In this guide11 sections
Profhilo is a hyaluronic acid injectable, but it isn’t a dermal filler. It doesn’t add volume, doesn’t sit in lines, and doesn’t reshape contours. Instead, it stimulates the body’s own collagen and elastin production, improves skin hydration from within the dermis, and produces a “skin quality” change — better tone, less crepiness, more elasticity — over the weeks following treatment.
This is the comprehensive guide: what Profhilo actually is, how it works, the specific BAP injection protocol we use, who it suits, what to expect, costs, how long it lasts, how it compares to alternatives, and the patients for whom it isn’t the right answer. For how we give Profhilo at Centre for Surgery, see our Profhilo treatment in London page.
What Profhilo actually is
Profhilo is a unique formulation manufactured by IBSA in Italy. Its distinguishing feature is the use of hybrid cooperative complexes of hyaluronic acid — a patented combination of high molecular weight HA (which provides hydration and lift) and low molecular weight HA (which provides skin remodelling and elastin/collagen stimulation). The two forms are stabilised together without chemical cross-linking, which is what separates Profhilo from traditional fillers.
This matters clinically:
It bioremodels rather than fills. Standard fillers add a physical volume of gel under the skin to push out a hollow or smooth a line. Profhilo spreads through the dermis after injection and acts as a signal to the surrounding fibroblasts to produce new collagen, elastin, and natural hyaluronic acid. The visible change comes from your skin’s own remodelling, not from the product sitting in the tissue.
It doesn’t change shape — it changes quality. If you have a flat cheek that needs projection, Profhilo won’t address that — a cheek filler will. If you have crepey, lax, dehydrated skin overlying a normal contour, Profhilo is the appropriate intervention.
It’s safe across the face, neck, hands, and other body areas. The product isn’t sitting structurally, so it can be used in areas where fillers would be inappropriate.
For more on how this differs from anti-wrinkle injections and fillers, see our guide on anti-wrinkle injections vs dermal fillers.
The BAP injection protocol — 5 points per side
Profhilo uses a specific injection technique called the Bio Aesthetic Points (BAP) protocol. Rather than placing product into every visible line or hollow, the treatment uses 5 strategic injection points on each side of the face — 10 in total — chosen for their ability to maximise even spread of the product across the dermis.
The 5 BAP points on each side are:
- Zygomatic protrusion — over the highest point of the cheekbone
- Nasal base — aligned with the nostril opening, lateral to it
- Tragus — the area just in front of the external ear
- Chin — the lateral aspect of the chin
- Jawline — at the angle of the jaw
A small volume (typically 2ml of product total across the face, split as 1ml per side) is delivered as a bolus at each of these points. The Profhilo product is designed to spread predictably through the dermis between the injection sites, integrating evenly across the treated area.
This standardisation is part of what makes the treatment reliable. Unlike filler — where product placement varies enormously based on the patient’s specific anatomy and the practitioner’s preferences — Profhilo treatment follows the same protocol session after session, which is why outcomes are consistent.
For the neck, a parallel protocol with adjusted injection points is used.
What changes, and when
The visible improvements with Profhilo develop over weeks, not days. The timeline is roughly:
Week 1: immediate hydration boost. The skin looks slightly glowier from the HA’s water-binding effect. Bumps from the injection points settle within 24 to 48 hours.
Weeks 4 to 6: after the second treatment session, fibroblast activity begins to produce new collagen and elastin in response to the Profhilo signal. The skin starts to feel firmer and more elastic.
Weeks 8 to 12: the full result becomes visible. The skin shows improved tone, reduced crepiness, better elasticity, and a more even surface texture. Patients often describe feeling that their skin “looks like it used to.”
The treatment doesn’t produce dramatic before-and-after changes — it produces a subtle, accumulated improvement that often becomes more obvious to patients several months in, when they compare current photos to ones taken before treatment.
The standard treatment course
The standard Profhilo course consists of two sessions, four weeks apart. Both sessions use the same BAP injection protocol. The first session begins the bioremodelling process; the second session reinforces and extends it.
A single session of Profhilo is not sufficient to produce the full result. Patients who have only one treatment typically see initial hydration improvement but not the structural skin quality change that follows the complete two-session course.
For maintenance, most patients return for a single Profhilo top-up session, often about once a year, timed by how their skin responds. There is no evidence that more frequent sessions give a better result.
Patients with more advanced skin laxity, or those who want maximum results, often combine Profhilo maintenance with other treatments — discussed below.
