WTF is Profhilo anyway?
WTF Is... is an ongoing series from Not Born With It, demystifying buzzwords from the cosmetic work/wellness universes. Today: Profhilo: WTF is it, have I had it, would I have it, should you have it?
So… WTF is it?
It’s an injectable form of high-concentration1 hyaluronic acid.
How do you pronounce it?
Spelling and pronouncing Profhilo is one of the great challenges of my lifetime. I have no idea why.
Pro-file-oh
What’s the point of it? I mean, what does it actually do?
It’s injected under the skin and boosts collagen production.
How does it work?
It’s injected into 5 points (cheeks/chin/jaw) on each side of the face2. From there, it stimulates the production of collagen and elastin in the skin.
This increases/restores the skin’s firmness, elasticity and plumpness.
It provides deep hydration to the skin, by attracting water to the layers of the epidermis that your moisturiser can’t reach3.
It is most typically used on the face, but it can be injected into skin anywhere on the body - use on hands and the chest is becoming increasingly common.
And why would someone want it?
It’s pretty powerful hydration skincare.
It provides a significant moisture boost to the skin with limited side-effects, other than a risk of bruising or swelling in the 48hrs after the treatment.
How much is it?
Between £250 and £500 per treatment in the UK, $250-$850 in the US.
The first time, two treatments are needed, spread a month to 6 weeks apart. Then maintenance is another, single, treatment every 4-6 months.
Does it hurt?
Some practitioners will numb the area beforehand with a local anaesthetic cream.
It hurts as much as you’d expect 10 injections to the face to hurt.
Has anyone I would have heard of talked about getting it?
It’s a proper rogue’s gallery in the UK: Anthea Turner, Jamie Laing and Gemma Collins👇🏼.
Have I had it?
I’ve been getting it injected into my face every 6 months since 2021.
Would I have it?
I plan to keep getting it indefinitely, unless a better alternative is developed. I have vague plans to start a savings account to fund Full Body Profhilo in a few years.
I have eczema on my face and Profhilo has really helped keep that under control whilst halving the number of products that I use.
In my case, I save as much on skincare as I spend on Profhilo and it’s massively simplified my daily skincare routine. It’s a no-brainer for me.
Should you have it?
If you’re looking to get rid of wrinkles or fine lines, no. That’s not what Profhilo is. It might have a moderate effect on fine lines, but Botox or filler are far more effective4 for these.
The word that’s always bandied about in the promotional blurb for Prohilo is “glow”. If you have dehydrated skin, want to try to zhuzh5 it up from the inside and are ok with needles, Profhilo is a pretty good bet, IMO.
Anything else I think you should know?
Immediately after the treatment and for 24-48 hours afterwards, raised bumps can appear at the injection points. They’re like bee stings if so. They go down in no more than 48 hours, but they can be quite alarming.
‘Full’ effects won’t be seen until 4-6 weeks after the treatment, although I usually see an initial post-treatment glow about 10 days after I’ve had it done.
Otherwise, I feel I’ve said enough 😂. This post felt like it was becoming an ad at multiple points, despite my considerable efforts to remain impartial.
Disclaimer: ‘WTF is…’ guides are intended to be a 3-5 minute introduction to a topic. They are, by their nature, not exhaustive.
If you have a concern that I’ve irresponsibly included/omitted information, don’t hesitate to get in touch to let me know and I’ll take a look.
Reminder that any cosmetic work undertaken should be in accordance with The 6 rules of cosmetic work. Here they are, in case you missed them the first time…
62mg per 2ml, fact fans
So, 10 injections in total for the procedure
This isn’t an ad, this just is how it works.
There’s also a new kid in town called Nucleofill, but I can’t find a neutral source to link to.
Turns out I struggle to spell this too.