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Anti-wrinkle injections in Istanbul
For frown lines, forehead lines and crow's feet caused by expression: how the injections work, when you see a change, how long it lasts and the side effects to know about.
- Treatment time Usually under 15 minutes
- Hospital stay None — you go home the same day
- Time in Istanbul One to two days, including your consultation
- Back to work Straight away for most people
What are anti-wrinkle injections?
Anti-wrinkle injections use tiny doses of botulinum toxin type A to relax the muscles that crease the skin when you frown, raise your brows or smile, softening lines between the brows, across the forehead and around the eyes. A session usually takes under 15 minutes with a very fine needle, normally without anaesthetic, and you can go straight back to your day. The effect is complete at 10–14 days and typically lasts 3–4 months, sometimes longer.
What it can do
- Soften lines that form when you frown, raise your brows or smile
- Give a rested look while your face still moves
- Reduce heavy underarm sweating, an approved medical use
What it cannot do
- Replace lost volume; that is the role of dermal fillers
- Erase lines visible at rest or lift loose skin
- Last for good: treatment has to be repeated
Is it right for you?
They treat lines caused by muscle movement, and the change is subtle and temporary.
Usually a good fit if
- Frown lines, forehead lines or crow's feet deepen with expression
- You are 18 or over and in good general health
- You want softer lines but natural expression
- You are happy to repeat treatment every few months
Better to wait or consider alternatives if
- You are pregnant or breastfeeding
- You have a neuromuscular condition such as myasthenia gravis
- You have a skin infection in the area, or have reacted to botulinum toxin before
- Deep lines at rest or low, heavy brows are the main concern; a brow lift may help more
- You feel pressured into treatment or hope for a dramatic change
Techniques
The medicine is the same; placement and dose change. Brands are dosed in units that cannot be swapped one-for-one.
Upper-face lines
Small amounts go into the frown muscles, the forehead and the muscles at the outer corners of the eyes. The injection points follow the way your own muscles move.
Best for
Frown lines, forehead lines and crow's feet
Underarm sweating
Armpit injections reduce sweating, an approved medical use, and one treatment can bring relief for up to six months. Palms and soles are not covered by the label.
Best for
Heavy underarm sweating
Op. Dr. Bilgehan İlker
Specialist in plastic, reconstructive and aesthetic surgery
- Specialist training: Dokuz Eylül University
- Medical degree: Trakya University
- Health tourism authorization: ST-2657
- Dr. İlker speaks English and Turkish.
How Dr. İlker approaches anti-wrinkle injections
Op. Dr. Bilgehan İlker is a specialist in plastic, reconstructive and aesthetic surgery, trained at Dokuz Eylül University. Her own writing stresses that these injections belong with a trained specialist, because dose and placement decide whether a face looks rested or artificial.
Her pages name these injections, with laser skin rejuvenation and RF microneedling, as her three main tools for lines.
- Assessment first Your face is examined at rest and in motion, with your health and medicines.
- Only where needed The effect is local, so your plan lists exactly which areas are treated.
- Written consent Timing and side effects are explained before you agree to treatment.
The treatment, step by step
A typical appointment:
-
Consultation
Op. Dr. Bilgehan İlker asks which lines bother you, reviews your health and watches how your face moves.
-
Photographs and plan
Photographs are taken and the injection points are planned.
-
Comfort
Anaesthetic is not usually needed; numbing cream or ice is available.
-
Injections
A very fine needle places small amounts into each target muscle, usually in under 15 minutes.
-
Back to your day
You leave straight away, without rubbing the treated areas.
Your days in Istanbul
A short visit is enough; the result develops after you are home.
-
Consultation in person
Before your treatment
Arrive early enough for an unhurried examination; treatment follows once you agree the plan and sign consent.
-
A short appointment
Treatment day
Stay upright for 3–4 hours and leave strenuous exercise for 24 hours.
-
Know the warning signs
Before you fly home
Make sure you know whom to contact about drooping, double vision or difficulty swallowing.
Recovery, day by day
No downtime; the effect develops over about two weeks.
- Hours 0–4
Small marks
Tiny bumps or redness are normal. Stay upright and do not rub or massage the areas.
- Hours 4–24
Gentle for the day
No pressing for 12 hours or strenuous exercise for 24; make-up can go on gently.
- Days 2–3
First change
Softening often begins. A bruise can take about a week to fade.
- Days 4–7
Building up
The effect keeps increasing.
- Days 10–14
Full effect
Judge the result now and report any unevenness.
- Month 1
Settled
A heavy brow or eyelid, if it occurs, shows by now and is temporary.
- Months 3–4
Movement returns
Lines gradually return. Treatment can be repeated after three months or more.
Contact us straight away if you notice
- Difficulty swallowing, speaking or breathing (seek emergency care)
- Double or blurred vision
- Weakness or numbness away from the treated area
- An eyelid or brow drooping enough to affect your sight; do not drive
In an emergency, call your local emergency number.
Aftercare at home
- No rubbing, pressing or massage of the areas for 12 hours.
- Stay upright for 3–4 hours.
- No strenuous exercise for 24 hours.
