Collagen Stimulators

Face

Firmer skin, with your own collagen

Lanluma facial rejuvenation in Hale, Altrincham

Improve skin firmness, soften facial lines and restore lost facial volume where needed, with results that build gradually as your skin makes new collagen.

Perhaps your cheeks have become thinner, your skin looks a little crinklier, or your face has lost some of the softness you liked. You're after an improvement in the way it looks overall, rather than chasing every little line.

Lanluma is an injectable collagen stimulator. It encourages your body to make more of the protein that gives skin its strength and support, improving skin quality and helping restore lost volume. The change develops over the following months, making it a useful option when you'd like a gradual improvement in both skin and shape.

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Dr Alex has trained clinicians in Lanluma and presented on it at CCR London. He has also held a medical advisory role with Sinclair, the company behind Lanluma.

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Main aim
Skin quality and support
Results develop
Over 2-3 months
Treatment plan
Individual course
Downtime
Usually minimal

What are you noticing?

Your skin and facial shape have both changed

The thing that bothers you might be a combination of thinner skin, small lines and areas that look more hollow than they used to.

The cheeks look a bit flat

Your cheeks have lost some of their old shape, or you notice hollows that catch the light differently in photographs. You'd like to restore some softness without making every part of your face bigger.

There is more crinkling when you smile

Fine creases spread across the cheeks and the skin seems less firm. Moisturiser can make it feel nicer, but you would like to improve the skin itself.

Your face has changed after weight loss

Your weight has settled, but your cheeks look thinner than you expected. You'd like to restore some of their softness and improve the skin, while keeping the progress you have made elsewhere.

At a glance

The practical details of facial Lanluma

Think of this as building collagen over time, rather than judging the result on the day of treatment.

Main aim
Skin quality and support
Firmer skin, smoother lines and restoration of lost volume where appropriate.
Results develop
Over 2-3 months
Collagen builds gradually; further improvement can follow a course of treatment.
Treatment plan
Individual course
The amount and number of sessions depend on your skin, facial shape and goals.
Downtime
Usually minimal
Allow for temporary swelling, tenderness or bruising and follow the aftercare advice.
Price
Quoted at consultation
A Lanluma consultation is £75; your facial treatment plan is priced before you decide.

What can Lanluma do?

Smoother skin and a face that looks less hollow

Lanluma can improve firmness and soften lines across suitable facial areas, with gradual restoration where volume has been lost.

The aim may be better skin quality, more support in the cheeks, or a combination. You do not need the same amount everywhere, and treatment can be staged so Dr Alex can see how your face responds.

The initial puffiness after injection is not the finished result. That settles before the slower collagen-building effect becomes visible. Consistent photographs help show the change as it develops.

✓

✓

Firmer-looking skin across suitable areas of the face.

✓

Less obvious fine crinkling and softer facial folds.

✓

A less hollow look where some volume restoration would help.

✓

Gradual improvement that can be assessed before adding more treatment.

Is it a good fit?

When collagen stimulation makes sense

Lanluma is most useful when the result you want involves improving skin support over an area, rather than reshaping one small feature.

Skin quality is high on your list
You want the skin to look smoother and feel firmer, and mild looseness is part of what you notice. Lanluma can be planned with skin quality in mind as well as volume.
Some volume restoration would help
Ageing or weight loss has left parts of your face looking thinner. Building collagen can help restore those areas gradually, with the amount guided by the shape you want.
You are comfortable with a slower result
You can give the treatment time to work and follow the aftercare. If you need an immediate correction or a readily dissolvable option, another treatment may suit you better.

Choosing the right approach

Not every facial area needs Lanluma

Lanluma is not used to enhance the lips or treat the area around the eyes. Precise changes to a feature may suit hyaluronic acid filler, while significant drooping or excess skin may need a different approach. Dr Alex will explain which parts of your concern Lanluma can realistically improve.

How it works

Building collagen beneath your skin

Lanluma contains poly-L-lactic acid, or PLLA: small particles that stimulate collagen production after they are injected.

Collagen provides structure and support beneath the skin. As more develops, the treated area can become firmer and smoother, with additional volume where that is part of the plan. The PLLA itself gradually breaks down.

Hyaluronic acid filler adds a gel to shape or support an area immediately. Lanluma relies on a slower tissue response, which is why the treatment plan and the time allowed for results are different.

Your appointment

A plan for your face, then time to respond

Dr Alex will discuss the balance between improving skin quality and restoring volume before deciding where to treat.

Consultation

Look at skin and shape

You can point out the changes you have noticed and bring older photographs if helpful. Dr Alex checks your skin, previous treatments and medical history, then explains the options and course cost.
Before the injections

Prepare for treatment

The agreed areas are marked and cleaned, photographs are taken and comfort measures are discussed. Let Dr Alex know about previous filler or collagen-stimulating treatments, even if they were several years ago.
During your appointment

Treat the selected areas

Lanluma is placed with a needle or cannula, according to the area and plan. You may feel brief stings, pressure or tenderness; Dr Alex checks your comfort as treatment progresses.
Over the following weeks

Aftercare and review

You will be shown how to massage the treated areas and told how long to continue. Allow time for the collagen response before judging the result or deciding whether another session would help.

Why Dr Alex

Lanluma experience beyond the treatment room

Dr Alex has been a Lanluma trainer and a medical advisory board member for Sinclair. He has also presented on Lanluma at CCR London and written about it for Sinclair's professional publication.

