PROFHILO

What is PROFHILO?

PROFHILO is an injectable treatment containing hyaluronic acid, designed to enhance skin hydration, elasticity, and flexibility. This transparent water-based substance consists of high-molecular-weight and low-molecular-weight pure hyaluronic acid without any binding chemicals typically found in hyaluronic acid-based fillers.

PROFHILO spreads evenly across the skin's surface when injected into the face, neck, décolletage, inner arms, thighs, or palms. Unlike most hyaluronic acid injection-based products, PROFHILO is not a filler; it is a type of “bioremodeling” injectable.

PROFHILO works by stimulating collagen and elastin production in the skin's dermal fibroblasts and keratinocytes, as well as maintaining the health and viability of subcutaneous fat cells, explains MESQ Clinic's chief physician, Dr. Koivuniemi. “This results in fuller, better-hydrated, and more youthful-looking skin as skin support improves, sagging is reduced, and elasticity is increased.”

Although this treatment does not change facial contours or remove deep wrinkles, the benefits of PROFHILO injections include overall improvement in skin quality and the reduction of fine lines, giving the skin a smoother and more radiant appearance.
PROFHILO has been widely available in Europe and other parts of the world since 2016.

What are the pros and cons of PROFHILO injections?

Pros

• PROFHILO treatments can benefit all skin types and tones.
• They are said to create a “glow from within” without a long-term complicated skincare routine.
• According to IBSA, PROFHILO contains one of the highest concentrations of hyaluronic acid in skincare products.
• A manufacturer-funded clinical study in 2016 demonstrated that PROFHILO stimulates the production of four types of collagen and elastin, which strengthen and smooth the skin.
• The treatment is quick – only about 15 minutes – and requires no downtime, except for possible bumps at injection sites that usually disappear within a day or two.
• The treatment can be performed on the entire face and body, including the neck and chest.

Cons

• PROFHILO results can be subtle in before-and-after photos as it mainly plumps and enhances the skin’s health. Some patients who expected dramatic skin tightening reported dissatisfaction with the results, so it's important to have realistic expectations.
• If you want more dramatic facial rejuvenation results, your doctor may recommend combining this treatment with fillers, RF, HIFU, or laser treatments or considering another treatment option.
• If you have significant signs of aging, such as volume loss or deep wrinkles, traditional fillers may provide more visible rejuvenating effects.
• Since PROFHILO is injected only into the mid and lower parts of the face, it does not affect the skin on the forehead and brow area. To address this, PROFHILO can be combined with botulinum toxin during the same treatment session.

How does PROFHILO work?

PROFHILO works by distributing water-binding hyaluronic acid under the skin's surface, acting like an “injectable moisturizer.”

Our body naturally produces hyaluronic acid, which can bind water up to 1,000 times its own weight, but we gradually lose it as we age. Similarly, collagen and elastin, the protein fibers that give skin structure and elasticity, break down, and their production slows over time.

In fillers, hyaluronic acid is usually cross-linked, meaning that the molecules are connected by a cross-linking compound called 1,4-butanediol diglycidyl ether, abbreviated as BDDE.

This binds together hyaluronic acid molecules of different sizes, with high molecular weight (H-HA) and low molecular weight (L-HA), allowing them to add volume and shape. BDDE also slows down the breakdown of hyaluronic acid in the body, so heavily cross-linked fillers last longer.

The hyaluronic acid in PROFHILO does not contain BDDE (or other chemical cross-linkers), making it very fluid and allowing it to spread throughout the dermis, providing dispersed hydration without adding volume or lifting the face.

PROFHILO is made using a patented thermal cross-linking process, which helps stabilize it (so that it does not break down quickly in the body) while preserving its biological activity.

The high concentration and distribution of hyaluronic acid created by PROFHILO in the dermis trigger regenerative cells, such as fibroblasts, to produce new collagen and elastin. The manufacturer of PROFHILO, IBSA, calls these effects “bioremodeling.”

What happens during a PROFHILO treatment?

Like other injectable products, PROFHILO is a relatively simple treatment that takes about 15 minutes.

PROFHILO is injected using a standardized pattern of five points on each side of the face: in front of the ears, in the nasolabial folds, chin, under the eyes, and on the upper cheekbones. Similarly, there are standardized injection points for the neck, shoulders, and other body parts. These injection points are known as Bio Aesthetic Points (BAP).

After each injection, you may feel a burning sensation for about 90 seconds as the substance penetrates the skin.
Immediately after the treatment, you can return to your daily activities, but you may experience bruising and lumps at the injection sites.

What are the side effects of PROFHILO?

Bee sting-like lumps at the injection sites are common and normal, and should disappear within 24 hours as the product spreads through the skin.

As with other injectable treatments, mild bruising may occur after the procedure, but it should subside within a few days.

Allergic reactions and swelling, especially in the cheekbones, are also possible.

During the initial consultation, the doctor will review all of these potential side effects and assess if this is the best treatment option for you.

How often do you need PROFHILO treatments?

To maximize the benefits of cell renewal, doctors recommend two PROFHILO treatments spaced one month apart, corresponding to the skin's cell renewal rate. Some patients choose a third treatment three or six months later.

How quickly does PROFHILO work?

PROFHILO hydrates the skin and gives it a healthy glow almost immediately. The full effect of new collagen and elastin production becomes visible about four to six weeks after the first treatment.

How long does PROFHILO last?

PROFHILO remains in the skin for only about 28 days – much shorter than traditional hyaluronic acid-based fillers. The body quickly breaks down hyaluronic acid molecules as they do not contain BDDE.

However, you may notice increased hydration for about three months and improved elasticity due to new collagen and elastin for six months after the initial treatment series.