- Apply make-up gently, without pressing.
- Note the date and product, and tell anyone treating you in the next four months.
Risks and how they are reduced
Most side effects are mild and short-lived; a few are rare but serious.
A medical assessment, a licensed and traceable product and small, precise doses lower the risks. Counterfeit products used outside medical settings have caused botulism-like illness.
| Risk | How often |
|---|---|
Bruising, redness and swellingSmall marks at the injection points; a bruise can take a week to fade. | Common |
HeadacheReported by about 9 in 100 people treated for forehead lines in clinical trials; usually mild. | Common |
Drooping eyelid or heavy browIt can happen if the medicine reaches a nearby muscle; trials reported it in 2–3 in 100 people. It is temporary. | Common |
Spread of the effectThe label warns that spread can cause swallowing or breathing problems hours to weeks later. At cosmetic doses this is very unlikely. | Rare |
Heart-related eventsRare reports, some fatal, appear in the product information. Mention any heart condition. | Rare |
Results and how long they last
The effect builds over two weeks. Lines that form with expression soften most; lines at rest may only partly improve. Your face should still move.
Movement returns gradually, and with repeat treatments some people find the effect lasts longer.
How long it lasts: Typically 3–4 months, sometimes longer; up to six months for underarm sweating.
With any surgical or interventional procedure, results vary from person to person. We recommend a detailed consultation with your doctor before any procedure.
Questions to ask at your consultation
Take these to any surgeon you see — including us.
- Who will inject me, and what is their training?
- Which product will you use, and will it be recorded?
- Which areas do you suggest?
- Which side effects need urgent attention, and how do I reach you?
- How will the final result be reviewed?
- Is my intended use licensed or off-label?
What shapes your plan and quote
Prices are not published. Your written plan, given after assessment, lists the areas and what is included.
- The number of areas treated
- The product and the dose you need
- Medical uses, such as sweating
- Other treatments at the same visit
We do not publish prices: every plan is personal and is written for you after your assessment.
Frequently asked questions
How long do anti-wrinkle injections last?
Typically 3–4 months, sometimes longer. Muscle movement returns gradually and the lines come back with it, though some people find the effect lasts longer after several treatments. Repeating it more often than every three months has not been studied, so plan intervals at least that long.
How long do they take to work?
The label describes the effect starting within one to two days and building through the first week; most people notice it within 3–7 days. The full result shows at 10–14 days, so judge the outcome after two weeks rather than before.
When can I lie down or exercise afterwards?
Stay upright for 3–4 hours, avoid pressing on the treated areas for 12 hours and leave strenuous exercise for 24 hours. Above all, do not rub or massage the areas, so that the medicine stays exactly where it was placed.
Do the injections hurt?
A very fine needle is used and treatment usually takes under 15 minutes, so anaesthetic is not normally needed. If you are sensitive to needles, numbing cream or ice can be applied first. How it feels varies from person to person.
What side effects can occur?
Redness, swelling or bruising at the injection points are the most common; a bruise can take a week to fade. In clinical trials, headache affected about 9 in 100 people treated for forehead lines, and a temporary heavy brow or drooping eyelid 2–3 in 100.
Will my face look frozen?
It should not. Op. Dr. Bilgehan İlker aims to relax only the muscles behind the lines that bother you, so your face still moves. The dose and the exact injection points decide how natural the result looks, so both are planned around your own expressions.
Can I have them while pregnant or breastfeeding?
It is not recommended. There is no human data on pregnancy or breastfeeding, and animal studies showed effects on growth before birth. Most doctors advise waiting until breastfeeding has finished. Tell Dr. İlker if you are pregnant or trying to conceive.
Can these injections help with teeth clenching?
Injections into the large chewing muscle (masseter) are used for clenching and to slim a broad lower face. This use is off-label, meaning it is not covered by the product licence, and it is not a cure for clenching. Suitability is decided at examination.
Are all anti-wrinkle injections the same product?
No. Several licensed brands of botulinum toxin type A exist, the best known being Botox. Their doses are measured in units that cannot be swapped one-for-one between products, so your record should state exactly which product was used and how much.
Can I have them on a short trip to Istanbul?
Yes. The appointment is short and there is no recovery period, so it fits a brief stay after a proper consultation. The full effect appears at 10–14 days, usually once you are home, so agree before leaving how any questions will be handled.
Medical informationThe information on this page is general information only. It is not medical advice and does not replace a diagnosis or treatment. Every surgical and interventional procedure carries risks, which will be explained to you in detail during your consultation. Whether this procedure suits you can only be decided after an in-person examination and assessment. We encourage you to also seek independent advice from your own doctor before deciding.
A conversation, at your pace.
Would these injections suit you?
Tell us which lines bother you. Op. Dr. Bilgehan İlker will explain whether injections, another treatment or nothing at all makes sense.
- Nef 22 Ataköy, D Blok, Kat 1, Daire 36, Çobançeşme E-5 Yanyol Cad. No:22, Bakırköy / İstanbul
- Monday to Saturday, 10:00–18:00
- +90 542 280 27 51
- Dr. İlker speaks English and Turkish.
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