We’ve Got the Full Scoop on Profhilo Including 10 Best Clinics To Visit in Singapore

Here’s the latest in aesthetic news: aesthetic doctors recently are shunning dermal fillers and skin boosters in favour of the latest injectable in town, named Profhilo.

It’s been touted as an all-rounder solution that can help treat various skin issues for lasting skin rejuvenation minus any downtime.

If you’ve been hearing about Profhilo in Singapore from your friends or doctor and are keen to try it out, you’ve come to the right place.

Daily Vanity has all the lowdown you need about the latest skin-rejuvenating treatment that’s got beauty insiders buzzing, including a Profhilo review by our writer, so keep on reading.

What Is Profhilo?

For those who are familiar with European aesthetic trends, Profhilo might not sound like a new buzzword to you. That’s because the face tweakment has been raved about by many beauty enthusiasts and writers in Europe for a few years now, having first been developed in Italy and made commercially available in Europe since 2015.

Its effects have been so impressive that Profhilo has even been dubbed “the anti-wrinkle treatment for 2019” by British newspaper, the Times. And now, it has finally arrived in Singapore.

So, what exactly is Profhilo? Officially, it is described as the first bio-remodelling “injectable skincare” that uses hyaluronic acid to address skin laxity and signs of ageing through the bio-stimulation of collagen, elastin, and adipocyte (fat) stem cells that are lost through skin ageing.

In layman’s terms, it is an injection treatment that hydrates your skin and bio-remodels sagging skin by encouraging fat tissue renewal.

You may be wondering, injectable skincare isn’t exactly new, so how is Profhilo any different? Or how does Profhilo compare to Sunekos or Botox as an anti-ageing treatment?

Why Profhilo Is Different From Other Injectables and Skin Boosters?

Not long after its launch, most industry experts and medical professionals rank Profhilo above the rest in terms of safety, speed, and longevity. Profhilo’s high ranking of safety and longevity is largely credited to its main premise of injecting only high and low molecular weight hyaluronic acid (HA) into the dermis to disperse itself.

In fact, many aesthetic doctors in Singapore have been administering the injectable since its debut in Singapore – more than 4,500 times since November 2019, with the international statistics of Profhilo treatments going over a million by the end of 2019, according to Neoasia.

Meanwhile, other similar injectables such as Sunekos, Juvederm, Rejuran or Volite mixes hyaluronic acid with other ingredients such as amino acids and polynucleotides to deliver the respective benefits of each injectable type.

In terms of function, Profhilo also differs from skin boosters and fillers as it integrates well into our skin to enhance hydration and stimulate its own regenerative processes. With skin boosters, they primarily use the principle of replacing lost hyaluronic acid in our skin to restore hydration and elasticity while fillers are designed to replace lost volume or fill up folds.

On the other hand, injecting Botox alters the ability of your muscles to contract, which then deters you from creasing the skin on your forehead, around your eyes or between your eyebrows too much. When injected in small doses, it can help prevent the formation of wrinkles and also smooth the appearance of fine lines.

The entire session, from consultation to the application of topical numbing cream and injection, takes no more than an hour. In fact, each injection takes only five second per BAP (more on that in the upcoming section) and the most time-consuming part of the session is probably the waiting time for the numbing cream to take effect, which is roughly 15 to 30 minutes.

In terms of longevity, medical experts have yet to reach a consensus so far but most agree that the HA solution stays inside your skin for about 30 to 45 days which is said to be longer than most skin boosters.

For best results, professionals recommend scheduling in a Profhilo treatment every six to nine months for maintenance.

The Science Behind Profhilo

Interested to further learn the science behind Profhilo? First, let’s understand what is Profhilo made of. It uses a stabilised hybrid hyaluronic acid (HA) cooperative complex that is free of chemical cross links or BDDE.

For context, BDDE is commonly used in most market-leading skin boosters and dermal fillers for better stability and biomechanics. While the amount of BDDE in these injectables is generally safe, studies have linked BDDE to a slightly increased risk of inflammation and formation of lumps in the skin in certain individuals.

But in addition of using 100% pure HA of two different molecular sizes, Profhilo relies on thermal cross-linking instead of BDDE for lower inflammatory response, low viscosity as well as high spreadability.

As a result, it can offer better safety and faster recovery with fewer injection points for patients compared to other injectables such as Rejuran and Restylane Skinbooster that can take anywhere between two and seven days for signs of inflammation to subside.

Formulated with patented NAHYCO Hybrid Technology, the stabilised hybrid HA cooperative complex used in Profhilo is said to contain the highest concentration of HA in the market that’s still safe and bio-compatible with our skin. On top of upping the ante for skin hydration, it is also supposedly more resistant to degradation by hyaluronidase enzymes too, making it more longer-lasting than other injectable skincare.

