If you’re thinking about Lanluma, you’re probably curious not just about the results, but also about what happens inside your body after treatment. You may already know that Lanluma is a collagen stimulator rather than a traditional filler, but you might still wonder where the product goes, how your body metabolises it, and whether anything stays behind. These are smart questions to ask because Lanluma behaves very differently from hyaluronic acid fillers and understanding that difference helps you feel fully confident about the treatment.
In this comprehensive guide, I want to walk you through the entire breakdown process: how Lanluma behaves immediately after injection, how the poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA) particles stimulate your fibroblasts, how the body metabolises the product, how collagen forms and matures, and why the results last well beyond the lifespan of the product itself. By the end, you’ll understand exactly what happens under your skin from day one to year three and why Lanluma’s slow, natural process is one of its greatest strengths.
Understanding What Lanluma Is Made Of
Before exploring how Lanluma breaks down, it helps to understand what it’s made from. Lanluma uses poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA), a synthetic material that has been used safely in medicine for decades.
This material is biocompatible, meaning your body recognises it as safe. It’s not a gel, not a filler, and not a permanent implant. Instead, it consists of tiny microparticles suspended in a sterile solution. When these particles enter the tissue, they trigger your body’s natural healing response. But importantly, they do not stay there forever.
Because the product breaks down while stimulating collagen production, the results depend not on the presence of PLLA, but on what your body does with it. The real transformation comes from the new collagen fibres your body creates around the particles.
What Happens Immediately After Injection
When Lanluma is injected, the first thing you see is temporary swelling caused by the water used to dilute the product. This swelling gives the illusion of instant volume, but it fades within a few days as the liquid is naturally absorbed.
During these early days, the PLLA particles remain in place throughout the tissue. They aren’t visible and they don’t feel like lumps or beads. They simply settle in the area where your practitioner injected them. At this point, they’re not adding volume they’re acting as little “signals” for your body to begin collagen production.
The first phase is subtle, but it’s important because this is when your body recognises the microparticles and activates fibroblasts the cells responsible for creating new collagen.
The First Month: The Stimulation Phase Begins
Over the next few weeks, the PLLA particles begin triggering a controlled inflammatory response. When people hear the word “inflammation,” they often imagine pain or swelling, but that’s not what’s happening here.
Your fibroblasts start producing new collagen fibres, but at first, these fibres are immature and delicate. You won’t see visible volume during this stage. Instead, you may notice subtle firmness or density developing in the treated area.
For some people, the first signs of improvement appear as early as the one-month mark. For others, it takes a little longer which is completely normal for collagen-stimulating treatments.
Months 2–3: Collagen Production Strengthens
This is the phase where Lanluma really starts to show its value. By months two to three, the PLLA particles continue to biodegrade steadily, keeping fibroblasts activated and encouraging ongoing collagen production. Rather than sudden volume, collagen builds layer by layer, creating strength and structure within the tissue.
You’ll notice:
Gradual volume: Fullness increases slowly over time rather than appearing suddenly. This creates a soft, balanced look that never feels overdone.
Smoother skin texture: As collagen thickens, the surface of the skin becomes more even. Areas that previously looked crepey or uneven start to feel smoother.
Reduced dimpling: Collagen fills and supports the tissue from within, helping soften visible dimples. This is especially noticeable in areas affected by cellulite.
Improved firmness: The treated area begins to feel stronger and more resilient. Skin has more resistance and bounce when touched or moved.
More lifted or contoured shape: Structural support improves as collagen forms a stronger internal framework. This enhances natural contours without creating an artificial lift.
The results look natural because nothing artificial is adding bulk. Everything you see is created by your own body. This newly formed collagen isn’t temporary swelling it’s real tissue, and it’s what becomes the foundation of your long-term Lanluma result.
Months 3–6: Lanluma Continues Breaking Down While Collagen Builds
By the three-month mark, a significant portion of the PLLA particles has already begun to break down. They undergo hydrolysis, a process in which water molecules naturally break the PLLA into smaller fragments. These fragments become lactic acid, which is then processed by your metabolic pathways.
During this time:
More collagen develops: Fibroblasts remain active, continuing to produce new collagen fibres. This ongoing production is what drives visible improvement well beyond the initial treatment phase.
Existing collagen strengthens: Newly formed collagen begins to mature and integrate with what’s already there. This makes the tissue more resilient and better able to hold its shape.
The tissue thickens: As collagen density increases, the treated area gains depth and support from within. This added thickness improves overall skin quality rather than just surface appearance.
