Profhilo Precare Information

This page provides important information about your proposed treatment, including how it works, what you may expect, how to prepare and the potential benefits, limitations and risks. Please read it carefully before your appointment and contact us if you have any questions.

What is Profhilo® treatment used for?

Profhilo® is an injectable medical device containing high- and low-molecular-weight hyaluronic acid. Hyaluronic acid occurs naturally in the body and plays an important role in maintaining skin hydration.

Profhilo® is used to improve skin quality, including hydration, smoothness, firmness and laxity. It may help skin that has become dry, crepey or less elastic and may soften fine lines.

Profhilo® is not a dermal filler and is not primarily intended to create structural volume or alter facial contours. It disperses within the tissues and supports hydration and tissue remodelling.

Profhilo® is commonly used to treat the face and may also be used in other areas, including the neck, décolletage and hands, following individual assessment.

Results vary according to factors including your age, skin quality, degree of laxity, treatment area, lifestyle and previous treatment. The goal is improvement not perfection, thus complete correction of significant skin laxity or established wrinkles cannot be guaranteed.

How does it work?

Profhilo® contains hyaluronic acid produced through biofermentation without chemical modification. Once injected, it disperses within the tissues, where it attracts water and supports the processes involved in maintaining skin hydration, elasticity and firmness.

The treatment is sometimes described as “bio-remodelling” because its purpose is to improve the condition and quality of the skin rather than create the structural volume or contour associated with conventional dermal fillers.

What happens during treatment?

The skin will be cleaned and disinfected before treatment. Small amounts of Profhilo® will then be injected using a fine needle.

For facial treatment, Profhilo® is commonly injected at five points on each side of the face, although the injection pattern may be adapted following individual assessment. Other treatment areas may require a different technique.

Most patients experience only brief discomfort or stinging during the injections. Anaesthetic is not usually required, although this will depend on the treatment area and your individual needs.

Small raised bumps will usually be visible at the injection sites immediately afterwards. This is expected and occurs because the product has been placed beneath the skin. The bumps usually flatten as the product disperses, commonly within 24–48 hours, although they may occasionally remain visible for longer.

What are the possible side effects and risks?

All injectable treatments carry potential risks and side effects. Your doctor will assess your suitability and discuss any risks of particular relevance to you.

Expected short-term injection-site effects

Temporary effects at the injection sites may include:

• pain, stinging, tenderness;
• bumps, redness or swelling;
• minor bleeding; and
• bruising.

These effects are usually short-lived; however, bruising, redness or swelling may sometimes take several days and occasionally longer to settle.

Other possible effects

It is common and expected to develop bumps at the injection sites immediately after treatment. These usually improve within 24–48 hours as the product disperses. Any lumps, nodules or hardening that persist or develop later require further assessment.

Infection following treatment is uncommon. Signs include increasing redness, heat, swelling, tenderness, discharge or worsening pain. An abscess may rarely develop.

Post-inflammatory pigmentation or another change in skin colour may occasionally occur following an injection, particularly in darker skin types.

Treatment around an area previously affected by herpes simplex may trigger a recurrence of cold sores. Please tell your doctor if you have a history of cold sores, as preventative antiviral treatment may sometimes be appropriate.

Delayed reactions, including swelling, inflammation, nodules or granulomas, may occur weeks or months after treatment and require further assessment or treatment.

Allergic reactions

Allergic or hypersensitivity reactions to Profhilo® or another product used during the procedure are uncommon but possible. If a topical anaesthetic has been used, an allergic reaction to this may also occur.

Call 999 or seek immediate medical attention if you develop symptoms of a severe allergic reaction, such as difficulty breathing, swelling of the face, lips, mouth or throat, widespread hives, wheezing or feeling faint.

Vascular compromise

Profhilo® must not be injected into a blood vessel. In very rare cases, accidental injection into, or pressure on, a blood vessel can restrict the blood supply to the skin or other tissues. This is known as vascular compromise or vascular occlusion.

Depending on the area affected, vascular compromise may result in skin damage, delayed healing, scarring or tissue loss. Exceptionally rare but potentially serious eye complications, including visual disturbance or loss of vision, have been reported following injectable hyaluronic acid treatments. Any suspected vascular complication therefore requires immediate assessment and appropriate specialist management.