What Are the Benefits of Profhilo?

Profhilo has four key benefits that make the injection treatment an all-rounder skin solution. First, it is able to bio-stimulate elastin and four types of collagen at different depths of the skin. This, in turn, allows Profhilo to provide firming, tightening, and lifting effect to the skin.

Profhilo can also help improve overall skin quality and hydration, as well as aid skin’s natural process of tissue repair, making it an ideal treatment for acne scars.

However, it is worth noting that while Profhilo has a lifting and skin tightening effect, it is unable to address issues related to volume loss in the face such as sunken cheeks, eye bags, and dark eye circles.

Additionally, Profhilo has developed the Bio Aesthetic Point (BAP) injection method which allows for fast and effective treatment with minimal pain and downtime.

BAP is essentially an application technique designed specially for the lower half of the face and neck. Profhilo has identified five BAPs on the lower face, which are specially selected areas that have no large blood vessels or nerve branches, to maximise the diffusion of Profhilo’s hybrid HA complex while minimising the risk of bruising and complications.

With five injection points on each side of the face (total of 10 points for the entire face), the procedure is designed to be quicker than most injection treatments with minimal discomfort. The same 10 points can be found on the neck as well, as shown in the illustration above.

To make the treatment more comfortable, topical numbing cream is, of course, applied onto the treatment area 15 to 30 minutes before the procedure.

Aside from the face and neck, Profhilo can also be used for skin rejuvenation on the décolletage, hands, as well as depressed acne scars. According to Chester Wan, the AVP of Marketing for IDS, Profhilo can even be injected on the arms, tummy, and legs, thanks to a proprietary treatment protocol developed by Dr. Ben Yim. This means that Profhilo, coupled with the use of lasers and IDS Clinic’s own skincare products, is also ideal for ladies who want to get rid of loose skin after childbirth.

For optimal results, aesthetic doctors usually recommend a full protocol of two treatments within a one-month interval. To upkeep the results, it is recommended to repeat the treatment protocol after six to nine months, depending on your lifestyle and level of ageing.

Who Should Go for Profhilo?

Save for a thorough consultation with the aesthetic doctor, you can definitely consider trying Profhilo if you check off any of the following:

• You are a middle-aged individual
• You have mild to moderate skin laxity
• Your skin is of poor quality
• Your skin is showing fine lines as well as signs of dullness and dryness
• You are looking for a natural-looking enhancement without an overfilled look

If you’re wondering about the process of a Profhilo treatment, here’s a glimpse from The Clifford Clinic.

Downtime for Profhilo Treatment As Well as Side Effects

While majority of the dermal fillers and skin boosters in the market require a minimum downtime of two days, there’s no downtime after a Profhilo treatment.

As with most injectables, there can, of course, be some bruising and soreness at the injection points for one to two days after the procedure but for the most part, you are able to continue with your day immediately after getting the injection.

With Profhilo, a small bump may appear at the injection site after the treatment, but it usually resolves in a few hours as the HA complex diffuses and spreads under the skin.

In terms of side effects, there hasn’t been any reported at all aside from the minor bumps that appear immediately after receiving treatment. You will also have little to no risk of experiencing inflammatory lumps that may come with other bio-stimulating dermal fillers.

It may sound too good to be true, but because Profhilo relies on only pure, bio-compatible HA without any chemical cross-linking compounds, our body is able to accept the HA complex more readily and break it down gradually for absorption.

How Much Does the Profhilo Treatment Cost?

On average, Profhilo can cost upwards of S$1,000 per treatment session. As mentioned above, a minimum of two sessions is needed for optimal results.

It also boils down to your skin condition, which means you may require more than one Profhilo treatment session to achieve desired results if your current skin condition needs a bit more work.

Hmm, It Sounds Like Profhilo Is Just Another Dermal Filler to Me

You may be thinking, Profhilo sounds like another new dermal filler or skin booster treatment in town. We can understand that rationale, but it is actually neither. Instead, it is a bio-remodelling skin treatment that works by slowly releasing its HA complex in the skin to hydrate and stimulate skin’s collagen and elastin formation.

What’s more, you can also pair Profhilo with other aesthetic treatments such as Botox, dermal fillers, Thermage, Ultherapy, HIFU, and lasers for a holistic improvement. Of course, it goes without saying that you should first consult your doctor to discuss the best order of treatments for optimal results.

Profhilo Review: Our Writer Tries the Bio-Remodelling Treatment in Singapore at IDS Clinic

Being the #1 beauty media in Singapore, Daily Vanity always strives to include an honest review to give you real-life account of the experience on top of the facts. So when my editor presented me with an opportunity to try out the Profhilo treatment at IDS Clinic for work, it didn’t take me long to say ‘yes’ to the offer.

