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Skin booster (biorevitalisation) in Istanbul
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
- Hospital stay None: you go home the same day
- Time in Istanbul Short stay per session; session two needs a return visit
- Back to work Same day; small bumps fade within 4–5 hours
What is a skin booster?
A skin booster is a hyaluronic acid injection that aims to improve skin quality rather than add volume. According to Op. Dr. Bilgehan İlker, the product she uses combines hyaluronic acid in two molecular weights with trehalose, a sugar; it is injected with a six-point technique. The aim is better hydration, firmness and freshness on the face, neck, décolletage and hands. Injecting takes under five minutes, numbing cream is usually not needed and social life resumes the same day. The usual plan is 2 sessions about a month apart, a third if needed, then one every 6–7 months.
What it can do
- Improve hydration and skin quality without adding volume
- Treat the face, neck, décolletage and hands
- Fit into a short visit; small bumps fade within hours
What it cannot do
- Lift sagging skin: 'lifting' here means skin quality
- Restore lost facial volume; fat grafting or fillers do that
- Promise a set result: product-specific evidence is limited
Is it right for you?
Suitability is confirmed in person. The 'not ideal' points are reasons to discuss or delay, not a fixed list.
Usually a good fit if
- Wanting fresher, better-hydrated skin without added volume
- In your 30s or older; there is no strict age limit
- Early ageing of the face, neck, décolletage or hands
- Happy with a short course and occasional maintenance
Better to wait or consider alternatives if
- Pregnancy or breastfeeding
- An infection, cold sore or active skin condition in the area
- Blood thinners, autoimmune disease, a bleeding disorder or keloid scarring
- Hoping for a lift or added volume
Techniques
Skin boosters share one idea: spreading hyaluronic acid within the skin to improve its quality. Products and injection patterns differ.
Six-point technique
Injected at six set points on the face; small bumps form and fade within 4–5 hours. The neck, décolletage and hands can also be treated.
Best for
Overall skin quality
Other skin boosters
Other hyaluronic acid boosters use different products and patterns, for example five points on each side of the face. No study has compared them directly with the product used here.
Best for
Discussing alternatives
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 skin boosters
Op. Dr. Bilgehan İlker is a specialist in plastic, reconstructive and aesthetic surgery, trained at Dokuz Eylül University. She counts it among the treatments she uses most for skin quality, especially for a fresher look without added volume.
Her Turkish-language site calls it Biolift; the product's brand could not be independently confirmed, so ask to see the product and its label.
- Two sessions, then maintenance About a month apart, a third if needed, then one session every 6–7 months.
- Usually from the 30s There is no age limit, but she usually recommends starting in your 30s.
- No volume added For volume loss, fillers or fat grafting are the relevant options.
The treatment, step by step
The injections take a few minutes.
-
Examination
Your skin quality and any sagging are assessed.
-
Preparation
The skin is disinfected; numbing cream is usually not needed.
-
Six-point injections
The product is injected at six set points on the face.
-
Small bumps
Raised bumps appear at each point, soften within minutes and fade within 4–5 hours.
-
Next session
The second session is planned for about a month later.
Your days in Istanbul
No hospital stay; the second session a month later means travelling patients plan two visits.
-
Examination
Before your first session
Arrive in time for an in-person examination.
-
A short visit
Treatment day
Bumps fade within 4–5 hours; social life resumes the same day.
-
Next date
Before you fly home
Agree your second session and which signs to report.
Recovery, day by day
This is the typical pattern; yours may differ.
- First minutes
Bumps
Small bumps at each point begin to soften after about 15 minutes.
- Hours 0–24
Settling
Bumps fade within 4–5 hours; mild soreness, needle marks or a small bruise are possible.
- Days 1–7
Protect the skin
As in study protocols, avoid long sun or UV exposure, saunas and hamams for a week.
- Weeks 1–2
Bruises fade
Any bruising usually resolves.
- Month 1
Second session
Given about a month after the first.
- Months 2–3
Third if needed
Added only if your skin needs it.
- Months 6–7
Maintenance
A single session to maintain the effect.
Contact us straight away if you notice
- Pain that increases after the injections
- A white, grey or blue patch of skin near an injection point
- Vision changes or stroke signs, such as slurred speech: call emergency services
- Fever, discharge or a growing painful lump
- Widespread hives, facial swelling or difficulty breathing
In an emergency, call your local emergency number.
