What Profhilo is
Profhilo is made by IBSA. It is a hybrid complex of high and low molecular weight hyaluronic acid. The product is stabilised by heat. It contains no BDDE crosslinker, so it spreads through tissue and holds no shape. Because it spreads, it is placed as discrete boluses and is not sculpted the way filler is.
That one fact explains most of this guide. Filler targets shape, while Profhilo targets the quality of skin. If you want a higher cheek or a fuller chin, it will not give you that.
Profhilo in Singapore: the short answer
Profhilo is for skin quality. It suits crepey or dehydrated skin and fine surface lines. It is the wrong choice for hollows, projection or a loose jawline. Treatment details are on the Profhilo treatment page. Skin that needs a different mechanism may be assessed for another injectable, set out in Rejuran vs Profhilo.
Who it tends to suit
Skin that has lost recoil on the pinch test, without major descent.
Where hydration and elasticity are the concern, not shape.
Fine lines in the surface of the skin. Hollows and folds are a separate question.
The neck and the backs of the hands can be treated as well as the face.
Where Profhilo fits among injectables
| Product | Aim | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Profhilo | Skin quality through bio-remodelling | Placed at defined points. Adds no volume |
| Profhilo Structura | Fat-compartment change at the sides of the face | A separate IBSA product, placed deeper by cannula |
| Rejuran | Polynucleotides for thin, fragile skin | Fish allergy is raised first |
| Juvelook | Hyaluronic acid with PDLLA for a slow collagen response | The PDLLA cannot be dissolved |
| Filler or biostimulator | Volume or structure | Used where shape is the problem |
The BAP technique
What Profhilo cannot do
Hollow cheeks, a flat nasal bridge or a receded chin need a filler or structural assessment. See volume treatment.
These need different treatments.
Hyaluronic acid is broken down by hyaluronidase in the body, so the effect is not lifelong.
Who should not have it
Known allergy to hyaluronic acid or any component. Active infection, inflammation, cold sore or acne flare at the sites. Pregnancy or breastfeeding, which have not been studied.
Autoimmune disease, severe allergic history, keloid tendency, and a bleeding disorder or blood thinners, which mean more bruising. Prior non-dissolvable filler in the area is assessed too.
Anyone seeking volume, correction of descent or a lift.
Risks to discuss first
What the evidence says
Laboratory work suggests the material resists hyaluronidase for longer than hyaluronic acid alone. Gene expression for collagen and elastin also rose in those cell models. This is laboratory work, and it does not predict what an individual's skin will do.
How the choice is made
The question is what the skin lacks. Crepey or dehydrated skin may suit Profhilo. Thin, fragile skin may point to polynucleotides. A slow collagen response may point to Juvelook, keeping in mind that its PDLLA cannot be dissolved. Flattening at the sides of the face is assessed for Structura. Hollows and flat areas need filler or a biostimulator. Scarred skin may be part of a modified plan, and the doctor treats it within that plan. Whether every standard point is used is decided at examination. Sometimes the answer is that Profhilo is not advised at all. If you have been told you need Profhilo, it is fair to ask what the examination found, and whether filler, lifting or no treatment was considered. A quote should say which product it refers to and how many syringes are planned. Results vary and are judged at review.
Recovery, sessions and fees
Blebs and mild redness are expected at first. On the first evening, avoid make-up, heat, alcohol and exercise. Bruising, tenderness and swelling settle on their own over the following days. Any change in hydration and elasticity is gradual, not on the day. More than one visit may be advised, and any second placement is timed at review. Increasing pain, spreading redness or persistent swelling needs prompt review. Cost depends on the areas treated, the number of syringes, whether placement extends beyond standard points, and any combined treatment. A written quote follows assessment, which also decides whether Profhilo is advised at all.