They answer thin, grey and dehydrated skin, not a loss of facial contour.
Firm
Preparations that prompt the rebuilding of collagen in deeper layers, above all poly-L-lactic acid and calcium hydroxyapatite. Used where support for the tissue is needed.
They act slowly, over weeks. They have no antidote that dissolves the preparation, unlike hyaluronic acid.
The substances used in preparations from the last two groups are above all poly-L-lactic acid, that is PLLA, calcium hydroxyapatite and collagen preparations. They differ in how fast they act and in how long the result lasts, and what they have in common is that they prompt fibroblasts to produce collagen and elastin. Which of them is right in your case follows from the state of your skin, not from the popularity of the preparation.
Details of each group
We run autologous biostimulators under the name of blood-derived preparations, because that is what the medical records call them and that is how patients ask about them. Preparing them looks different from the other groups: the blood is taken on the spot, just before it is given. You will find the description in the part about platelet-rich plasma.
Biostimulators and fillers
This question comes back at almost every consultation, because both treatments look the same: a syringe, a needle, the same area. The difference lies in what happens after the injection.
A filler
A material that takes up space in the tissue and adds volume at once. The result is visible after the treatment and fades as the preparation is absorbed. Hyaluronic acid can be dissolved with an enzyme.
Biostimulator
A stimulus that starts the production of your own collagen. It does not build volume itself, and the result builds up over weeks and concerns the quality of the tissue. It cannot be reversed; you can only wait for it to be absorbed.
Both methods are sometimes part of one plan, in a set order and with intervals. They do not replace one another: a filler answers a loss of volume, a biostimulator a decline in the quality of the tissue.
How a filler differs from a biostimulator
| Feature | Filler (hyaluronic acid) | Biostimulator |
|---|---|---|
| What it does in the tissue | Takes up space and adds volume straight away | Triggers production of your own collagen; it does not build volume itself |
| When the effect is visible | After the treatment | Builds up over weeks and concerns tissue quality |
| Can it be reversed | Yes, hyaluronic acid is dissolved with an enzyme | No, you can only wait for it to be absorbed |
| What it addresses | Loss of volume | Deterioration of tissue quality |
Indications, that is what biostimulators help with
Beyond the face, preparations from this group are used in areas where the skin loses density early: on the neck, the décolletage, the arms and the backs of the hands. The doctor sets the range of areas at the assessment.
Who it suits and who it does not
Biostimulation rests on the tissue's ability to respond. That is the first question the doctor asks: is there anything in this skin to stimulate, and do the expectations concern what this method answers.
A biostimulator will not make up a loss of volume. With a hollow cheek or a deep fold the starting point is a different method.
It will not remove excess skin. With clear laxity the scope of possible change is limited and we say so before starting a course.
It does not act on expression lines, because those follow from muscle movement rather than from the quality of the tissue.
The result builds up over weeks. If you need a change visible at once, at the consultation we will look for another method.
Treatment course with a biostimulator
A single treatment takes 30 to 60 minutes. With autologous preparations the time to take the blood and prepare the material is added, which extends the visit by a quarter of an hour or so.
The treatment on video
A recording from our treatment room will show the preparation being made ready and the way it is injected.
We publish photos of results only with patients’ consent and under comparable conditions: the same framing, light, facial expression and time interval. The result is always individual.
The results and when they are visible
The first changes are usually described four to eight weeks after the first treatment. They concern the quality of the skin rather than its shape: density, firmness, an evening out of the tone. The full picture is assessed once the course is finished and a few further weeks have passed, because the remodelling goes on.
The result usually lasts from several to a dozen or more months after the last treatment, depending on how the skin regenerates. It follows from remodelled tissue rather than from the presence of a preparation, which is why it fades gradually, along with the natural process of ageing.
That is the range observed in practice, not a forecast of the outcome for any one person. With biostimulation the differences between patients are greater than with methods that act mechanically.
How many treatments are needed and how often
Usually a course of three to four treatments at intervals of four to six weeks. With more advanced changes, for example with a clear loss of firmness or with scars, the number of treatments is sometimes greater. The doctor sets it at the assessment, before the first treatment.
The therapy makes sense as a whole. A single treatment from a course rarely gives a change that can be noticed, and that is not a reason to change the method after the first visit. If after a completed course the result does not answer expectations, we go back to assessing the cause and review the plan.
Reactions after the treatment and recommendations
Expected reactions
Redness, swelling and tenderness at the injection points, sometimes small bruises. They usually settle within one to two days.
