How is Gouri different from filler, and how does the skin change after treatment?

What kind of injection is Gouri?

Gouri is a collagen-stimulating injection in which polycaprolactone (PCL) is dissolved into a liquid. PCL is a biodegradable polymer long used in materials such as absorbable sutures, and it has been studied as a substance that prompts new collagen to form around it once placed in tissue[1].

Most earlier PCL products suspended microparticles in a gel. In a rat study of particle-free dissolved PCL, the injected material spread into the surrounding tissue within 6 hours, and over 12 weeks dermal thickness and collagen increased without granulomas or foreign-body reactions[2]. Because this was an animal study, the results cannot be applied directly to people.

How is it different from filler?

Filler creates volume in proportion to the amount injected. Gouri is not a volumizing treatment. In Serene Clinic's practice, the change seen with Gouri is less about the skin filling out and more about loose skin adhering to the deeper structures and being drawn up, closer to tightening and lifting.

So when the goal is to fill a hollow with volume, Serene Clinic considers filler first, and when the goal is to firm up sagging, loose skin, it considers Gouri first. When both concerns are present, the areas are planned separately.

Because it is liquid and spreads widely after injection, Serene Clinic uses Gouri less as a product placed precisely at a certain depth and more as one distributed evenly across the target area.

How does the skin change right after and a few weeks later?

Right after injection, Gouri spreads naturally and hollow areas look softly smoothed. Because it does not gather in one spot and stand out, the face does not tend to look unnatural right after treatment.

From about 3 to 4 weeks, the skin starts to feel as if it is adhering inward, and sagging contours begin to look tidier. In Serene Clinic's clinical experience, many people feel the effect lasts about 5 to 6 months after one session and over a year after 2 to 3 sessions, though this varies widely with age, skin thickness and lifestyle.

In a study in which 30 adults received liquid PCL three times at one-month intervals and were measured for 6 months, measures of how much the skin deforms under pressure decreased[3]. The study had no control group, so the changes cannot be attributed to the injections with certainty.

Where does Serene Clinic use Gouri?

Whether Hilowave helps Gouri stay at the injection site longer, or whether the combination lasts longer than Gouri alone, has not yet been confirmed by comparative studies. When the two products are used together, the decision is made after reviewing each product's approved use and safety.

• Overall facial firmness: performed with a cannula, and sometimes called 'Gouri liquid lifting' or 'contour lifting'. About 1 to 2 syringes of Gouri are injected along vectors that pull the sagging areas upward, much like a thread lift. When sagging is severe, it may be done together with energy-based lifting devices such as Xerf or Coolsonic.
• Fine lines and shallow hollows: the 'fine-line eraser injection', which combines Gouri with Hilowave, a hyaluronic acid formulation, is used for shallow wrinkles and shallow hollows such as under-eye hollows, fine nasolabial lines and horizontal neck lines. This approach was devised by Serene Clinic's director.
• Depressed scars: used as a hand-injected scar treatment for scars with a sunken base, such as acne scars.
• Texture and pores: delivered together after creating micro-channels in the skin with the Potenza pumping tip or Mirajet.

Does Gouri often cause bruising?

Because Gouri is liquid and spreads on its own after injection, there is no need to tunnel densely through the tissue with the cannula. With less tissue trauma there is less bleeding, so bruising is relatively uncommon.

However, if bleeding occurs during treatment and is left alone, red blood cell pigment can become trapped as Gouri forms a structure in the tissue, and the bruise may last for months. A report of 7 cases of such long-lasting bruising after liquid PCL injection proposed the same mechanism, and all cases eventually resolved[4].

To prevent this, Serene Clinic treats any site that bled with a bruise laser within one week of treatment, before Gouri forms that structure, usually twice a week for 2 to 4 sessions. Using lasers to speed up bruise clearance is an established approach in post-procedure bruise care[5], although no comparative study has yet shown that this schedule prevents long-lasting bruising.

When does swelling appear, and how long does it last?

After Gouri, swelling may gradually appear a few hours later, and in rare cases swelling returns about a week later. In most cases there is only swelling without a palpable lump, and it settles over time.

In a report of 2 liquid PCL cases, 1 person developed facial swelling that improved with medication[6]. In a study of 1,111 treatments with a particle-based PCL filler, swelling lasting 2 weeks or more occurred in 4.5% and increased with larger injection volumes[7], but because the formulation differs, this cannot be applied directly to Gouri.

When swelling occurs, Serene Clinic first checks for infection, uses ultrasound if needed, and then treats the swelling. If there is warmth or swelling that keeps worsening on one side, it is best to be seen promptly.

Price (as of the October 2026 menu)

The exact cost is confirmed after consultation, based on the treatment area and amount.

Frequently asked questions

References

1. 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.
2. Hong JY, Kim JH, Kwon TR, et al. In vivo evaluation of novel particle-free polycaprolactone fillers for safety, degradation, and neocollagenesis in a rat model. Dermatol Ther. 2021;34(2):e14770.
3. Thongjaroensirikul P, Wanitphakdeedecha R, Maneeprasopchoke P, et al. Skin quality and safety following liquid-form polycaprolactone for facial rejuvenation: a prospective single-arm study. Dermatol Ther (Heidelb). 2026 (online ahead of print).
4. Byeon H, Baek H, Vachiramon V, et al. A case series of rare long-term bruising following injection of liquid-form polycaprolactone: mechanisms and therapeutic insights. Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol. 2026;19:571602.
5. Park S, Kim JH, Yi KH. Laser treatment protocol for bruise management using a picosecond-domain 1064-nm Nd:YAG laser. Plast Reconstr Surg Glob Open. 2025;13(11):e7244.
6. Brito K, Ong D. A clinical case series: Australian validation of liquid polycaprolactone injectables. Ann Case Rep. 2023;8:1371.
7. Lin SL, Christen MO. Polycaprolactone-based dermal filler complications: a retrospective study of 1111 treatments. J Cosmet Dermatol. 2020;19(8):1907-1914.