Before I share my journey, do bear in mind that I am a filler newbie and have never tried any sort of dermal fillers or injectables before, only lasers, LED, and micro-needling for work purposes.

I also have a rather high tolerance to pain, if I can say so myself. What is usually quite painful for others – brow waxing or even Brazilian waxing, for example – is a walk in the park for me, and I can sometimes even fall asleep while getting waxed. So, my pain tolerance towards Profhilo may differ to yours and what is a walk in the park for me could present itself very differently to you.

To begin, I waited only for a while after filling up the necessary forms for my skin consultation with Dr. Michelle Wong. After examining my skin and face structure carefully, she advised that Profhilo may not be able to deliver a V-shaped jawline for me because of my bone structure as well as presence of fat in the face.

However, Dr. Wong posited that it can give me positive results in terms of skin texture and hydration – both of which I’ve been struggling with since Circuit Breaker because of stress, lack of sleep, and poor eating habits as well as food choices. She also mentioned that I should be able to see slightly more lifted cheeks as well.

After the detailed consultation, I was adjourned to the photography room where my ‘before’ pictures are taken for recording purposes.

Thereafter, I moved to the treatment room where all the action happens and was immediately given the topical numbing cream by a nurse. After waiting for about 30 minutes for the numbing cream to take effect, Dr. Wong began by marking out the BAPs on the lower half of my face for the most optimal results.

I was understandably nervous because it was my first time trying an injectable treatment, but Dr. Wong and her team instinctively picked that up and was amazing at calming my nerves by chatting and making jokes with me.

Thanks to the topical numbing cream, I actually felt very little discomfort when the first few injections went in. At the meatier part of my face – the cheeks, it almost felt like someone just poked my face with a pen in jest and that was pretty much it.

The slight discomfort that I did feel was at the bonier parts of my face, where I could feel the syringe going past the surface of my skin and into the deeper layers. And before I knew it, I was done in less than 10 minutes for Dr. Wong to inject the Profhilo solution at all 10 points of my face.

I then made my way to the same photography room to get my ‘after’ pictures snapped, again for recording purposes. So truthfully, it’s a really comfortable procedure to go through unless your pain tolerance is literally non-existent.

Profhilo Before and After

After seven days of receiving the Profhilo treatment, I definitely noticed that my skin texture has improved tremendously. Before, it was really rough and also dry in the U-zone with acne scars scattered around the lower half and sides of the face (no thanks to maskne).

After Profhilo, it’s become smoother and felt more hydrated as well. I could also see what Dr. Wong previously mentioned to me: more pronounced cheeks for a youthful-looking face. After just one week, I could tell that my complexion looked more revived with almost a natural glow to it.

If I look closer, I could almost feel that my overall face now looked softer after getting Profhilo injected into my face.

Even though I had only received one session of Profhilo instead of the recommended two sessions in two consecutive months, I decided to document my skin transformation to see how long the effects would last on me.

To my surprise, I continue to see positive results on my skin even two months after receiving the Profhilo treatment. My cheeks are now more evenly defined, and I continue to look “alive” even on days that I don’t get eight hours of sleep. I’ve even received compliments from my family and close friends who have asked if I’ve switched up my skincare routine lately – now, they’ll know it’s because of Profhilo.

While Profhilo doesn’t help prevent maskne or the scars that it leaves behind, I find that my skin now heals faster and scars fade quicker too after getting the injectable treatment. I can only imagine the optimistic results that I could get if I go for the full treatment protocol of two sessions.

At a cost of S$1,000 onwards per session, Profhilo is definitely not like a S$100 hydrating facial that you can just go and spend money on without thinking too much. That said, most fillers and aesthetic treatments don’t come cheap because of the advanced technologies that they use as well as the longer-lasting results that they provide.

So if you’re able to set aside about S$4,000 monthly (assuming you go for two sessions to start followed by two sessions six months later for maintenance), I’d say that you won’t regret spending on Profhilo simply because of the long-lasting natural-looking enhancement that it can deliver to your skin.

For me, I certainly am considering investing in Profhilo now that I’ve entered my 30s. After all, prevention is always better than cure, right?

Interested in Seeing the Full Before-and-After Images of Our Writer’s Profhilo Review?

As the Singapore Ministry of Health dictates that we’re not allowed to publish ‘after’ images of aesthetic treatment reviews, we are unable to share the results of the Profhilo treatment in this article.

However, if you are interested in seeing the full before-and-after results of our Profhilo review, please get in touch with us via the contact form below and we will send the images to your email address upon receiving the completed form.

Note that you’d have also given us permission to send you marketing messages upon submission of your email address. Don’t worry, we will never spam you but will only be sending you an average of one email per week to update you on the latest beauty news, tips, and promotions.

Best Clinics to Visit in Singapore For Profhilo Treatments