Profhilo® is a revolutionary product consisting of highly concentrated, pure Hyaluronic Acid. It is used to treat skin laxity. It hydrates the skin from within, and stimulates the skin to produce more collagen and elastic. This results in a tightening and lifting effect for crepey, sagging, or wrinkled skin. The skin texture and quality is improved and much more hydrated, giving you a more youthful appearance. Profhilo® works particularly well for the face, neck, decolletage and hands. This is given as a series of two treatments given a month apart, and treatment effects typically last 6-9 months, depending on the individual.

What is Profhilo®?

Profhilo® is a revolutionary new treatment consisting of ultra-pure, highly concentrated Hyaluronic Acid (HA) which is injected beneath the skin.

It is made out of high and low molecular weight HA that have been thermally stabilised without the addition of any chemical cross-linking agents (BDDE chains), making it pure and naturally compatible with our skin.

How does Profhilo® work?

Our skin naturally contains collagen, elastin and HA. HA is the component responsible for retaining moisture and hydrating the skin, which is why is it common ingredient in serums, moisturisers and eye drops.

Skin cells constantly renew and make these substances to maintain the structure of our skin. As we age, it takes longer for us to form these components in the skin, leading to sagging, crepey skin and fine lines.

Profhilo® acts in two ways. Once injected, it spreads evenly like runny honey under the skin, immediately hydrating the skin. As it integrates into the skin, it stimulates the production of collagen and elastin over a period of 4-6 weeks.

The effect is immediate hydration and glow of skin, followed by long term lifting of saggy skin, reduction of crepey and fine lines, and significant improvement in skin texture and quality.

What areas can be treated?

We can treat any area where there is lax, sagging or wrinkled skin. This is typically the face, neck, decolletage, and back of the hands. For the body, inner arms, inner thighs or just above the knee treatments are popular.

It is suitable for anyone above the age of 20, male or female, and can be used as a preventative treatment once a year before fine lines and sagging forms.

What does treatment involve?

Treatment involves placing tiny injections of the product in specific points (10 points in total) just beneath the skin, using very fine needles. This will feel a little stingy but is usually well tolerated by most people. Topical anaesthetic cream can be offered prior to take the edge of the stinginess. The injection points will be slighty raised (bumpy) after the injections, this often resolves within 30 min, up to 24 hours at the very most.

How long does the treatment take?

Your first appointment takes 45 min and includes an initial consultation.

The actual treatment time is 10-15 min.

Subsequent appointments will take 20-30 min, to allow time for follow up.

If you require local anaesthetic cream, this will take 20-30 min to be effective. Please advise the doctor when you arrive so that we can apply the cream as early as possible.

How many treatments do I need, and how often?

Our treatment protocol is as follows:

• Face and neck - 2x treatments spaced 4-6 weeks apart. A third treatment at 3 or 6 months post the first treatment may be required for some people depending on the condition of your skin.
• Decolletage and hands - 3x treatments are recommended 4-6 weeks apart
• Arms, Legs, Abdomen - 2x treatments, 4-6 weeks apart.

What is the cost of the treatment?

For two treatments (2ml/treatment):

Face, neck, hands - $1600

Decolletage, Tummy - $1600 - $1900

Body (Both Arms, Knees) - $3800 (3ml/treatment, includes free maintenance kit)

Single treatment for maintenance - $800

Single treatment (if not bought in conjunction with a previous treatment) - $900

When will I start seeing the effects of treatment?

Within a week, you will notice that your skin feels much more hydrated. You may find that you need less moisturiser compared to normal

You will start seeing the best effects of the treatment after THREE months from the first treatment.

Treatment effects last 6-9 months.

We recommend annual treatments; some people may choose to do a top-up treatment every 6 months.

How is Profhilo® different from other wrinkle or filler treatments?

Profhilo® is very different from traditional dermal fillers.

It is a highly concentrated HA product (34mg/ml), free of additives, and has the added benefit being a bio-remodelling agent that stimulates collagen and elastin production.

It is injected just underneath the skin, and is therefore much safer and associated with less side effects compared to traditional fillers.

It does not volumise the face, like certain dermal fillers. It does not work on muscles unlike Botulinum Toxin treatments (but both treatments work very well in combination).

Can I combine other cosmetic treatments with Profhilo®?

Yes. You can have Botulinum Toxin or traditional filler treatments at the same time, though we prefer that these treatments are done in a separate session.

IPL, chemical peels, microdermabrasion should be done 2 weeks before or after Profhilo® treatment; 4 weeks for Radiofrequency or fractional resurfacing treatments.

Is Profhilo® safe?

Profhilo® is highly biocompatible with our skin, as it is made from ultra-pure Hyaluronic Acid, a substance which is naturally found in our skin, is stabilised without adding chemical cross-linking agents (BDDE chains) and is free of additives. It is therefore very well tolerated, and allergy is rare.

Since its introduction in Italy in 2015 by IBSA, a highly reputable Swiss pharmaceutical company, Profhilo® has been used extensively in Europe and worldwide for the past 7 years. With over a million treatments now administered, there has been no serious adverse effects reported.

It is quickly gaining in popularity, as evident by its numerous international awards, including:

• Aesthetics Awards Winner for Injectable Product of the Year (2016, 2022)
• Aesthetics Winner, The Aesthetic Industry Awards (2018)
• The Best Treatment of the Year by Times (2019)

What are the possible side effects of Profhilo®?

After your treatment, you may notice localised, site-specific symptoms which are often short-lasting. This includes swelling, redness, bruising, tenderness, itching, all of which should resolve in 24 - 72 hours.

Other rare side effects can include:

• Infection - antibiotics may be required
• Hard lumps - can be dissolved with Hyalase.
• Allergy - our clinic is well equipped to deal with any reactions.
• Vascular Occlusion - this is rare as Profhilo® is injected just underneath the skin. As with any filler, if the product inadvertently enters a blood vessel, there is a risk of skin damage, scarring, blindness or stroke. This is treated by dissolving the filler with Hyalase as soon as the complication is noted.

Your Profhilo® treatment is performed by a skilled and experienced clinician in a clinic that is well equipped to deal with all of these complications. Rare complications are referred on to the appropriate specialist for further treatment.

Does Covid-19 affect my treatment?

Covid-19 Vaccinations -we recommend that Profhilo® treatment should be done two weeks before or after your vaccination.

Covid-19 illness - we recommend that this is done 6 weeks after you recover.

For more information, please visit https://www.profhilo.co.uk/