Body Filler
What Is It?
Body filler means adding volume to selected areas and adjusting contours and proportions without surgery. It works on the same principle as facial filler. The hyaluronic acid products we use on the body, though, are denser and are placed in much larger volumes.
The reason for it isn’t always to make something bigger. We see it most often for three reasons: to balance asymmetry between the two sides, to fill depressions left after an accident or surgery, and to restore volume lost after weight loss. The areas we can treat are the buttocks, legs, backs of the hands and the breasts. We assess at the examination which of these suits you.
How Is It Done?
At the examination we measure the tissue thickness of the target area, the elasticity of the skin and the difference between the two sides. We compare the volume you expect with the volume the area can carry. We record measurements and photographs. The volumes we use on the body are many times those on the face. So planning matters even more here than it does on the face.
We work with a cannula, in the appropriate layer under the skin. We prefer a cannula because it lowers the risk of injuring a vessel. Depending on the area and the volume, the procedure takes about 60 minutes. Afterwards we support the area and give you our advice on compression and positioning. Whether the product stays in place in the first days depends on you following it.
Who Is It For?
We offer it to patients whose skin elasticity is preserved, whose target area is limited and well defined, and who don’t want surgery. With clear goals such as correcting asymmetry or filling a scar or depression, the result is more noticeable.
For a patient who expects large volume over wide areas, or whose skin has sagged markedly, filler doesn’t meet the expectation. In that case we discuss surgical options. We don’t treat during pregnancy or breastfeeding, when there is an active infection or an open wound in the area, in bleeding disorders, in uncontrolled autoimmune disease or with a known allergy to the product. The breast needs a separate assessment, and I don’t recommend it for every patient. The breast is a special organ. Filler placed in large amounts, or filler the doctor isn’t told about, can mislead the doctor on later imaging. That is why I recommend a mammogram or a breast ultrasound beforehand.
Process & Recovery
Examination and measurement
We measure the tissue thickness, skin elasticity and the degree of asymmetry. We compare your expectation with the volume the area can carry. We record measurements and photographs.
Treatment day
We cleanse and mark the area. After local anaesthesia we place the product with a cannula into the appropriate layer. It takes about 60 minutes depending on the area and the volume.
First 72 hours
Swelling, tightness and tenderness occur in the area, and bruising is possible. Following our advice on positioning and compression is very important during this period for the product to stay where we planned. After treatment to the buttocks, we ask you not to lie on your back, in bed or on a sun lounger. The cannulas are thicker, so the entry holes can take a little longer to close; leave them alone.
Weeks 2-4
The swelling goes down and the product settles into the tissue. In the first days the volume looks larger than it really is. The true look appears during this period.
Review
We ask you back at around week four. We compare the symmetry and the distribution of volume with the photographs and plan a second session if needed.
Results & Duration
You see the volume right after the treatment. We can’t judge the true look until the swelling settles, though. On the body this takes longer than on the face, 2-4 weeks on average.
How long it lasts depends on the product, the volume used, how much the area moves and your metabolism. The range generally reported for this product group is about 2 years on average. The effect fades over time and needs renewing. With large volumes you may not reach the goal in one session. Splitting the treatment into two sessions is often safer, and the result looks more natural.
What Is Not Promised
Body filler doesn’t replace surgical augmentation and doesn’t produce change on the same scale. It doesn’t gather up sagging skin or remove the look of cellulite. Nor does it replace losing weight or exercising.
We don’t promise a particular increase in size, a particular silhouette or a duration. Volume beyond what the area can carry spoils the natural look. So we plan the amount from the measurements taken at the examination and discuss your expectation alongside them.
Key Benefits
- Quick results
- Scarless application
- Non-surgical solution
“Making very large breasts or very large buttocks isn’t a job for body filler. We use filler to adjust proportions and to correct some appearances patients are unhappy with.”
— Dr. Sinan Akyürek
Frequently Asked Questions
Is body filler surgery?
No. We make no incision. It is an injection under the skin with a cannula. Recovery is much shorter than after surgery.
Which areas can be treated?
The buttocks, legs, backs of the hands and the breasts. We assess at the examination which of these suits you; the breasts need a separate assessment.
How long does it take?
About 60 minutes on average, depending on the area and the volume used.
Is it painful?
We do it under local anaesthesia. Some tightness and tenderness are expected for a few days afterwards. My patients describe it as a dull ache or a feeling of unease.
When will I see the result?
You see the volume straight away, but in the first days swelling makes it look larger than it is. The true look appears within 2-4 weeks.
How long does it last?
The range generally reported for this product group is about 2 years on average. It varies with the person, the area and the volume used, and renewal is needed.
Can it be done in one session?
Usually yes for small volumes. For large volumes, splitting it into two sessions is safer and looks more natural; we talk about this at the examination.
Who is it not suitable for?
We don’t treat during pregnancy or breastfeeding, when there is an active infection or an open wound in the area, or with bleeding disorders, uncontrolled autoimmune disease or known allergy to the product.