Collagen stimulators: Radiesse, PLLA and Ellansé – how they work and when results show
Prices as of 25.10.2026
Collagen stimulator vs filler vs Profhilo
Typical timings; the plan depends on area and product.
| Collagen stimulator | Hyaluronic acid filler | Profhilo | |
|---|---|---|---|
| What it does | triggers your own collagen | adds volume at once | hydrates, supports elasticity |
| Volume | light or gradual | yes, at once | no |
| Results show | gradually over 1–3 months, PLLA 3–6 | at once | in 5–10 days, full after the 2nd |
| Course | PLLA 2–3 sessions, others as planned | usually 1 session | 2 sessions, about 4 weeks apart |
| Lasts | typically 12–18 months, some up to 2 years | typically 6–12 months | 6–12 months |
| At Melior | HH PLLA, Lanluma, Radiesse, Ellansé | hyaluronic acid fillers | Profhilo, Profhilo Structura |
Types of collagen stimulators: PLLA, Radiesse, Ellansé
Different particles – different speed and duration.
Poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA): HH PLLA, Lanluma
No instant volume. First changes at 6–8 weeks, the most at 3–6 months. A course of 2–3 sessions.
Calcium hydroxylapatite: Radiesse
Light support at once, final result in 2–3 months. Lasts up to 12–18 months.
Polycaprolactone (PCL): Ellansé
The gel adds volume at once, then particles trigger collagen: result in 1–3 months, lasting up to 2 years.
Collagen with hyaluronic acid: Karisma
A different approach, no particles: 2 sessions 30 days apart plus a booster at 4 months, lasting 6–12 months.
When do collagen stimulator results show?
Tap a point on the timeline.
Treatment day
Radiesse and Ellansé give light support at once, PLLA doesn’t: early fullness is swelling. Redness, swelling or a bruise are possible.
Days 1–3
Redness, swelling and bruising usually settle. After PLLA a 5–5–5 massage is often advised; after Radiesse and Ellansé the area is not massaged.
6–8 weeks
PLLA: first visible changes. The next session of the course follows the specialist’s plan.
1–3 months
Ellansé and Radiesse: the final result forms (2–3 months for Radiesse).
3–6 months
PLLA: the fullest result.
12–24 months
How long it lasts: Radiesse and HH PLLA up to 12–18 months, Lanluma and Ellansé up to 2 years, depending on skin and lifestyle.
Lumps and nodules after collagen stimulators: what is normal?
Downsides: results take time, it can’t be dissolved, nodules are possible.
Common
- redness, swelling, needle marks – 1–3 days
- bruises – usually gone in a few days
- tenderness when pressed
Less common
- nodules under the skin, mostly after PLLA – sometimes lasting months
- unevenness or asymmetry
- inflammation, cold sore, allergy
Let the clinic know
Very rare but urgent
- skin turns pale or bluish at the injection site
- pain gets worse
- vision changes
Contact the clinic at once, or 112
Who collagen stimulators suit – and who not
A good fit if…
- your skin has thinned and lost firmness
- a softer jawline, laxity of the cheeks, neck or hands
- you can wait 1–3 months for results
- you want a gradual change, not a sudden one
Not suitable if…
- pregnancy or breastfeeding
- autoimmune disease or chronic inflammation
- infection, inflammation or cold sore in the area, fever
- allergy to any ingredient
- a tendency to keloid scars
- heavily sagging skin – they don’t replace a surgical lift
In more detail
How collagen stimulators work, in plain words
Collagen gives skin its firmness and elasticity, and we make less of it with age. A collagen stimulator contains microparticles: over a few weeks the body builds new connective tissue with its own collagen around them, while the particles themselves are slowly broken down.
So results build over weeks and months. At Melior, PLLA and Radiesse are listed under biostimulation, and Ellansé has its own page.
Profhilo vs collagen stimulator: which one?
Profhilo is hyaluronic acid: it hydrates and supports elasticity, first changes show in 5–10 days, and it typically lasts 6–12 months. A collagen stimulator works on firmness: slower, but longer-lasting. Dry, dull skin points to Profhilo; thinning and laxity to a collagen stimulator.
They can be combined on a specialist’s plan. All four groups are compared in our skin boosters guide.
Radiesse vs PLLA: what's the difference?
