Profhilo - it's the cosmetic buzzword everyone seems to talking about right now so here’s what you need to know, from costs to recovery time...
While Botox has been a go-to treatment for famous faces to undergo a non-cosmetic ‘face-lift’, its reputation for banishing wrinkles has come under fire over the last few years for the ‘frozen’ expression it leaves with excess use.
Recently, this has seen a huge uptake in Profhilo – the new buzzword in the world of cosmetic ‘tweakments’.
Profhilo is a new facial injection that, unlike Botox’s toxic ingredient, is a concentrated vial of hyaluronic gel which aims to freshen up and hydrate skin that has lost firmness and elasticity through ageing, and can be used all over the face.
Unlike the plumping effect of other injectable procedures, it aims to syringe a layer of moisture under the skin to create a smoothing effect. It’s the same acid that’s regularly found in facial creams.
Celebrities have also been raving about the new treatment, with Michelle Heaton opening up in January about how it was like nothing she'd had before. Martine McCutcheon, Anthea Turner, Luisa Zissman and Love Island’s Amy Day and Ekin-Su Cülcüloğlu all fans.
For around £300 to £750 for the two recommended treatments, it’s become a favourite of celebrities after a more subtle glow-up.
The treatment has been around for almost ten years, but time spent peering into our own pallid faces on computer screens during lockdown Zoom meetings has seen a huge uptake on facial procedures with little down time.
And now Closer chats to cosmetic practitioner Mr Amar Suchde on what exactly profilho is, and why its boomed in popularity.
Amar says, “Profilho is an anti-aging remodelling skin booster that hydrates the skin and gives this incredible ‘glow’ that everyone talks about. It’s pure hyaluronic acid, something which is something found naturally in the skin anyway. It basically stimulates the skin so it produces more collagen and hyaluronic acid, and it also helps you retain water in the skin so, assuming you’re properly hydrated, you’ll get more plumpness, freshness and more of a glow. It effectively treats the skin from the inside out.
“While Profilho can help with giving a more voluminous appearance, but it is very different to filler. Filler is hyaluronic acid bound by proteins – which basically means it stays in the place you inject. You want filler to stay in one place. Profilho, however, isn’t bound by proteins and so it spreads and evens out. I like to describe how it works as like maple syrup spreading over pancakes. When its injected in the five different injection points, it diffuses through the skin.
“You also need two sessions with Profilho, one month apart – the first to stimulate and the second to boost.
“The make-up product ‘highlighter’ has got really popular in recent years, as has contouring. And Profilho is like a natural, 24/7 highlighter and creates a natural contour on your face. It seems patients love it because it looks totally natural, it doesn’t alter the face and just makes you look like you’re well rested and well hydrated all the time.”
The drawbacks? Dr Amar says that the process can be a little more painful than Botox or fillers, and there can be swelling and soreness afterwards – but it’s worth it for the results.
He adds, “As the Profilho injections are a lot more superficial, and closer to the surface of the skin, the aftermath is also more noticeable - there can also be swelling, redness or bruising, but that will go down after a couple of days. But again, people who have it say it’s worth it and come in again and again.
“My advice would be to always do your research and have a consultation before you go to get it done, so you’re on the same page and trust the practitioner. It’s so important to go to the right person – Profilho can be done in different ways and really is like an art, so definitely have a chat with your practitioner beforehand.”
Follow Amar on Instagram at @ams_aesthetics and see more at amsaesthetics