What to expect on the day
A typical session takes 10 to 15 minutes once the topical anaesthetic has been allowed to take effect. The injection technique is straightforward — small bolus injections at each of the 5 BAP points — and most patients describe it as a brief sting at each site.
Profhilo doesn’t contain lidocaine in its formulation (unlike many dermal fillers and skin boosters), so a topical anaesthetic cream is applied for about 30 minutes before treatment.
Immediately after treatment: small bumps at each of the 10 injection points. These typically settle within 24 to 48 hours as the product spreads through the dermis.
Possible side effects: minor bruising at injection sites, mild redness for a few hours, occasional mild headache. All resolve within a few days.
Aftercare: standard injectables protocol applies — no lying flat for 4 hours, no massage, rubbing or pressure on the area for 24 hours, no make-up for 12 hours, no alcohol or strenuous exercise for 24 hours, and no saunas, steam rooms or hot yoga for 48 hours. See our full injectables aftercare guide for detail.
Patients can return to normal activities immediately. The small bumps at the injection points are visible on close inspection but are easily concealed and aren’t usually a barrier to social activity.
Profhilo vs alternatives
Profhilo vs other skin boosters
Both are injectable hyaluronic acid skin treatments, but they’re not the same.
Profhilo uses hybrid cooperative complexes of pure hyaluronic acid in a high concentration. The treatment course is 2 sessions spaced 4 weeks apart, using the 5-point BAP protocol. No lidocaine in the formulation. Treatment areas include face, neck, hands, and the décolletage and upper arms after assessment.
Other skin boosters use hyaluronic acid, and some also contain amino acids, antioxidants and minerals. Our hyaluronic acid skin boosters are usually given as a course of three sessions about four weeks apart, using a microinjection technique that places small droplets at multiple points across the treatment area, and many contain a little local anaesthetic for comfort.
Clinically, these skin boosters are often preferred for patients who need particular targeting of fine lines and crepey texture in specific areas (around the mouth, on the cheeks). Profhilo is often preferred for patients who want broader skin quality improvement across larger treatment zones. Many patients use them at different points in their treatment plan — they aren’t mutually exclusive.
For more on skin booster treatments in general, see our skin booster injectables overview.
Profhilo vs dermal fillers
The two treatments do different jobs:
Profhilo improves skin quality. It addresses crepiness, dehydration, fine surface texture, and mild laxity. It does not contour, project, or fill specific lines.
Dermal fillers add volume, restore contour, fill lines, and reshape features. They sit physically in the tissue and produce immediate structural change.
For patients with both skin-quality concerns and volume loss, the two are often combined. A typical plan might include cheek and tear trough filler to restore structural volume, followed (or paired) with Profhilo to improve the overlying skin quality.
Profhilo vs anti-wrinkle injections
Different mechanisms entirely:
Profhilo works on skin quality and elasticity over weeks. It doesn’t affect muscle activity.
Anti-wrinkle injections relax specific facial muscles to reduce dynamic wrinkles. They don’t affect skin quality.
A patient with dynamic upper-face lines and crepey skin texture across the lower face would benefit from AWI for the upper face and Profhilo for the lower face. Different problems, different tools.
Profhilo vs energy-based skin treatments
Fotona 4D stimulates collagen production using laser energy and can be combined with Profhilo for layered benefit.
Morpheus8 uses radiofrequency microneedling to reach deeper into the dermis. Stronger tightening than Profhilo but with several days of pinkness and scabbing as recovery.
Many patients combine Profhilo with one of these energy-based treatments. Profhilo addresses skin quality from within; the energy device addresses skin quality from above. The combined effect is typically more pronounced than either treatment alone.
For neck-specific applications, see our guide on how to tighten neck skin without surgery.
Who is a good candidate?
Profhilo suits:
- Patients with early to moderate signs of skin ageing — skin that’s starting to look crepey, dehydrated, or lacks the firmness it had previously
- Patients in their 30s, 40s, and 50s wanting general skin quality improvement
- Patients with poor skin quality where filler placement would otherwise be compromised — Profhilo is sometimes used to prepare the skin before filler treatment
- Patients with mild laxity in areas where surgery isn’t yet warranted (neck, lower face, hands)
- Patients post-facelift or other facial surgery wanting to maintain and improve skin quality over time
- Patients seeking a natural-looking, gradual improvement rather than dramatic change
Patients with very mild skin concerns (early 20s, no visible signs of ageing) generally don’t benefit meaningfully from Profhilo — the marginal change isn’t worth the cost. Patients with significant skin laxity or volume loss usually need stronger interventions (energy-based treatment, filler, or surgery) instead of, or in addition to, Profhilo.
