Profhilo

Profhilo is a non-cross-linked HA product in the bioremodelling class: according to the manufacturer, high- and low-molecular-weight hyaluronic acid are combined by a thermal process rather than chemical cross-linking. It is not a filler; it does not add volume or reshape the face. It spreads under the skin to improve hydration and elasticity and to support tightening in mild to moderate laxity. I work with products in this class that have traceability and a certificate of analysis.

The general frame of mesotherapy, the differences between classes and the comparison of product families are on the mesotherapy page. Here I cover Profhilo only.

What is Profhilo?

In conventional fillers, HA molecules are bound with chemical agents; the product stays where it is placed and creates volume. Profhilo has no chemical cross-linking; the product spreads through the tissue and, placed under the skin, acts on an area rather than a point.

The mechanism has two layers: high-concentration HA increases the skin’s water-holding capacity, and, according to the manufacturer, the hybrid complexes stimulate fibroblasts to support collagen and elastin production. A systematic review pooling nine studies and 278 participants reports significant change or a trend towards improvement in measures of laxity, elasticity, hydration and wrinkles ¹. All four publications cited on this page are manufacturer-linked.

Who is it for?

• Skin that is dry, dull and has lost elasticity
• Early mild to moderate laxity on the face, neck or back of the hands
• People who do not want volume and want their facial shape unchanged
• People who want to maintain skin quality before visible sagging

The BAP technique: why 5 points?

Profhilo is not spread across the face by micro-injection; it is placed as boluses at 5 bio-aesthetic points (BAP) on each half of the face. The points defined by the manufacturer are the zygomatic prominence, the nasal base, in front of the tragus, the chin and the angle of the jaw, chosen away from the course of vessels and nerves. The product spreads from these points to cover the middle and lower thirds of the face.

The technique has two advantages: fewer needle entries and a standardised, repeatable procedure. The systematic review included only studies that used this technique ¹.

For the neck a separate 10-point BAP map is used; in a study of people aged 40–65, improvement in neck skin roughness and laxity was reported ³. I explain how the method is chosen for the neck and décolletage on the neck and décolletage rejuvenation page. It is also applied to the back of the hands.

Session plan and expected course

• 2 sessions, 1 month apart. This is the manufacturer’s protocol, and the clinical studies used the same scheme ³⁴.
• Hydration and glow start to be noticed after the first session. Tightening becomes visible after the second session.
• The effect lasts roughly 6–9 months. Maintenance is a single session.

In an open-label study in Asian women, some measures changed significantly over time, but the comparisons between individual time points were not significant ⁴.

I do not add a third session. If the tissue response after two sessions is adequate, a further session is unnecessary; if it is not, the issue is product selection rather than session count, and we change the plan. I plan maintenance by how the skin changes, not by the calendar.

Profhilo or Profhilo Structura?

The decision depends on the layer of the problem: if dryness and thinning at the skin surface dominate, Profhilo comes forward; if deflation and laxity in the subcutaneous fat dominate, Profhilo Structura comes forward. The final choice is made at the consultation.

I cover Structura on its own page: Profhilo Structura.

Procedure and pain management

The procedure takes 10–15 minutes.

Topical anaesthetic cream is standard. Because I am an anaesthesiologist, I treat pain management as a separate part of the procedure. The bolus technique causes a brief pressure sensation and is well tolerated.

Aftercare

First 24 hours

• No make-up on the treated area
• No hot showers, sauna, hammam or steam
• Avoid heavy exercise
• No alcohol
• Do not sleep face-down (facial treatments)
• Do not touch the injection points; do not squeeze or massage the bumps

First 48 hours

• Avoid direct and prolonged sun exposure
• No facial massage, skincare treatments or energy-based device treatments

Expected findings Small bumps (papules) at the injection points lasting 12–24 hours are expected and show that the product has settled in the skin. Mild swelling, tenderness or bruising lasting a few days may occur. Around the eyes, bruising is slightly more likely than on the rest of the face.

Safety and anatomy

Profhilo contains non-cross-linked HA and can be dissolved with hyaluronidase if ever needed. Bumps at the injection points lasting 12–24 hours are normal and disappear as the product spreads. Mild bruising can occur. Post-marketing data covering an estimated one million-plus patients found a very low reported rate of adverse events; the most frequently reported were swelling, redness and discomfort ².

Because allergic reactions can occur rarely, treatments are carried out under medical supervision.