Contours become more defined: Structural collagen provides subtle shaping and definition. Natural curves and contours look smoother and more balanced without appearing artificial.
Skin firmness improves: The skin feels tighter and more supported as collagen matures. Movement looks more controlled and less lax over time.
It’s during this period that patients often experience the biggest transformation. The product is slowly disappearing but the collagen is increasing. This is why Lanluma results can catch you by surprise. You see improvements weeks after the treatment, rather than immediately.
Months 6–12: PLLA Is Mostly Gone, But Collagen Peaks
By around six months, the majority of the PLLA particles have been metabolised. They no longer exist in the tissue in their original form. Your body has already broken them down into harmless by-products. But even though the product is gone, the collagen continues to develop and strengthen.
Your results at this stage are typically at their peak. The skin feels firmer. Volume looks fuller and more natural. Contours appear smoother. The treated area looks and feels more youthful. You’re not seeing “Lanluma” at this stage you’re seeing enhanced tissue created by your own body.
What Happens to PLLA During the Breakdown Process?
One of the most fascinating aspects of Lanluma is how naturally your body processes PLLA over time. Unlike traditional fillers that sit in the tissue as a gel, PLLA works temporarily and then disappears completely once it has done its job.
As the PLLA microparticles break down, they move through a well-understood biological process:
Hydrolysis: Water molecules slowly penetrate the PLLA particles, breaking them into smaller, more manageable fragments. This process happens gradually, which is why Lanluma never causes sudden changes.
Fragmentation: These smaller fragments continue to degrade into lactic acid, a substance your body already produces naturally during everyday activities like exercise.
Metabolism: The lactic acid enters normal metabolic pathways, just like exercise-related lactate. Your body recognises it as familiar and processes it without stress or inflammation.
Elimination: The final by-products are carbon dioxide and water, which are naturally expelled through breathing and urine as part of normal bodily functions.
Because of this process, Lanluma does not sit in the body long term. It doesn’t migrate, doesn’t harden, and doesn’t behave like a permanent implant. Once the PLLA has finished stimulating collagen, it fully disappears.
What remains is only the collagen your body has produced itself strong, natural tissue that supports the skin without leaving anything foreign behind. This is why Lanluma results look natural, feel natural, and fade gradually rather than abruptly.
What Type of Collagen Does Lanluma Create?
Lanluma stimulates Type I collagen, the same collagen responsible for youthful skin strength, firmness, and resilience. Type I collagen is the most abundant collagen in the human body and is found primarily in the skin, tendons, ligaments, and bones.
As new collagen develops, it also improves the overall quality of the skin rather than just adding fullness. Over time, this collagen:
1. Improves elasticity, allowing the skin to stretch and recoil more effectively
2. Thickens the skin, making it more resilient and less prone to creasing
3. Restores structural support, which helps lift and firm treated areas
4. Enhances natural shape and contour, rather than creating artificial volume
5. Reduces dimpling and laxity, particularly in areas affected by cellulite or skin thinning
This is why Lanluma is commonly used across multiple areas of the body, including the buttocks, hips, thighs, arms, abdomen, and in selected cases, the face. Instead of masking volume loss, it rebuilds the skin’s underlying framework from within, leading to gradual, natural-looking improvement.
Why Collagen Lasts Longer Than the Product
Lanluma works differently from traditional fillers because it doesn’t add instant volume. Instead, the PLLA within the treatment stimulates your body to produce its own collagen gradually. This means the results develop naturally over time rather than appearing overnight.
As the PLLA microparticles do their job, they slowly break down within the body over a few months. During this period, your skin is actively building a new collagen framework. By the time the product itself has dissolved, the collagen it created remains.
That’s why Lanluma is considered one of the longest-lasting injectable treatments available. The product may disappear, but the results continue because they are created by your own body. The outcome feels natural, looks subtle, and ages with you over time.
Does the Collagen Disappear Suddenly?
No the collagen doesn’t disappear suddenly. It fades gradually, just like your body’s natural collagen does over time. You won’t wake up one day feeling as though all the volume has vanished. Instead, the results slowly soften over the course of one to three years. This gradual change helps maintain a natural look, without any abrupt or noticeable loss of fullness.
Because the fade is slow and predictable, the improvement remains subtle and balanced. The treated area continues to look like you, just refreshed rather than altered. Many people choose to maintain their results with top-up treatments every 12–24 months. The exact timing depends on the area treated and your individual goals.
What Happens If You Don’t Want Maintenance?
If you decide not to have maintenance treatments, your collagen will simply break down naturally over time. This is the same process that happens to collagen throughout your body as you age. Lanluma doesn’t speed up ageing or leave you worse off.