For your face, he will assess whether the main need is skin firmness, volume or a more precise change in shape. His treatment range includes hyaluronic acid fillers, other collagen stimulators and devices, so the recommendation can start with what would help you rather than a commitment to one product.

GMC-registered doctor · 7072776

Full Member of BCAM

International toxin trainer

Aesthetics Awards winner 2021

Safety and aftercare

What to expect while the area settles

Swelling, bruising, redness and tenderness can follow treatment. These usually settle, but they may be visible for several days.

Possible side effects

Lumps or inflammatory nodules can appear, sometimes months later, and may need treatment. Infection is possible. Rarely, an injection can obstruct a blood vessel and damage skin; facial injections can also cause serious visual complications. Lanluma cannot be dissolved with the enzyme used for hyaluronic acid filler.

When to get urgent help

Contact Dr Alex immediately for unusual or worsening pain, pale or mottled skin, or a cold, discoloured area. Any change in vision needs immediate emergency assessment: call 999. Spreading redness, fever or increasing swelling also needs prompt medical advice. Report any later lumps to the clinic.

When treatment may not be suitable

Lanluma is not offered during pregnancy or breastfeeding. Active infection or inflammation in the area, allergies to the ingredients, a tendency to problematic scarring and previous filler complications need discussion. Bring details of your medicines and any medical condition that affects healing or immunity.

Dr Alex checks suitability and explains the aftercare before you decide to proceed.

Treatment costs

Your facial Lanluma plan and price

A Lanluma consultation is £75. Facial treatment is quoted individually according to the areas, amount of product and proposed course.

Facial Lanluma treatment
Agreed at consultationfor your agreed treatment plan
Your plan is quoted according to the areas, amount of product and proposed course.
A consultation with Dr Alex costs £75. If you choose to have treatment within 3 months of your consultation, you can put this fee towards it, including at a later appointment. It cannot be used towards skincare products. If you decide not to have treatment, the fee covers your consultation.
Book a consultation
You will know the proposed cost before treatment, including whether further sessions are likely. A skin-quality plan and a plan to restore more volume may require different amounts.

Your questions

Lanluma for the face, explained plainly

The main choices are what you want to change, how quickly you want it to happen and which type of treatment suits you.

Is Lanluma a filler or a skin booster?
It is an injectable collagen stimulator made from PLLA. It can improve skin quality and add volume as your collagen builds, so it is not simply a hydrating skin booster. It also works differently from the hyaluronic acid gels used for most conventional filler treatments.
Will it make my face look fuller?
It can restore volume, but the aim does not have to be a fuller face everywhere. Dr Alex can plan treatment around skin quality and mild looseness, volume loss, or both. Tell him which parts of your facial shape you like and want to keep.
When will I start noticing a difference?
Changes usually become noticeable over the weeks after treatment, with a clearer improvement developing over about two to three months. If you are having a course, the result builds across it. Swelling immediately after the appointment is temporary and should not be mistaken for new collagen.
How many sessions will I need?
Facial Lanluma is often planned over one to three sessions, depending on the starting point and the amount of change wanted. Dr Alex will recommend the number and spacing for you. More treatment is considered after giving the earlier session time to work.
How long do the results last?
Facial results can last up to around two years. The collagen response develops gradually, and its duration depends on the treatment course and how your tissue responds. Ageing and changes in weight continue, so Dr Alex can review whether further treatment would be useful later.
How is Lanluma different from Sculptra?
Both contain PLLA and work by stimulating collagen gradually. They are different formulations with their own preparation and treatment plans. The useful question is which product, amount and approach suit your skin and goals; there is no reason to assume one is best for every face.
Can Lanluma be dissolved if I change my mind?
No. Hyaluronidase, the enzyme used to dissolve hyaluronic acid filler, does not dissolve Lanluma or the collagen it stimulates. That makes careful planning and a gradual approach especially important. If easy reversibility is a priority, discuss that before choosing treatment.
Can I have it with filler or laser?
Sometimes a combination makes sense, because the treatments can address different parts of the concern. Lanluma may improve support and skin quality while another treatment shapes a feature or resurfaces the skin. Dr Alex will plan the sequence and spacing; they do not all need to happen together.
Can I go back to work afterwards?
Usually, although swelling or bruising may be noticeable. Allow some flexibility if you have an important meeting or photographs coming up. You will also need to follow aftercare instructions, including when to restart makeup, exercise and other skin treatments.
Do I need to massage my face?
Yes, massage forms part of Lanluma aftercare. Dr Alex will show you where and how to do it and give you the schedule for your treatment. If you notice increasing pain, redness or a new lump, contact the clinic rather than trying to massage it away.

Other options

What else could help your face?

Sculptra and Ellansé offer other collagen-stimulating approaches. Hyaluronic acid filler gives more immediate shaping, while CO2 laser can address skin texture and lines at the surface. Dr Alex can explain which would add something useful to your plan.

Sculptra in Hale, Altrincham

Sculptra stimulates your own collagen to improve firmness, mild looseness and skin quality, with gradual volume restoration where useful.

Your next step

Talk through the change you would like to see

Book a Lanluma consultation with Dr Alex at SONÜ in Hale, Altrincham. He will assess your skin and facial shape, explain what collagen stimulation could achieve and give you a treatment plan and quote before you decide.

Book a consultation Contact the clinic
SONÜ Medical Aesthetics

34 Hale Road, Hale, Altrincham, WA14 2EX

Doctor-led treatment in a relaxed, private clinic

Close to Hale station and easy to reach from Altrincham, Manchester and Cheshire