Product and regulatory status: Profhilo has been assessed under CE and TİTCK frameworks for its relevant indications. Approval belongs to the product and to a specific indication, not to a technique or to a physician.

Who is not suitable

Treatment is not performed, or is postponed, in the following situations:

• Active infection or inflammation in the treatment area
• Autoimmune disease in an active phase
• Pregnancy and breastfeeding
• Known hypersensitivity to the product components
• Uncontrolled chronic illness
• Untreated bleeding disorder or unregulated anticoagulant use

Without being a medical contraindication, I also consider expectation and treatment to be mismatched in these situations:

• People expecting a marked and immediate change from a single session
• People whose actual need is volume — Profhilo does not add volume, and filler is assessed
• People with advanced tissue laxity who require surgical assessment

In these situations I do not recommend Profhilo; if the need is volume we discuss filler, if it is firmness we discuss a biostimulator.

Suitability is determined by consultation in every case.

Pricing

Under the applicable regulations, price information cannot be published on our website. The cost of a treatment depends on the product used, the technique chosen and the extent of the treatment. You can call the clinic for detailed information.

Frequently asked questions

What is the BAP technique and why 5 points?

BAP (Bio Aesthetic Points) is a bolus injection technique at 5 points on each half of the face, chosen away from the course of vessels and nerves. The product spreads from these points to act on an area. It means fewer needle entries and a standardised procedure; it is the product’s defined application method.

Can Profhilo be used on the neck and hands?

Yes. The neck has its own 10-point BAP map, and studies report improvement in neck skin roughness and laxity. On the back of the hands it is used for thin, dry skin; if there is volume loss it is not enough on its own.

Why don’t you add a third Profhilo session?

The standard protocol is 2 sessions one month apart, and the clinical studies used this scheme. If the response after two sessions is adequate, a further session is unnecessary; if it is not, the issue is product selection rather than session count. I do not recommend procedures I do not consider necessary.

Planning your visit

My clinic is in Nişantaşı, Şişli, on the European side of Istanbul, approximately 45 minutes from Istanbul Airport.

For a Profhilo treatment I suggest planning a stay of two to three days: arrival, consultation and treatment, and departure. Because this treatment is planned as two sessions one month apart, it requires more than one visit. The first session takes place in Istanbul, and we plan the schedule of the following sessions together according to your travel arrangements, with remote follow-up in between. Flying is generally appropriate 24 hours after an injectable treatment.

Consultations are conducted in English. Follow-up after you return home is arranged remotely, and I remain reachable for any questions during the period in which the result develops.

Dr. Ömer Fatih Şahin — Specialist in Anaesthesiology and Reanimation Diploma Registration No: 113606

Published: 22 February 2026 · Last updated: 2026-09-22 This content has been medically reviewed by Dr. Ömer Fatih Şahin.

References

1. Sparavigna A, Cigni C, Tanzini L, Lualdi R, Grimolizzi F. A Systematic Review of the Efficacy and Safety of Profhilo and Profhilo Body. Plast Aesthet Nurs. 2026;46(2):80–92. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41920062/ — Some of the authors are employees of the manufacturer; the work is manufacturer-linked.
2. Salti G, Tateo A, Cassuto D, et al. Hyaluronic Acid Hybrid Cooperative Complexes Nearing 10 Years of Use: Update on Safety Assessment Based on Post-Marketing Surveillance Data. J Cosmet Dermatol. 2025;24(7):e70197. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40654100/ — Some of the authors are employees of the manufacturer; the work is manufacturer-linked.
3. Sparavigna A, Bombelli L, Giori AM, Bellia G. Efficacy and Tolerability of Hybrid Complexes of High- and Low-Molecular-Weight Hyaluronan Intradermal Injections for the Treatment of Skin Roughness and Laxity of the Neck. ScientificWorldJournal. 2022;2022:4497176. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36164489/ — Some of the authors are employees of the manufacturer; the work is manufacturer-linked.
4. Cheng SWN, Lim SYD, Cigni C, Grimolizzi F, Goh CL. Efficacy and Tolerability of Stable Hybrid Cooperative Complexes of High- and Low-Molecular Weight Hyaluronic Acid in Asian Patients: An Open-Label Study. Aesthetic Plast Surg. 2026;50(1):27–36. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00266-025-05188-x — Some of the authors are employees of the manufacturer; the work is manufacturer-linked.