Dubbed the ultimate glow-giver, Profhilo is a super moisturiser for the skin. It delivers serious hydration beyond the ability of any serum to create youthful-looking freshness to dehydrated, ageing skin. Editor Trudi Brewer experiences the treatment and shares expert advice from doctor Joanna Romanowska from Auckland's Clinic 42.
Profhilo before & after
There are many cosmetic treatments to fill fine lines, firm sagging skin, and freeze facial muscles. But regarding hydrating the skin from within, Profhilo has this covered. Doctor Joanna Romanowska from Clinic 42 explains, "Profhilo is an injectable (beneath the skin) cosmetic medicine treatment that floods the skin with moisture, thanks to hyaluronic acid, which our bodies naturally produce. It’s a gooey-like substance that lubricates our joints, eyes and skin. Profhilo works through the slow release of both high and low molecular weights of hyaluronic acid. Once injected, it spreads under the skin like warm honey, targeting multiple layers to restore firmness, tone and elasticity.”
As far as cosmetic medicine treatments go, Romanowska refers to Profhilo as a gentle, regenerative treatment that is not comparable to traditional dermal fillers, which add volume or contours to the face, or botulinum toxin that relaxes muscles to smooth fine lines. "When injected into the skin, its function is not to add volume (like dermal fillers) but to induce bio-stimulation of the cells. This means it stimulates new collagen and elastin in the superficial layers, just under the skin's surface, while helping to maintain hydration, effectively moisturising the skin from within. Think of Profhilo as the ultimate step in your skincare routine, which achieves results at multiple levels. For anyone wanting quick results in how they look and feel, this is a treatment where you can immediately see change. “Deep in the skin, it creates structure and support alongside that hydration, which gives skin instant bounce and plumpness. You will see an improved texture, tone and a healthier-looking complexion. Profhilo is also suitable for all ages and ethnicities and can treat crepey-looking skin on the face, neck, decollete, and the body in areas such as the inner arms, above the knees, backs of the hands and the abdomen. Romanowska believes more than mature skin can benefit from this moisturising skin service. “It's a great option for young skin that doesn't necessarily need dermal fillers but wants that healthy-looking glow. It's also popular for older skins to give a rejuvenated look, smoothing fine lines, but most importantly, at any age, the results are very natural.”
Does Profhilo hurt?
No injectable cosmetic medicine treatment is pain-free, so you may experience discomfort. Still, the needle is tiny, so with every slight injection sting, it’s quick to administer, so any pain lasts seconds. It certainly isn't painful enough to deter me from its glow-giving results, and you can expect that youthful look immediately, lasting between six and 12 months.
What’s the downtime
A Profhilo session usually takes around 30 minutes, so it’s an excellent lunchtime procedure or an option for anyone with a busy schedule. One of the best advantages of Profhilo is that that is no downtime. However, you will see pea-size bumps on each injection site that go down within a few hours but resist the urge to touch the bumps.
The cost
Profhilo requires two treatments, four weeks apart. The cost per treatment is $1600 for the face and neck, while body treatments range from $900 to $1800 per treatment, depending on the size of the area. While Profhilo is not a permanent treatment, the effects are long-lasting. The skin looks better over time and can still show for 12 months, depending on your metabolism and lifestyle.
Profhilo Body
The latest addition to Profhilo is Profhilo Body, which treats thin-skinned areas such as the back of the hands or those deeply etched lines on the decollete (from sleeping on your side), as well as crepey skin on the stomach from childbirth, Romanowska says, "Not only will it improve the quality of the skin, but it can also boost volume on those thin-skinned areas, making a noticeable improvement."
PROFHILO®, containing low & high weight hyaluronic acid, is a class III medical device for treating the face and body for contours redefinition and laxity remodelling where skin laxity is a problem. Profhilo® has risks and benefits. Do not use with treatments such as laser resurfacing or medium deep skin-peeling. Do not inject into inflamed areas or intravenously or intramuscularly. Possible side effects: pain and swelling at the injection site. Accelagen Pty. Ltd. Whanganui.
Cosmetic medicine expert Dr Ellen Selkon explains.