As the collagen gradually reduces, your appearance returns gently to your original baseline. There’s no sudden drop in volume and no harsh changes. Everything fades at a steady, natural pace.
For most people, the change is so subtle that it goes largely unnoticed. It’s often only when they look back at older photos that they realise how the results have softened over time.
What Happens if Too Much Collagen Develops?
Excessive collagen is extremely rare with Lanluma because the body regulates collagen production and because the product stimulates collagen gradually rather than all at once.
However, if someone does develop slightly more volume than desired, it almost always softens naturally over time. In some cases, non-surgical treatments such as radiofrequency or ultrasound can help remodel the tissue more quickly.
Most adjustments are simple and non-invasive, especially when performed at an experienced Lanluma clinic in London that specialises in biostimulatory treatments.
Why Lanluma Behaves Differently From Hyaluronic Acid Fillers
People often compare Lanluma to traditional dermal fillers, but the two treatments behave very differently. While both are injectable, the way they create volume and how long that volume lasts is not the same.
Hyaluronic acid fillers work by sitting in the tissue as a gel that physically fills space. They provide immediate volume, dissolve predictably within 6–12 months, and can be quickly reversed using hyaluronidase.
Lanluma does not rely on a gel to create fullness. Instead, it stimulates your body to gradually produce its own collagen, while the PLLA breaks down naturally through metabolic processes and cannot be dissolved.
Does Lanluma Cause Long-Term Changes to the Skin?
Yes and this is one of Lanluma’s biggest advantages. The collagen stimulated by Lanluma doesn’t just add volume; it improves the overall quality and behaviour of the skin. These changes happen gradually and often continue to benefit the skin long after visible volume begins to soften.
The collagen produced helps improve:
1. Skin thickness: Thicker skin is more resilient and less prone to creasing, sagging, or surface irregularities. This is particularly important in areas where skin naturally thins with age.
2. Firmness: Increased collagen density provides better internal support, helping the skin feel firmer and more structured without looking tight or overfilled.
3. Smoothness: As collagen rebuilds beneath the surface, the skin texture becomes more even, reducing crepiness and unevenness over time.
4. Elasticity: Improved collagen allows the skin to stretch and recoil more effectively, which contributes to a more youthful, responsive appearance.
5. Contour: By strengthening the skin’s underlying framework, Lanluma enhances natural shape and definition rather than simply adding bulk.
6. Cellulite appearance: Thicker, stronger skin helps disguise underlying structural irregularities, making cellulite appear smoother and less pronounced.
One of the key benefits is that these structural improvements often outlast the visible volume. Even as collagen slowly softens with natural ageing, the skin typically remains healthier, stronger, and more supported than before treatment.
Can Lanluma Migrate While It Breaks Down?
No Lanluma does not migrate as it breaks down. The PLLA microparticles stay exactly where they are placed during treatment. They do not travel to other parts of the body.
When injected correctly, the particles don’t clump or shift within the tissue. Their position remains stable throughout the treatment process. This helps maintain a predictable and even result. Over time, the microparticles gradually become smaller as they break down. They are absorbed naturally into the surrounding tissue where they were originally injected.
Because of this, the results stay exactly where your practitioner intended them to be. The volume develops in a controlled, precise way, without unexpected movement or change.
How Long Does It Take for Lanluma to Fully Break Down?
Although collagen development continues for many months, the PLLA particles themselves do not stay in the body indefinitely. In most cases, they are gradually metabolised within 6–12 months, depending on the treatment area, the amount injected, and your individual metabolism.
During this period, the PLLA particles act as a temporary stimulus. They encourage your body to produce new collagen but do not provide lasting volume themselves.
Once the PLLA has fully broken down:
– The collagen remains, providing structure, firmness, and support
– Results reach their peak, as collagen maturation completes
– The product itself no longer exists in the tissue
This timeline explains why Lanluma works so differently from traditional fillers. Rather than delivering instant volume, it allows your body to rebuild gradually. Improvements appear slowly, settle naturally, and integrate seamlessly into your own tissue without sudden or artificial-looking changes.
Why the Breakdown Process Makes Lanluma Safer
Because Lanluma relies on gradual collagen stimulation rather than immediate filler volume, the risk of complications such as vascular occlusion or sudden swelling is significantly lower. The slow metabolic breakdown also reduces the chance of foreign-body reactions.
Instead of relying on an artificial substance to maintain volume, your own tissue takes over. This makes Lanluma an exceptionally safe option for long-term rejuvenation and body contouring.
