What Is Profhilo? The Complete Bio-Remodelling Treatment Guide
Mohsan Maan, Clinical Director & Prescribing Pharmacist | 7 minutes read
- Quick Answer
Profhilo is an injectable hyaluronic acid skin treatment manufactured by IBSA Pharmaceuticals in Italy. It improves skin quality through bio-remodelling, stimulating your skin’s own collagen and elastin production beneath the skin rather than adding volume to specific areas. The initial protocol is two sessions four weeks apart, with visible results developing over four to eight weeks and lasting around six months. UK pricing typically ranges from £250 to £350 per session.
Profhilo is one of the most asked-about treatments at our Wilmslow clinic, and for good reason. It looks natural. It has essentially no downtime. And it addresses something traditional aesthetic treatments often cannot fix: the gradual loss of skin quality that becomes noticeable in your 30s.
But what is Profhilo really, and how is it different from the dermal fillers it is so often confused with? Here is what you need to know, written by the team at The Aesthetics Suite in Wilmslow and medically reviewed by our Clinical Director.
What Is Profhilo?
Profhilo is an injectable hyaluronic acid skin treatment that improves skin quality through bio-remodelling, rather than adding volume to specific areas. It is manufactured in Italy by IBSA Pharmaceuticals.
Unlike dermal fillers, which sit in a defined area to add volume, Profhilo is designed to spread across the skin. It hydrates the tissue, stimulates collagen and elastin production beneath the skin, and improves overall skin quality from within.
Patients often describe the result as looking like a better version of their own skin. Profhilo was launched in 2015 and has become one of the most widely used skin boosters in Europe.
How Does Profhilo Work?
Profhilo works through bio-remodelling. The injected hyaluronic acid HA triggers your skin’s own repair mechanisms over the weeks following treatment.
The formulation combines two molecular weights of hyaluronic acid:
- High-molecular-weight HA: provides structural support and lifting
- Low-molecular-weight HA: provides deep hydration
This dual-action profile is what allows Profhilo to behave differently to most other injectable treatments. Once injected, it gradually releases hyaluronic acid into the surrounding tissue, stimulating collagen and elastin production over four to six weeks.
Because Profhilo spreads rather than staying in one place, it does not add volume to specific features. Patients who want fuller lips or lifted cheeks will not get those results from Profhilo. Patients who want firmer, hydrated, refreshed skin will.
What Profhilo Treats (And What It Doesn’t)
Profhilo addresses the early-to-moderate signs of skin quality decline. It works on the face, neck, décolletage, hands and several body areas.
Profhilo Works Well For
- Skin laxity (loss of firmness)
- Dehydration and dullness
- Fine lines from skin quality changes
- Loss of luminosity and glow
- Crepiness on neck, décolletage and hands
- Early signs of ageing
Profhilo Cannot Fix
- Volume loss (use dermal fillers)
- Deep wrinkles from muscle contraction (use anti-wrinkle injections)
- Significant skin laxity that is too advanced
- Pigmentation issues (sun spots, melasma)
- Active acne or moderate-to-severe scarring
- Severe sun damage with deep texture changes
If your primary concern is in the right column, Profhilo is not the right treatment on its own. A good consultation will give you an honest assessment and may recommend a combination plan.
Who Is Profhilo Suitable For?
Profhilo is suitable for men and women noticing early-to-moderate signs of ageing in the skin, typically beginning in the early 30s.
It is particularly well-suited to:
- Patients in their 30s noticing early skin laxity or dehydration
- Patients in their 40s and 50s wanting firmer skin without volumising
- Patients with concerns about neck or décolletage skin
- Men wanting refreshed skin without the look of being treated
- Patients combining Profhilo with other treatments as part of a long-term plan
Profhilo is not suitable during pregnancy, breastfeeding, or for patients with certain autoimmune conditions or active skin infections. Suitability is confirmed at consultation.
What to Expect: Treatment, Recovery and Results
Profhilo is delivered using the BAP technique (Bio Aesthetic Points): five small injections on each side of the face. The treatment takes 30 to 45 minutes.
Most patients find it tolerable without numbing, though topical numbing is available. After treatment, small raised bumps at each injection point settle within 2 to 6 hours. Most patients return to normal activities the same day.
The initial protocol is two sessions, four weeks apart. Here is the typical timeline:
Timepoint
- Day 1 (first session)
- Weeks 1 to 2
- Week 4 (second session)
- Weeks 4 to 6
- Week 8 onwards
- Month 6
What to Expect
- Treatment + small bumps at injection sites for 2 to 6 hours
- Initial hydration improvements often noticeable
- Same protocol, often more comfortable than the first
- Visible firmness and tone improvements develop
- Peak results visible
- Maintenance session recommended
Once the initial protocol is complete, results last around six months. A single maintenance session every six months sustains the effect.
