What are bioremodelators?
Bioremodelators are injections of stabilised hyaluronic acid that improve the quality of the skin —its hydration, firmness and elasticity— by stimulating the production of collagen and elastin, without adding volume or filling wrinkles the way a dermal filler does. They are placed in a few points and the product spreads through the tissue, distributing itself evenly beneath the skin.
It helps to distinguish a bioremodelator from other injections it is often confused with. A dermal filler adds volume and defines a contour in a specific area; botulinum toxin relaxes the muscle that produces an expression line. A bioremodelator does neither: it acts on the quality of the tissue, hydrating deeply and stimulating the skin cells (the fibroblasts) to make new collagen and elastin. That is why it is described as a biostimulation treatment, not a filler.
It is important to understand what it is and what it is not. A bioremodelator improves dull, dehydrated or early-sagging skin and restores radiance and firmness, but it does not lift a face that has already sagged markedly, nor does it replace surgery. When sagging is advanced, the right tool is a facelift, which repositions the deep plane. Bioremodelators occupy a different space: they improve the skin you have, they do not reposition the deep tissues.
Techniques used by Dr. Arístides Arellano
Not every case is treated the same way, and the decision about the number of sessions, the injection points and the combination with other treatments is defined at your consultation, according to your age, your skin quality and what you want to improve:
- Injection at strategic points: the product is placed in a few precise points from which it spreads through the tissue, rather than being infiltrated wrinkle by wrinkle. This allows broad areas —the cheeks, the neck, the décolletage or the back of the hands— to be treated evenly.
- Session-based protocol: the biostimulation effect is progressive, so the treatment is usually framed as a scheme of two or more sessions a few weeks apart, followed by spaced maintenance. The exact calendar is adjusted to each skin.
- Combination with other procedures: bioremodelators are often integrated within a broader rejuvenation plan, alongside fillers, toxin or facial surgery. They treat the quality of the tissue, a component the other techniques do not address directly.
- Honest indication: when the assessment indicates that what you want requires volume, tissue repositioning or surgery, you will be told clearly. A bioremodelator is not the answer to everything, and offering it as if it were would be a failure of honesty.
How is it performed?
The treatment is performed in the office, on an outpatient basis and in a few minutes. After cleansing the skin, the product is injected with a very fine needle at the previously marked points; it generally requires no anaesthesia, although a topical numbing cream can be applied if the person is sensitive. There are no incisions, stitches or dressings.
At each injection point a small papule or transient bump may form, corresponding to the deposit of product, which reabsorbs within a few hours. The hyaluronic acid spreads through the tissue over the following hours, so these raised areas disappear on their own. There may be mild redness or a bruise at the puncture site.
The result is not immediate: unlike a filler, what is sought here is a biological response of the skin that takes weeks to appear. The improvement in hydration, radiance and firmness becomes apparent progressively over the course of the protocol and in the weeks after the last session.
The effect is temporary. The hyaluronic acid is absorbed and the collagen stimulation lasts for a while, as a guide around six months, with significant variation from one person to another. It is not a definitive treatment and is usually framed as part of ongoing maintenance over time.
Every medical treatment —topicals, peels and energy-based devices included— carries risk and requires a prior assessment. In darker skin (Fitzpatrick IV–VI, the most common phototypes in Mexico) a poorly indicated procedure can darken the patch instead of lightening it. Results may vary according to each patient, their phototype and their individual triggers.
Who is a good candidate?
The best candidate is a person with dull, dehydrated or mildly sagging skin who wants to improve its quality and radiance without surgery and with minimal recovery. In general terms, bioremodelators work best when:
- The skin shows early signs of ageing —loss of radiance, dehydration, dull texture or incipient sagging— but still retains elasticity.
- Improvement is sought in areas where skin quality is the priority: the face, neck, décolletage or the back of the hands.
- Expectations are realistic: the goal is firmer, more hydrated and luminous skin, not the change in volume or contour that other treatments deliver.
- There is no active infection in the area, no known allergy to hyaluronic acid and no disorders that contraindicate injections; this is assessed at the consultation.
- When sagging is advanced or there is excess skin, the honest assessment is that a bioremodelator will not deliver the expected result and facial surgery should be considered.