Both trigger collagen. Radiesse (calcium hydroxylapatite) gives light support at once, with the final result at 2–3 months; the area is not massaged afterwards unless the specialist advises it. PLLA (HH PLLA, Lanluma) works only gradually: first changes at 6–8 weeks, the most at 3–6 months, a course of 2–3 sessions and often a 5–5–5 massage (5 days, 5 times a day, 5 minutes).
Ellansé (PCL) combines quick volume from the gel with collagen stimulation. Particles are usually not injected into the lips or under the eyes: nodules are more common in mobile areas.
Nodules: why they happen and what to do
A nodule is a firm spot under the skin where more particles have gathered. They are reported most often after PLLA, early ones within weeks, late ones after months. In a Lanluma study (70 people, 9 months), lumps and nodules were the most common side effect: most cleared within days or weeks, one was still present at 5 months.
Precise technique and aftercare lower the risk. Don’t squeeze or hard-massage a nodule – tell the clinic; the specialist chooses the treatment. Unlike a hyaluronic acid filler, a collagen stimulator cannot be dissolved with an enzyme.
How long results last – honestly
The figures depend on the product, area, skin and source. Melior gives up to 12–18 months for Radiesse and HH PLLA, and up to 2 years for Lanluma and Ellansé. The American Academy of Dermatology gives 6–12 months for calcium hydroxylapatite and 1–3 years for PLLA; in a review of PLLA trials, effects lasted at least 25 months.
A maintenance session is usually done once a year, or when the effect starts to fade.
Frequently asked questions
How long does PLLA last?
At Melior, up to 12–18 months for HH PLLA and up to 2 years for Lanluma, depending on skin, area and lifestyle. Maintenance is usually once a year.
When do collagen stimulator results show?
Usually in 1–3 months. Radiesse and Ellansé give light support at once, with the final result in 1–3 months. With PLLA, first changes show at 6–8 weeks and the most at 3–6 months.
How much does Radiesse cost in Tallinn?
At Melior Clinics, Radiesse starts from €450, HH PLLA and Lanluma from €350, Ellansé from €850 and Karisma from €300 per session (price list 25.10.2026). The price depends on the area and amount.
Do collagen stimulator injections hurt?
Most people feel pricks or pressure. A fine needle or cannula is used, with numbing cream if needed; some products contain an anaesthetic.
Collagen stimulator vs filler: what's the difference?
A hyaluronic acid filler adds volume at once, typically lasts 6–12 months and can be dissolved with an enzyme. A collagen stimulator makes skin produce its own collagen: results build over 1–3 months, last longer and cannot be dissolved.
How many sessions will I need?
For PLLA, usually 2–3 sessions: HH PLLA 4–6 weeks apart, Lanluma 6–10 weeks apart. The amount of Radiesse or Ellansé is chosen individually. Maintenance is usually once a year.
Aftercare: what should I avoid?
No make-up for 24 hours; no exercise, sauna, hot bath or sunbed for 48–72 hours; no laser or peels for 2 weeks, and SPF 50 daily. A 5–5–5 massage is often needed after PLLA; Radiesse and Ellansé are not massaged.
Collagen stimulators in Tallinn
Read next
- Funt D, Pavicic T. Dermal fillers in aesthetics: an overview of adverse events and treatment approaches. Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol. 2013;6:295–316
- Signori R, Barbosa AdP, Cezar-dos-Santos F, et al. Efficacy and Safety of Poly-l-Lactic Acid in Facial Aesthetics: A Systematic Review. Polymers (Basel). 2024;16(18):2564
- de Almeida AT, Figueredo V, da Cunha ALG, et al. Consensus Recommendations for the Use of Hyperdiluted Calcium Hydroxyapatite as a Face and Body Biostimulatory Agent. Plast Reconstr Surg Glob Open. 2019;7(3):e2160
- Christen MO, Vercesi F. Polycaprolactone: How a Well-Known and Futuristic Polymer Has Become an Innovative Collagen-Stimulator in Esthetics. Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol. 2020;13:31–48
- Amselem M, Fatsea D, Forte R, et al. Safety and effectiveness results of an innovative injectable poly-L-lactic acid-based collagen stimulator: clinical outcomes at 9 months in a post-market study. J Cosmet Dermatol. 2024;23(12):3893–3902
- American Academy of Dermatology: Fillers: FAQs
This article is general information and does not replace a consultation. Whether a treatment suits you is decided by a specialist at the consultation. Melior Clinics (Star Company OÜ), Liivalaia 53, Tallinn · Estonian Health Board licence L04198.
