Dermal fillers in İstanbul: a doctor's honest guide to what they can and cannot do

What it is

• Hyaluronic acid is a sugar molecule your skin already produces; it binds water and gives tissue its cushion. Modern fillers are cross-linked versions of it, manufactured in different densities so that a firm gel can support a cheekbone while a soft one hydrates the under-eye.
• Filler is not a wrinkle cream and it is not a lift. It replaces volume where the face has deflated and creates structure where bone and fat support have receded — the two changes that make a face read as tired rather than aged.

Who it suits

• Adults with volume loss in the cheeks, temples, chin, jawline or lips
• People with nasolabial folds, marionette lines or a flat mid-face
• Patients who want a defined jawline or chin projection without surgery
• Not suitable during pregnancy or breastfeeding, in active skin infection at the site, or in uncontrolled autoimmune or bleeding disorders

Products we use

• Teosyal (Teoxane), Juvéderm, Restylane and other original CE/FDA-approved hyaluronic acid ranges
• Radiesse (calcium hydroxylapatite) for collagen-stimulating structural work
• HarmonyCa for combined lifting and collagen stimulation
• Every syringe is opened in front of you and its batch number recorded in your file

How the treatment is performed

• Consultation and facial analysis: proportions, asymmetry, skin quality and medical history.
• Photographs and a treatment map showing where product will go and how much.
• Topical anaesthetic cream, plus lidocaine within most fillers, for comfort.
• Injection with cannula or needle depending on area; cannula is preferred in high-risk zones to reduce vascular risk.
• Gentle moulding, immediate review with a mirror and, where appropriate, a small correction on the spot.

Safety

• The most serious filler complication is vascular occlusion — filler entering a blood vessel. It is rare, and it is managed by anatomical knowledge, aspiration technique, cannula use and slow, low-pressure injection.
• Hyaluronidase, the enzyme that dissolves hyaluronic acid, is always stocked at the clinic so a hyaluronic acid filler can be reversed immediately if needed.
• Only original, traceable product is used. Counterfeit or unlicensed filler is the single biggest source of serious injury in aesthetic medicine.

Before your appointment

• Avoid blood-thinning supplements (fish oil, high-dose vitamin E, ginkgo) for 3–5 days if your doctor allows.
• Avoid alcohol for 24 hours before treatment.
• Tell us about any anticoagulant medication, recent dental work, cold sores or planned vaccination.
• Come without heavy make-up and plan no major social event for 3–5 days.

Aftercare

• Keep the area clean; no make-up for 12 hours.
• No intense exercise, sauna, hammam or sunbeds for 48 hours.
• Sleep slightly elevated on the first night to limit swelling.
• Do not massage the area unless we specifically instruct you to.
• Cold compresses are fine; avoid pressing hard on treated points.

Results and longevity

• Structural results are visible immediately, with the true result at 2 weeks once swelling settles and the gel integrates.
• Lips and fine lines typically last 6–12 months; cheeks, chin and jawline 12–18 months.
• Longevity depends on metabolism, product type, area movement and how much product was placed.

Possible side effects and risks

• Common and temporary: swelling, bruising, tenderness, small lumps that settle within 2 weeks.
• Uncommon: prolonged nodules, asymmetry needing correction, herpes reactivation in lip treatments.
• Rare but serious: vascular occlusion, infection, delayed inflammatory nodules. All are discussed before consent and managed with a written protocol.

Follow-up

• A review appointment is offered 2–4 weeks after treatment to assess integration and refine if needed.
• You can message the clinic directly on WhatsApp during your healing period — including at night if you have a concern.

Questions about this treatment