Recommended aftercare treatments
Although it is not surgery, bioremodelators require simple care to protect the result: do not massage or press the area on the first day, avoid intense exercise, extreme heat (sauna, steam) and direct sun exposure during the first 24 to 48 hours, and do not apply makeup over the puncture points until the skin recovers. Keeping the skin hydrated and protected from the sun helps sustain the result.
Managing redness, small bruises and mild discomfort follows the same principles as any facial procedure. See the full guide: Post-surgical recovery and care.
Before and after
Most patients want to see before-and-after photographs before deciding. Out of respect for each person’s privacy, Dr. Arístides Arellano shows real cases —always with documented consent— during your in-person consultation, where you can review results from patients with a starting point similar to yours. Results may vary from patient to patient.
Approximate price
Reference prices: Profhilo from $9,000 MXN and protocolo de 2 viales from $15,000 MXN, approximate, depending on the areas treated and how much product your case needs. Approximate price — the definitive cost is set at your private consultation with Dr. Arístides Arellano.
About Dr. Arístides Arellano
Dr. Arístides Arellano is a plastic surgeon holding a specialty licence: he practises under a Mexican medical licence (D.G.P. 1125959) and a specialty licence in Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery (0002008), both issued by the Directorate General of Professions (DGP), which reissued his certificate of professional standing in 2025. His career began before Mexico’s present-day specialty-board system existed: he belongs to the founding generation of plastic surgery in Puebla, the second generation of a surgical tradition started in 1971 by Dr. Francisco Arellano Ocampo. Trust is verified, not promised: both licences are public and anyone can look them up in the DGP’s National Registry of Professionals.
Related guide for patients
To choose well who will treat your skin: How to choose a plastic surgeon in Puebla — part of the series of informational guides reviewed by Dr. Arístides Arellano.
Trust is verified, not promised. All 210 scanned documents —degree, licences, diplomas, publications and certificates, from 1977 to 2025— are open in Dr. Arístides Arellano’s credential archive, alongside an explanation of the difference between a specialty licence and a board certification.
Recovery · step by step
- Same dayReturn to daily life almost immediately. There may be mild redness and small papules at the injection points, which reabsorb within a few hours.
- First 24–48 hoursAvoid intense exercise, extreme heat (sauna, steam) and direct sun. Possible mild bruising at the puncture sites; do not massage the area.
- First weekThe skin recovers fully and any bruising resolves. The usual care routine resumes, with hydration and sun protection.
- Following weeksProgressive improvement in hydration, radiance and firmness as new collagen is stimulated.
- Protocol and maintenanceThe scheme usually includes two or more sessions a few weeks apart; the effect lasts, as a guide, around six months, and is repeated as maintenance.
Frequently asked questions
Do bioremodelators hurt?
They are usually not painful. They are applied with a very fine needle in a few points and generally require no anaesthesia; if the person is sensitive, a numbing cream can be used. You feel a small prick and, at the injection points, a light sensation of pressure that eases within minutes.
How long do bioremodelators last?
As a guide, around six months, with variation from person to person depending on skin quality, age and the protocol. The hyaluronic acid is absorbed and part of the benefit remains from the stimulated collagen. It is not a permanent result and is usually repeated as maintenance.
Are they the same as a filler or botulinum toxin?
No. A filler adds volume and toxin relaxes the muscle behind an expression line. A bioremodelator does neither: it improves the quality of the tissue —hydration, firmness and radiance— by stimulating collagen and elastin. They are often combined, because they treat different things.
How many sessions do I need?
It depends on your skin, but the usual scheme is two or more sessions a few weeks apart, followed by spaced maintenance. The exact number and calendar are defined at your consultation, according to your skin quality and what you want to improve.
When can I return to normal life?
Almost immediately. There may be mild redness and small papules at the injection points that reabsorb within hours. It is recommended to avoid intense exercise, extreme heat and direct sun during the first 24 to 48 hours.
What are the risks of bioremodelators?
The most frequent are redness, small bruises, mild swelling or transient papules at the injection points. Less frequently there can be a reaction to the product or infection. Most are mild and transient, and proper technique and candidate selection reduce the risk. Everything is assessed at the consultation.
Every case is different. Discuss yours in a personal consultation.
Book a consultation on WhatsAppEvery figure published on this site is approximate and is not a quote. Any procedure or treatment first requires a private assessment consultation with Dr. Arístides Arellano —$800 MXN, charged separately— and it is at that consultation that the definitive cost of your case is determined.
Educational content; it does not replace a medical consultation. Results may vary from person to person.