Aftercare at home
- Skip make-up for the first 12 hours unless told otherwise
- Avoid long sun or UV exposure for a week
- Avoid saunas and hamams for a week
- Leave the small bumps alone
- Keep the date of your second session
Risks and how they are reduced
Most side effects are mild and brief, but hyaluronic acid injections carry rare serious risks.
Risk is reduced by examining you first, a traceable product, skin disinfection, careful technique with knowledge of facial anatomy and clear advice on warning signs.
| Risk | How often |
|---|---|
Bumps at injection pointsExpected; they fade within hours. | Common |
Soreness, bruising and needle marksUsually mild and temporary. | Common |
InfectionAny injection can introduce infection. | Rare |
Allergic reaction or lumpsListed among the general risks of hyaluronic acid injections. | Rare |
Injection into a blood vesselNo area of the face is entirely without this risk. It can damage skin or, very rarely, affect vision, so warning signs need urgent attention. | Rare |
Results and how long they last
Skin boosters aim to improve hydration and elasticity rather than shape. In a study of 11 women using another two-weight hyaluronic acid product, hydration and elasticity improved at 1 and 3 months.
Reviews call for larger, longer randomised trials, and we found no published results yet for the hyaluronic acid and trehalose combination. Results vary from person to person.
How long it lasts: Maintenance every 6–7 months is advised; independent data on how long effects last are limited.
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.
- Which product will you use, and can I see its label and batch number?
- What is your specialist training, and who gives the injections?
- Would filler or another treatment suit my concern better?
- How many sessions do I need, and when is maintenance due?
- What is the plan if a blood vessel is affected?
- Whom do I contact after I fly home?
What shapes your plan and quote
Prices are not published. After assessment you receive a personal written plan stating what is included.
- The number of sessions, including maintenance
- The areas treated: face, neck, décolletage or hands
- The amount of product needed
- How many visits to Istanbul you need
We do not publish prices: every plan is personal and is written for you after your assessment.
Frequently asked questions
What is a skin booster?
A hyaluronic acid injection that aims to improve skin quality, such as hydration and firmness, rather than add volume. According to Op. Dr. Bilgehan İlker, the product she uses combines hyaluronic acid in two molecular weights with trehalose; it is injected at six points on the face.
Is it a filler? Will my face look puffy?
No. Fillers are designed to add volume or reshape, while a skin booster aims to improve the skin itself without adding volume. Small bumps appear at the injection points straight after treatment, but they usually fade within 4–5 hours as the skin settles.
How many sessions do I need?
Usually 2 sessions about a month apart, or 3 if your skin needs more. To maintain the effect, Dr. İlker recommends a single session every 6–7 months. Your examination, and how your skin responds to the first session, decide the exact plan.
How long does it last?
Dr. İlker suggests a maintenance session every 6–7 months to keep the effect. Long-term results for this type of product are not yet published, and reviews of skin boosters call for larger, longer studies, so how long your result lasts can vary.
Does it hurt?
Numbing cream is usually not needed, and the injections take under five minutes. Most people feel brief needle pricks; some have soreness or a small bruise afterwards. How it feels varies from person to person, so mention it if you are anxious about needles.
What are the side effects?
Expected effects are small bumps at the injection points, brief soreness, needle marks and occasional bruising, all short-lived. Rarer risks include infection, allergic reaction and, very rarely, injection into a blood vessel. Severe pain, skin colour change or any vision problem needs urgent medical help.
At what age can I start?
There is no fixed age limit. Dr. İlker usually recommends starting in your 30s, when skin becomes more prone to change, and feels that earlier treatment is often a little premature. Your skin, rather than your age alone, guides the decision at examination.
Skin booster or youth serum injections?
They are different treatments. The skin booster is hyaluronic acid with trehalose, injected at six points. Youth serum injections are a cocktail of hyaluronic acid, peptides, amino acids and vitamins, given as many small injections. Your skin's needs decide which, if either, suits you.
Can a skin booster replace a facelift?
No. 'Lifting' here describes better skin quality, not the surgical repositioning of sagging tissue that a facelift achieves. For moderate laxity, non-surgical lifting may be worth discussing; for marked sagging, surgery is usually the option that addresses the underlying cause.
How long should I stay in Istanbul?
A session needs a short stay: injecting takes minutes and any bumps fade within hours. Plan time for the examination first. Because the second session follows about a month later, travelling patients plan two separate visits, so agree the dates before booking flights.
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.
Sources
A conversation, at your pace.
Would you like to know whether a skin booster suits your skin?
Send your questions, with photos if you wish, and Op. Dr. Bilgehan İlker will say whether an examination makes sense. We also suggest talking to your own doctor before deciding.
- 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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