Who is not a good candidate?
Profhilo is not recommended for:
- Pregnancy and breastfeeding
- Known allergy to hyaluronic acid or any of the formulation excipients
- Active skin infection or inflammation in the treatment area
- Autoimmune diseases — particularly those with skin involvement (lupus, scleroderma)
- Recent (within 4 to 6 weeks) other injectable treatment to the same area without specialist assessment
- Patients on immunosuppressive therapy without medical clearance
- Patients with significant skin laxity who would be better served by surgical intervention
How much it costs
Prices for these treatments are on our Skin & Aesthetics price list.
Our price list has two Profhilo options: a course of two sessions, which is how most people start, and a single session, which is also used as a top-up once you have completed a course. Many people have a top-up about once a year.
Dermal filler prices are on the same price list. Profhilo and filler do different jobs, so which suits you depends on whether your main concern is skin quality or volume loss.
Finance options through Chrysalis Finance are available, subject to status, to spread the cost across a treatment plan.
Combining Profhilo with other treatments
Profhilo plays well with most other treatments because its mechanism is bioremodelling rather than physical filling. Common combinations:
Profhilo + dermal filler. Profhilo for skin quality, filler for structural volume. The two address complementary concerns. Most clinics space them 2 to 4 weeks apart, but they can sometimes be done in the same session by experienced injectors.
Profhilo + anti-wrinkle injections. Profhilo for skin quality, AWI for dynamic lines. No issue with timing — often done in the same session.
Profhilo + energy-based treatment. Profhilo as the structural skin signal, Fotona 4D or Morpheus8 as the surface stimulation. Usually spaced 2 weeks apart, with the energy-based treatment first followed by Profhilo.
Profhilo before surgery. Some patients use Profhilo in the months before facelift or other facial surgery to optimise skin quality before the procedure. Improved skin elasticity can improve surgical outcomes and recovery appearance.
Profhilo after surgery. Patients who’ve had a facelift, brow lift, or blepharoplasty often use Profhilo as maintenance to keep skin quality high and slow the rate at which surgical results soften over time.
Common questions
Will I see results after the first session?
You’ll notice an initial hydration boost within the first week, but the structural skin quality change requires both sessions and develops over 8 to 12 weeks. Don’t judge the result before completing the full course.
Is Profhilo permanent?
No — in published studies the effect lasts up to about 6 months, after which maintenance is needed. Patients sometimes describe this as a downside, but the temporary nature has an upside: if you don’t like the result, you don’t have to wait years for it to fully resolve.
Can I have Profhilo in my lips or for fine wrinkles around the mouth?
Profhilo isn’t placed directly into the lips. For fine perioral wrinkles, a skin booster or a soft filler is usually more appropriate. See our guide on smoker’s lines and upper lip wrinkles.
Does Profhilo work for the hands?
Yes. Profhilo on the back of the hands is a common application — particularly for patients whose face has been treated but whose hands “give them away.” The protocol uses adjusted injection points across the back of the hand.
Can I dissolve Profhilo if I don’t like it?
Technically yes — it’s hyaluronic acid and would dissolve with hyaluronidase — but in practice this is rarely needed. Profhilo doesn’t sit as a discrete volume of product, so dissolution isn’t usually requested for cosmetic reasons. Cases requiring dissolution are typically allergic or inflammatory reactions, which are rare.
How does the cost compare to skincare?
Profhilo prices are on our Skin & Aesthetics price list, so you can compare them with what you spend on skincare. The treatments don’t replace good daily skincare — daily SPF, retinoids, and vitamin C remain important — but for many patients the bioremodelling effect of Profhilo achieves more than skincare alone can.
Will my skin be dependent on Profhilo if I stop?
No. The new collagen and elastin produced in response to Profhilo persists for as long as it would have anyway — the body doesn’t “unlearn” how to produce these proteins. Stopping treatment means your skin returns to its natural ageing trajectory, not to a worse-than-baseline state.
Centre for Surgery · CQC-regulated · GMC-registered surgeons · 95–97 Baker Street, Marylebone, London W1U 6RN · 020 7993 4849 · Book a consultation · Finance available, subject to status