No touching or massaging
For the first day do not press or massage the treated area, unless the doctor has said otherwise. With some preparations massage is part of the recommendations, and we then show how to do it.
No high temperatures
Sauna, steam baths, swimming pool and sunbeds only after two weeks.
No exercise or alcohol for a day
For at least 24 hours no alcohol and no intense physical exercise.
Sun protection
Sunscreen on the treated area for a few days. Exposure to the sun limits the very result the biostimulator is working towards.
Hydration and sleep
Tissue remodelling depends on the state of the body, so hydration and sleep affect the outcome of a course.
Growing pain, warmth and redness in the area a few days after the treatment call for contacting the clinic. These are symptoms not seen in normal healing.
Complications after biostimulators
Swelling, redness and tenderness after the treatment are expected reactions. Below are situations that go beyond normal healing and require contacting a doctor.
Infection at the injection site
Redness, warmth and growing pain a few days after the treatment. The risk rises where aseptic procedures are departed from and where there is active inflammation in the area, including of dental origin.
Uneven distribution of the preparation
Palpable lumps or asymmetry following from how the material is distributed in the tissue. Some settle on their own, some require medical treatment.
Movement of the preparation
The material may change position with time, especially in areas that move. This is assessed at a follow-up appointment.
An allergic reaction
Rare, concerning the components of the preparation. The medical history before the treatment includes questions about allergies and about earlier reactions to injections.
A delayed inflammatory reaction, DIR for short
Swelling, redness, soreness, itching or burning appearing from a few days to even a few years after the preparation was injected. The mechanism is not fully understood; it is described as a complex response of the body to the presence of a foreign body. It requires a medical assessment rather than watching at home.
Research on preparations from this group, including on adverse effects, is still going on. That is why at the assessment we ask about all preparations injected earlier, including years ago and at other clinics: with a late reaction that information can be the key to a diagnosis.
Contraindications to biostimulators
With autologous preparations there are additional contraindications connected with taking blood, among them clotting disorders and blood conditions. Report the medicines you take, including those affecting clotting, during the assessment, and do not stop anything on your own.
The questions we are asked most often
How do biostimulators differ from fillers?
A filler adds volume at once, because it takes up space in the tissue. A biostimulator does not build volume itself; it prompts the skin to produce its own collagen, so the result builds up over weeks and concerns the quality of the tissue. They are sometimes used in one plan, but they answer different problems.
How long before the result of biostimulators shows?
Usually four to eight weeks after the first treatment, because that is how long tissue remodelling takes. The full picture is assessed once the course is finished and a few further weeks have passed. A change visible the next day comes from another method, not from biostimulation.
How many treatments with a biostimulator are needed?
Usually a course of three to four treatments at intervals of four to six weeks. With more advanced changes the number is sometimes greater, and the doctor sets it at the assessment. A single treatment from a course rarely gives a noticeable change and is not a basis for judging the method.
How long does the result of biostimulation last?
Usually from several to a dozen or more months after the course is finished, depending on how the skin regenerates. The result follows from remodelled tissue rather than from the presence of a preparation, which is why it fades gradually, along with the natural process of ageing. That is the range observed in practice, not a statement about any one person.
Does a treatment with a biostimulator hurt?
We carry out the treatment under anaesthesia, so what you feel is limited to needle pricks or the cannula moving in the tissue. After the injection the area can be tender for one to two days, and with some preparations temporary lumps can be felt.
What are autologous biostimulators?
They are preparations made from blood taken from the patient just before the treatment, for example platelet-rich plasma. The material comes from the same person it will be given to, so it contains no foreign substances. The composition, however, differs between patients and between samples, which affects how predictable the result is.
Will a biostimulator replace a face lift?
No. Biostimulation works on the density and firmness of the tissue, not on excess skin. With clear laxity the scope of possible change is limited and the doctor says so during the assessment, before you begin a course.
How much do biostimulators cost?
The cost depends on the group of preparation, the area and the number of treatments in a course, which is why we keep one current aesthetic medicine price list rather than scattered amounts on separate pages. At the consultation you will learn the price of the whole course, not of the first treatment alone.
Can biostimulators be combined with other treatments?
Yes, keeping to the intervals set by the doctor. The order matters, because some methods, among them laser therapy and microneedling, cause an inflammatory reaction that affects healing after an injection. The plan is made for the whole therapy rather than separately for each treatment.
Who may carry out a treatment with a biostimulator?
A doctor, after a consultation and an assessment. With autologous preparations there is also the taking and preparing of material from blood, carried out in conditions that ensure sterility.
The content is for information. It does not replace a consultation, an examination or an individual medical assessment.