Profhilo vs Other Skin Re Treatments
The aesthetic industry has expanded rapidly, and the choice of injectables can be confusing. Here is how Profhilo compares to the other treatments patients most often ask about.
Treatment
What It Does
Best For
Longevity
- Profhilo
- Bio-remodelling: hydrates and stimulates collagen and elastic
- Skin quality, dehydration, early laxity
- 6 months
- Dermal Fillers
- Adds volume to specific areas
- Lip enhancement, cheek volume, jawline
- 6 to 18 months
- Polynucleotides
- Cellular regeneration via salmon-derived DNA fragments
- Under-eye area, tissue repair
- 6 to 12 months
- Sculptra
- Bio-stimulator that builds collagen over time
- Gradual volume restoration
- 2+ years
- Skin Boosters (other)
- Hyaluronic acid hydration
- General skin hydration
- 3 to 6 months
The simplest way to remember the key difference: dermal filler adds something to specific areas. Profhilo improves the quality of what is already there. Both can be used together as part of a broader treatment plan.
Is Profhilo Safe?
Profhilo has a strong safety record when administered by qualified medical practitioners. Side effects are generally minor: small bumps at injection sites that settle within hours, occasional mild bruising. Serious complications are rare.
Profhilo is a regulated medical treatment in the UK and should only be administered by qualified medical professionals following a face-to-face consultation. If a clinic offers Profhilo without this consultation, or by a practitioner without medical qualifications, that is a warning sign.
At The Aesthetics Suite, every Profhilo treatment is delivered by Mohsan Maan, our Clinical Director and Prescribing Pharmacist, or Nikita Trehan, our Level 7 Aesthetics Practitioner.
Cost and Whether Profhilo Is Worth It
In the UK, a single session of Profhilo typically costs £250 to £350. The initial two-session protocol runs around £500 to £700 total. Maintenance every six months keeps the per-session cost the same.
At The Aesthetics Suite, Profhilo is £299 per session. Consultation is complimentary.
Is it worth it? For patients seeking improvement in overall skin quality, hydration and firmness, yes. Profhilo is one of the most evidence-based and predictable treatments available. For patients seeking volume restoration or dramatic transformation, it is not.
The patients who consistently feel Profhilo was worth the investment are those who started early, completed the protocol, and had realistic expectations from day one.
Profhilo at The Aesthetics Suite, Wilmslow
If you are considering Profhilo and would like to know more, we offer complimentary consultations at our Wilmslow clinic. Treatment is delivered by Mohsan Maan, Prescribing Pharmacist, or Nikita Trehan, Level 7 Aesthetics Practitioner.
We serve patients across Wilmslow, Alderley Edge, Knutsford, Prestbury and the surrounding Cheshire area.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Profhilo made of?
Profhilo is made of hyaluronic acid, a substance that occurs naturally in the body. It uses a dual-molecular-weight formulation, combining high-molecular-weight and low-molecular-weight hyaluronic acid.
Is Profhilo the same as filler?
No. Both are made from hyaluronic acid but they behave differently. Dermal fillers stay in a specific area to add volume. Profhilo spreads across the tissue to improve overall skin quality. They are often used together as part of a broader plan.
How long does Profhilo last?
After the initial two-session protocol, results typically last around six months. A maintenance session every six months sustains the bio-remodelling effect.
What age should I start Profhilo?
There is no fixed age. Most patients begin between 30 and 55, when early-to-moderate signs of skin quality decline become noticeable. The right time to start is when those signs begin to bother you.
Does Profhilo hurt?
The treatment involves ten small injections in total. Most patients describe the sensation as a brief pinch at each point, tolerable without numbing. Topical numbing cream is available if requested.
How soon will I see results from Profhilo?
Initial hydration improvements are often noticeable within one to two weeks. Visible improvements in firmness and skin quality typically appear four to six weeks after the second session.
Can Profhilo go wrong?
Profhilo has a strong safety record but, as with any injectable, complications are possible. Most common issues are mild bruising or prolonged bumps at injection sites. Serious complications are very rare and almost always associated with practitioner inexperience.
Is Profhilo worth the cost?
For patients seeking improvement in skin quality, hydration and firmness, yes. For patients seeking volume restoration or dramatic transformation, other treatments are more appropriate. A consultation is the most reliable way to decide.
