A ‘transformative’ injectable moisturiser which smooths wrinkles on the stomach, arms and bust is being offered at UK cosmetic clinics.
The innovative procedure involves up to 40 jabs of diluted hyaluronic acid – a natural substance used in skincare products as well as lip and cheek fillers – which rejuvenates the skin.
Women report that the £850 treatment, Profhilo Body, gives remarkable results, erasing fine lines and sagging caused by ageing, sunbathing, weight loss and pregnancy.
Conventional injectable fillers smooth skin by adding volume with substances such as hyaluronic acid and other gels, but can be lumpy if not used correctly.
But this latest technique instead stimulates the skin’s own renewal processes, surgeons claim, prompting the release of collagen proteins which naturally give skin its elasticity.
Profhilo Body, a ‘transformative’ injectable moisturiser which smooths wrinkles on the stomach, arms and bust, is being offered at UK cosmetic clinics
This means it is not instant. Multiple injections – up to 40 to correct sagging on the stomach, experts say – can leave the skin red, bumpy or swollen for a couple of days, while the full results will not be seen for weeks.
The treatment was launched in the UK by Dr Preema Vig at her clinic in London’s Mayfair.
The former GP says: ‘Other types of filler are designed to be shaped and moulded and stay where they are.
‘But Profhilo Body is formulated so that the hyaluronic acid dissipates quite quickly into the tissue – within a few days.
Women report that the £850 treatment gives remarkable results, erasing fine lines and sagging caused by ageing, sunbathing, weight loss and pregnancy. Pictured: Before treatment
This latest technique stimulates the skin’s own renewal processes, surgeons claim, prompting the release of collagen proteins which naturally give skin its elasticity. Pictured: After treatment
‘Over the next month, there is a cascade of events stimulating collagen, which is what tightens the skin and makes it brighter.’
Hyaluronic acid occurs naturally in the skin, eyes and the fluids which lubricate the joints.
As a chemical it is classed as a humectant – a substance that retains moisture – which means it is commonly used in skincare.
As skin ages, cells produce less of the acid and existing levels start to drop.
This causes visible signs of ageing such as fine lines, wrinkles and a loss of volume and elasticity.
Hormonal changes, excessive exposure to UV rays, smoking and stress can also contribute to the skin’s ageing process.
Profhilo Body is typically administered over two sessions, four weeks apart.
The number of injections a patient will need depends on the looseness of their skin and the size of the area being treated.
The upper or inner arms, for example, might require up to 20 injections at each session for maximum benefit.
Dr Vig warns that there are limits to what the procedure can achieve. For example, it cannot help patients who are left with large amounts of excess skin after significant weight loss, who would benefit more from tummy-tuck surgery.
However, she says: ‘It’s a fantastic treatment and the majority of people will have substantial improvement in that area and in collagen stimulation. Patients say it’s transformative.’
One patient who benefited is Katy Buckley, 52, who had the treatment to address saggy skin on her stomach.
The life coach from London says the issue had become worse as she aged.
‘I was really unhappy with how my tummy looked,’ she says. ‘I didn’t have saggy skin anywhere else on my body, but looking at my stomach made me feel unhappy.
‘I lost a lot of my confidence and felt uncomfortable wearing clothes where my stomach might be seen.’
In 2021, Katy received ten Profhilo injections in her stomach. She says the injections did not hurt and she didn’t experience any side effects.
Within a month, many of the wrinkles had disappeared.
‘I feel much happier now,’ she says. ‘It’s really noticeable how the lines and wrinkles have faded.’
Lucy Mathias, a mother-of-two from Chigwell, Essex, had the treatment to address ‘crepey’ skin on her neckline after she turned 40.
‘It really made a difference,’ she says. ‘All women notice it after you turn 40 – your skin changes.
‘I was starting to feel a bit self-conscious and felt my skin needed a bit of a spruce up.
‘The treatment did what I wanted it to do – it made my skin feel tighter, hydrated and glowing, like it was ten years younger.’
