Non-surgical treatments

Injections, lasers and energy devices for expression lines, lost volume, skin quality and early sagging. They need little or no recovery time, but they do not give the result of surgery, and their effects fade with time.

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Illustrative artwork. Not a patient or treatment result.

Choosing by goal

Expression lines on the forehead, between the brows and around the eyes:

anti-wrinkle injections relax the muscles that crease the skin. They use botulinum toxin type A, a prescription medicine. Effects usually last 3–4 months, sometimes longer.

Lost volume, lips and folds:

dermal fillers made of hyaluronic acid add volume where it has been lost. Most last about 6–12 months depending on the product and area, and up to around 18 months in the lips.

A more defined jaw and chin:

jawline filler, lasting up to about 12 months depending on the product.

  • Jawline filler

    For a jawline or chin that has lost definition with age, weight change or genetics: what filler can change, how long it lasts and when surgery suits better.

    Treatment time
    About 10–30 minutes
    Back to work
    Straight away for most people

The nose profile:

non-surgical rhinoplasty can disguise a bump or support the tip for around six months. It cannot make the nose smaller, and the nose needs particular care: in reports of filler-related vision loss from 2018 to 2023, it was the most common injection site (40.6% of 365 cases).

  • Non-surgical rhinoplasty

    For small changes without surgery, such as disguising a bump or supporting the tip: what filler can and cannot do, how long it lasts and why the nose needs particular care.

    Treatment time
    Usually 20–45 minutes
    Back to work
    Straight away for most people

Early sagging of the face and neck:

ultrasound skin tightening heats deeper layers of the skin to stimulate collagen. Results build over 2–3 months, and the manufacturer reports effects on the face lasting a year or more. A thread lift lifts tissue with threads placed under the skin; evidence on how long it lasts is limited.

  • Ultrasound skin tightening

    For mild to moderate loosening of the face, under the chin and on the neck: how microfocused ultrasound works, what it can and cannot achieve, and how long it lasts.

    Treatment time
    30–90 minutes, depending on the areas
    Back to work
    Straight away; redness fades within hours
  • Thread lift

    For early sagging of the cheeks, jawline or neck when you want a modest lift without surgery: the thread types, how long results last and the risks that matter most.

    Treatment time
    About 1 hour
    Back to work
    Often straight away; bruising may show for 5 days

Texture, pores, fine lines and acne scars:

laser skin rejuvenation and RF microneedling are given as a course of sessions. Long-term data are limited; studies have reported improvement still present six months after treatment.

  • RF microneedling

    For acne scars, fine lines, texture and mild laxity on the face, neck and décolletage. This page explains how a session works, how many you may need, what recovery is like and what the research shows.

    Treatment time
    35–40 minutes; about an hour with numbing
    Back to work
    Usually within a day

Skin hydration and quality:

skin boosters and youth serum injections place hyaluronic acid, or a mixture of hyaluronic acid, amino acids and vitamins, into the skin. Published evidence for them is limited, and neither adds structural volume or lifts.

  • Skin booster

    For fresher, better-hydrated skin without added volume. This page explains what is injected, the six-point technique, how many sessions are usual and what the evidence shows.

    Treatment time
    Under 5 minutes of injecting, plus preparation
    Back to work
    Same day; small bumps fade within 4–5 hours
  • Youth serum injections

    For dull or dehydrated skin on the face, décolletage or hands. This page explains what is in the serum, how a course works, what is and is not proven, and how it differs from PRP.

    Treatment time
    Depends on the areas treated; ask at consultation
    Back to work
    Straight away for most people

What non-surgical treatments can and cannot do

These treatments work on the skin, the small muscles of expression and the soft tissue under the skin. They can soften lines, restore some volume, improve skin texture and give a mild tightening. They cannot remove excess skin, reposition the deeper tissues of the face as a facelift does, or make a nose smaller. Non-surgical methods do not give the result of a surgical lift.

Side effects and warning signs

Non-surgical treatments still carry risks. Bruising, swelling, redness and tenderness are common and usually settle within days. Rarely, filler can block a blood vessel, which can damage the skin and, very rarely, cause loss of vision or a stroke. Hyaluronic acid fillers can be dissolved with an enzyme called hyaluronidase if needed, whereas fillers made of other, non-dissolvable materials can be difficult or impossible to remove. That is one reason to ask exactly which product will be used.

Planning treatment around a trip

Most single treatments need only a short stay, often a day or two, though a few extra days allow a check if bruising or swelling needs a look. Treatments given as a course, such as laser sessions every two to three weeks, may not fit into one trip, so ask how the course would be planned before you book.

When surgery is the better fit, these pages explain the options:

Frequently asked questions

Can non-surgical treatments give the same result as a facelift?

No. Non-surgical treatments can soften lines, restore some volume, improve skin quality and give a mild lift, but they cannot remove loose skin or reposition the deeper tissues of the face the way a facelift does. They suit early changes and people who would rather avoid surgery, and many people use them alongside or after an operation.

Do the effects stop suddenly?

No, they fade gradually. After anti-wrinkle injections, muscle movement returns slowly, usually from around three to four months. Hyaluronic acid filler is broken down by the body over months, so volume reduces little by little. If you would like to keep the effect, a repeat treatment can be planned before it has worn off completely.

Can I have injections while pregnant or breastfeeding?

It is better to wait. There are no human data on anti-wrinkle injections in pregnancy, and most doctors advise postponing them until after the birth and breastfeeding. The safety of fillers in pregnancy and breastfeeding has not been established either. If you are pregnant, planning a pregnancy or breastfeeding, mention it before any treatment.

Can non-surgical treatments be combined with surgery?

Often, yes, because they work on different things. A facelift repositions tissue and removes loose skin, but it does not change skin texture, pigmentation or lost volume, which lasers, skin treatments or fillers can address. Dr. İlker describes this on her Turkish website as treating the face as a whole. The timing between treatments is planned with you.

A conversation, at your pace.

Ask Dr. İlker your first question

There is no obligation and no pressure. Tell us what you are considering and the team will reply with the next steps.

Op. Dr. Bilgehan İlker Specialist in plastic, reconstructive and aesthetic surgery
  • 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.

Let’s plan your consultation

Choose your country code on the left. Enter your number without the country code.

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How should we reply?

This exchange does not replace a medical examination or diagnosis. Whether a procedure suits you is decided at an in-person examination.

Ask Dr. İlker

Tell us what you are considering. The team replies with next steps and, where it helps, questions from Dr. İlker.

Dr. İlker speaks English and Turkish.

Op. Dr. Bilgehan İlker Specialist in plastic, reconstructive and aesthetic surgery

Let’s plan your consultation

Choose your country code on the left. Enter your number without the country code.

Country

How should we reply?

This exchange does not replace a medical examination or diagnosis. Whether a procedure suits you is decided at an in-person examination.

A question before you decide?

Many people find it easier to decide after a short, honest answer. Ask anything about your procedure; there is no obligation.

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