Aesthetic Medicine · Treatment
Collagen biostimulators are injectable substances that prompt the skin to produce new collagen of its own. Rather than filling, they gradually restore firmness and density, with a result that develops over several weeks and lasts longer1,3.
Collagen biostimulators
Session length
30 to 45 minutes
Number of sessions
Usually 2 to 3 sessions, 6 to 12 weeks apart
Results
Gradual: first visible after 4 to 8 weeks and builds over 2 to 3 months1
Follow-up consultation
90 days after the last session, included in the treatment fee
Maintenance
1 session a year once the plan is complete
How long it lasts
On average 12 to 24 months1,5
Anaesthesia
Numbing cream and, in some products, an added local anaesthetic
Daily routine
There may be mild swelling or bruising for a few days
Reversible
No — unlike hyaluronic acid, it cannot be dissolved
The times shown are averages and vary from person to person and with the substance used.
Collagen biostimulators
The substance, dilution, areas and number of sessions are decided at the consultation, according to your skin quality and what you would like to improve.
Loss of firmness and support, especially in the mid and lower face1,3.
Skin that becomes thinner and less dense over the years4.
Improves definition of the jawline and lower face.
Laxity and fine lines where the skin is thinner3.
Volume loss on the back of the hands, which makes tendons and veins more visible.
Laxity in areas such as the arms, abdomen, buttocks and inner thighs3.
How it works
01
We assess your skin quality, laxity and facial or body proportions, and listen to what you would like. Where appropriate, we take photographs or a 3D facial analysis.
02
We choose the most suitable substance and dilution and the areas to treat. The plan usually has 2 to 3 sessions, and you sign the informed consent.
03
Numbing cream is applied and the product is injected with a fine needle or cannula. Each session takes 30 to 45 minutes, with 6 to 12 weeks between sessions.
04
90 days after the last session we hold the follow-up consultation, included in the treatment fee. After that, 1 maintenance session a year is recommended.
Collagen biostimulators
Unlike a filler, the result is not immediate: the product stimulates the skin to produce new collagen, so the improvement in firmness and skin quality appears gradually over 2 to 3 months. It is a natural-looking result that lasts on average 12 to 24 months, depending on the substance, the area treated, age and lifestyle1,5. To prolong it, 1 maintenance session a year is recommended once the initial plan is complete.
Safety
The most common are swelling, redness, tenderness and bruising at the injection points, which clear within a few days. Small palpable lumps may appear, less often with the right technique, dilution and aftercare2. As with any injectable, blockage of a blood vessel is a rare but serious complication that needs to be recognised immediately — which is why the treatment is always performed by a doctor6.
Who performs it
All injectable treatments at FACELAB are performed by doctors trained in Aesthetic Medicine, after an assessment consultation.
Hyaluronic acid restores volume straight away. A biostimulator works indirectly: it stimulates the skin to produce its own collagen, gradually improving firmness and density. The two are often combined.
The improvement starts to show after 4 to 8 weeks and keeps developing over 2 to 3 months as new collagen forms.
Usually 2 to 3 sessions, 6 to 12 weeks apart. The exact number depends on the area and your skin quality, and is decided at the consultation.
On average 12 to 24 months. Once the plan is complete, 1 maintenance session a year is recommended to prolong the result.
Yes. The follow-up takes place 90 days after the last session and is included in the treatment fee.
Discomfort is mild. We use numbing cream and, in some products, an added local anaesthetic.
Unlike hyaluronic acid, there is no enzyme that dissolves biostimulators. That is why the prior assessment and the technique matter so much.
There is no set age: it depends on each person’s skin quality and laxity. Many people start when the first signs of lost firmness appear.
No. As a precaution, biostimulators are not used during pregnancy or breastfeeding.
See also
Content reviewed by
Helder Moreira, MD
Doctor accredited in Aesthetic Medicine · Portuguese Medical Association — licence no. 55532
Last reviewed: October 2026
Patient information
The procedures and treatments mentioned on this page require a prior individual medical assessment and, in some cases, a medical prescription. Indications, results and their duration vary from person to person and cannot be guaranteed. This page is for information only and does not replace a medical consultation.
For more information contact Facelab, Lda. on +351 961 023 229, by email at geral@facelab.pt, or visit www.facelab.pt.
Book your assessment consultation and discover a plan designed around you.
Our team
Clinical Director · Albufeira
Aesthetic Medicine
Portuguese Medical Association — licence no. 55532
Specialist in Anatomical Pathology, accredited in Aesthetic Medicine.
Our team
Clinical Director · Faro
Aesthetic Medicine
Portuguese Medical Association — licence no. 57222
Specialist in Clinical Pathology, practising Aesthetic Medicine.
Our team
Aesthetic Medicine
Aesthetic Gynaecology
Portuguese Medical Association — licence no. 75117
Resident doctor in General and Family Medicine.
Our team
Aesthetic Medicine
Portuguese Medical Association — licence no. 71394
Doctor accredited in Aesthetic Medicine, resident in General and Family Medicine.