FAQs:
1. Is Lanluma a permanent treatment?
Lanluma is not a permanent treatment, but its effects are long-lasting. The PLLA particles themselves fully break down within the body over several months. However, the collagen your body produces in response remains for much longer, often up to two or three years. This means the product disappears, but the results persist naturally.
2. Can Lanluma be dissolved like hyaluronic acid fillers?
No, Lanluma cannot be dissolved. Unlike hyaluronic acid fillers, which can be reversed using hyaluronidase, Lanluma works by stimulating your own collagen production. Because the volume comes from natural tissue rather than a gel, there is no dissolving agent. Any excess collagen softens gradually over time as part of the body’s normal ageing process.
3. Does Lanluma stay in the body forever?
Lanluma does not remain in the body permanently. The PLLA microparticles gradually break down through natural metabolic processes and are converted into substances your body already produces and eliminates daily. Once this process is complete, no trace of the product remains in the tissue.
4. Will I look overfilled with Lanluma?
Lanluma does not cause an overfilled appearance when used correctly. Because collagen forms slowly over weeks and months, changes are gradual and subtle. This allows the skin to adapt naturally, resulting in balanced volume and improved structure rather than sudden or exaggerated fullness.
5. How soon will I see results after treatment?
You may notice early changes such as firmness or subtle density within the first month, but visible volume typically develops between two and three months after treatment. Results continue to improve for up to six months as collagen matures and integrates into the tissue.
6. What happens if I stop having Lanluma treatments?
If you stop having Lanluma treatments, the collagen stimulated by the product will gradually break down over time, just like natural collagen elsewhere in the body. Your appearance will slowly return to its original baseline without sudden volume loss or structural changes. Lanluma does not worsen ageing or create dependency.
7. Is Lanluma safe for large body areas?
Lanluma is widely used for larger body areas such as the buttocks, thighs, hips, and arms. Its gradual collagen-building mechanism makes it particularly suitable for these regions, where natural texture, firmness, and support are more important than instant volume.
8. Can Lanluma improve skin quality as well as volume?
Yes, Lanluma improves overall skin quality in addition to adding volume. The Type I collagen it stimulates helps thicken the skin, improve elasticity, smooth uneven texture, and enhance firmness. These improvements often remain noticeable even after visible volume begins to soften.
9. Does Lanluma increase the risk of lumps or migration?
Lanluma does not migrate when injected correctly. The PLLA particles stay exactly where they are placed and gradually break down in that location. Because the product does not behave like a gel, it does not shift or travel within the tissue during the breakdown process.
10. Why do Lanluma results last longer than traditional fillers?
Lanluma results last longer because the treatment relies on your body’s own collagen rather than a temporary filler substance. While fillers lose volume as the product dissolves, Lanluma’s effects persist because newly formed collagen remains even after the PLLA has been metabolised. This creates longer-lasting, more natural-looking results.
Final Thought: Lanluma and What to Expect
Lanluma offers a unique approach to rejuvenation by stimulating your body’s own collagen rather than relying on temporary filler volume. This gradual process creates natural, long-lasting improvements in skin firmness, texture, and contour. Because the PLLA particles fully break down, what remains is strong, natural tissue produced by your own body. If you’re considering lanluma clinic in London, you can contact us at the London Medical & Aesthetic Clinic to discuss your goals and find out how this treatment can benefit you.
References:
1. Amselem, M., Fatsea, D., Forte, R., Hasenöhrl, C., Haus, A. & Salaabian, A. (2024) Safety and effectiveness results of an innovative injectable poly‑L‑lactic acid‑based collagen stimulator (Lanluma®)—Clinical outcomes at 9 months in a post‑market study. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39228358/
2. de Almeida, A.F. et al. (2025) Efficacy, durability, and safety of collagen biostimulators based on poly‑L‑lactic acid (PLLA) and calcium hydroxyapatite in the face: A systematic review, Aesthetic Plastic Surgery. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41184662/
3. Sadick, N.S. et al. (2024) Efficacy and Safety of Poly‑L‑Lactic Acid in Facial Aesthetics: A Systematic Review, Polymers. https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/16/18/2564
4. International Journal of Biological Macromolecules (2024) Augmenting dermal collagen synthesis through hyaluronic acid‑based microneedle‑mediated delivery of poly(l‑lactic acid) microspheres, International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 281, 136311. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0141813024071204
5. Composites Part B: Engineering (2024) Biodegradable PLLA/PLGA microspheres/collagen composites for continuous soft tissue augmentation, Composites Part B: Engineering, 283, 111603. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1359836824004141