Warning signs may include:

• severe, increasing or unusual pain;
• blanching, mottling or another unexpected change in skin colour;
• skin that becomes unusually pale, dusky or cool;
• a severe or worsening headache associated with visual or neurological symptoms.

If you develop severe or increasing pain or an unexpected change in skin colour following treatment, contact the clinic immediately for urgent assessment or attend A&E outside of clinic opening hours. Do not wait until the next working day.

Visual symptoms following treatment constitute a medical emergency. If you experience any change in vision, blurring, loss of vision or eye pain, call 999 or attend your nearest A&E immediately. Do not wait for a response from the clinic before seeking emergency medical attention. Please notify the clinic once urgent medical help has been arranged.

How quickly does it work?

Results are not immediate. Hydration and skin quality may begin to improve over the weeks following treatment, with the result continuing to develop after the treatment course has been completed.

An initial course of two treatments approximately four weeks apart is commonly recommended. The most appropriate treatment course will depend on your skin, treatment area and individual response.

How long does it last?

The duration of improvement varies between different people, and no particular duration of improvement can be guaranteed. Maintenance treatment may be considered according to your response and individual clinical assessment, often after approximately 6–12 months.

Will I look worse if I stop treatment?

Stopping Profhilo® treatment does not accelerate skin ageing or cause the skin to become worse than it would otherwise have been. The benefits of treatment will gradually reduce as the product is naturally broken down, while your skin will continue to change in the usual way with time, ageing and lifestyle factors.

Suitability for treatment

Please tell your doctor before your appointment if any of the following apply to you, as treatment may need to be postponed, modified or avoided:

• You are pregnant, breastfeeding, trying to conceive or think that you may be pregnant.
• You have previously experienced an adverse reaction or unexpected response to Profhilo®, hyaluronic acid or another injectable treatment.
• You have a known allergy to hyaluronic acid or any other product that may be used during the procedure.
• You have an autoimmune condition or immune deficiency.
• You have a history of severe allergy or anaphylaxis.
• You have a bleeding or bruising disorder.
• You are taking anticoagulant or antiplatelet medication, such as warfarin, rivaroxaban, apixaban, dabigatran, clopidogrel or aspirin.
• You are taking ibuprofen or another anti-inflammatory medicine, as this may increase the risk of bruising.
• You have an infection, inflammation, rash, eczema, psoriasis, acne flare or active cold sore in or close to the proposed treatment area.
• You are unwell on the day of treatment, including with a significant cough, cold, flu-like illness or fever.
• You have recently undergone, or are planning, surgery, dental treatment or another cosmetic procedure that you have not discussed with your doctor.
• You have previously developed hypertrophic or keloid scarring.
• You have any other medical condition, medication or allergy that your doctor may not be aware of.

Allow at least 2 weeks between Profhilo® and superficial chemical peels, IPL or non-ablative laser treatment and at least 4 weeks between Profhilo® and laser resurfacing or medium-depth chemical peels. Treatment should only proceed once the skin has fully healed, and a longer interval may be recommended following individual assessment.

How should I prepare for my appointment?

Please:

• arrive with clean skin and without make-up in the areas to be treated;
• arrange your appointment at a time when you can
• avoid wearing make-up for the remainder of the day;
• avoid alcohol on the day of treatment;
• tell your doctor about any change in your health, medication, allergies or pregnancy status since booking;
• tell your doctor about any recent or planned dental treatment, surgery or other cosmetic procedure;
• allow at least 2 weeks between treatment and an important event or special occasion, in case swelling or bruising occurs or review is required; and
• avoid arranging treatment immediately before travel if this would prevent you from attending the clinic for assessment should a complication occur.

After treatment, you will be advised to:

• avoid touching, rubbing, massaging or applying pressure to the treated areas;
• avoid applying make-up for the remainder of the day;
• avoid alcohol on the day of treatment;
• avoid vigorous exercise for 48 hours and, where possible, for up to 1 week;
• avoid facials, facial massage, saunas and steam rooms for at least 2 weeks;
• avoid excessive heat and ultraviolet exposure and use broad-spectrum SPF 50 sunscreen for at least 3–5 days;
• avoid laser, energy-based or peeling treatments in the same area until the appropriate interval has passed; and
• follow the written aftercare advice provided by the clinic.

If you have any questions after reading this information, please contact us before your appointment.