Skin boosters are the glow enhancing, collagen stimulating injectable treatment that should be part of everyone’s preventative ageing plan.

Skin boosters a.k.a Skin Food.

Nourishment for dehydrated, dull, ageing or lifeless skin.

They supply the skin with essential building blocks for it to become healthier as well as feeding it with moisture boosting hyaluronic acid. If you refer back to our guide to the ageing process, you will see the various layers of the face that age. Skin boosters work on the skin layer. 

There are a number of different types of skin boosters on the market. Profhilo is a skin booster made of hyaluronic acid (HA) which is an important ingredient for deep hydration of the skin. The difference between profhilo and other HA based skin boosters like Redensity 1 is the amount and the type of hyaluronic acid as well as the presence or absence of other skin nourishing ingredients. 

In the skin, cells are suspended in a very important matrix that nourishes the cells responsible for healthy skin function. As we age this matrix changes and becomes less well able to nourish the skin cells leading in part to, skin ageing. Profhilo triggers positive remodelling of this matrix so that the important skin cells responsible for creating firm, radiant, crease resistant skin are supported and nourished. 

In short, skin boosters including profhilo are a skin treatment. Short term they give skin a beautiful radiance but long-term is where they excel! They keep skin functioning more youthfully for longer essentially slowing down skin ageing. Now what’s not to love!

We know that it can be confusing to know what treatment to choose. We will guide you as to the best choice for you. Generally, we recommend profhilo for those wanting an overall improvement in skin quality in the lower face and/or neck. It cannot be used around the eyes,  in the forehead nor can it be used to target specific lines and wrinkles. If a client is concerned by specific lines we may suggest that you consider ORA Advanced PRP or Redensity 1. If you are concerned about the undereye area we may recommend ORA PRP essentials or Polynucleotides or Redensity 1. If the forehead is your main area of concern, we may suggest PRP Advanced is best suited to you. As you can see, it’s not a one size fits all and we understand that these treatments are an investment so we are here to guide you as to the most suitable treatment for you so that you get the best results. 

What results can you expect with profhilo?

The majority of clients notice a more radiant, glowing complexion. Skin looks healthier, plumper and fine liens are softer. All skin boosters come with the risk of your skin not responding and some clients will not see an improvement in their skin quality. thankfully, this is rare and with repeated treatments the vast majority of clients recognise the long term benefits of this wonderful treatment.  

A frequent question we get asked is whether skin boosters are different to dermal fillers?  

Yes they are very different. Skin boosters are injected superficially  and they aim to improve skin quality while dermal fillers aim to reshape or re-volumise the face by targeting deeper structures in the face such as fat pads or bone. Each of which also shrink and change as we age. Consider skin boosters as analogous to skin nourishment. They do not change the shape or structure of the face but they can improve fine superficial lines, glow, skin laxity and hydration. All the key skin signs of ageing. 

We often use skin boosters in combination with dermal fillers where ageing is seen both in the skin and also in loss of important fat pads such as sunken or hollowed cheeks or lips. 

Does it hurt? 

Every patient has a different perception of pain but most will agree that Profhilo does sting. The discomfort is temporary and there is no discomfort after treatment.  For female patients it is good to remember that the perception of discomfort can be heightened during your menstrual period. 

Do I have to continue to have profhilo?

The simple answer is no but we do recommend that all clients continue to boost collagen production for longterm skin health. How you do this however may change over time. Our job is to guide you as to the best way to stimulate collagen for you at a given time. This may include our revolutionary combined treatment approach if we feel a multi-modal protocol will give you the best results. 

What does the treatment involve and how should you prepare? 

Step 1: All skin booster patients are requested not wear any make-up to the clinic if possible. 

• Why no Make-Up? Of course we can remove the make up in clinic but this risks micro-tears on the skin which can increase the risk of infection. Bugs love HA filler because it is made of a long sugar molecule so keeping the treatment area very clean is vital. Please also remember that you cannot apply make up for a minimum of 24 hours post treatment and when you do apply makeup it’s very important you that use freshly washed brushes. 

Step 2:  Injection of the profhilo into 5 designated spots on the face.

Step 3: Cleanse and soothing cream is massaged into the skin.

What to expect after treatment?

You will have five hive-like bumps on either side of your face. These generally last up to 24 hours. 

Who is not suitable for skinbooster treatment? 

• Pregnant
• Breast Feeding 
• Have had  invasive dental treatment (filling, root canal, extraction, crown, bridge, implants) in the 2 weeks leading up to your appointment 
• If you have coughs/colds or any illness including flu or sore throat at the time of appointment or in the 10 days leading up to your appointment 

• If you are currently taking an antibiotic. 
• If you are currently or have taken steroids in the past 2 weeks

• History of allergy to local anaesthetic or hyaluronic acid 
• Multiple allergies 
• History of permanent fillers 
• Suppressed immune system due to disease 
• Suppressed immune system due to medications (EG: Autoimmune medications/medications for pre & post-transplant patients/ some cancer medications) 
• Diabetes 
• Roaccutane (Must have completed course at least 6 months before having skin boosters)  
• Infection including acne at the site of injection 
• History of keloid scarring on any part of the body
• Undergoing laser or deep chemical peels (must wait 2-4 weeks)
• Presence of cold sores anywhere on the face 

Should any of the above apply to you please ensure that you have told your treating doctor in advance.

Are there any risks associated with skinboosters?

Of course like all treatments, skin boosters are considered safe but not risk free.

As can occur with all medical procedures, the body may respond and react in a way that is not entirely predictable, such as, for example, the formation of bruises, haematomas, viral or bacterial injections, oedemas (swelling), nodules, cysts and inflammation. Skin booster treatments are generally very well tolerated and these reactions are not common. 

Most common side-effects:

Visible bumps at the site of injection (lasting up to 24 hours), bruising, swelling, redness, inflammation and slight tenderness.

Rare but possible side effects:

• Risk of injection:

Trauma during the procedure is possible and it is caused by needles passing through the skin. This can result in bleeding, bruising, haematoma (a larger  bruise or collection of blood in the skin) or less commonly: damage to the underlying structures including veins, arteries, nerves, salivary glands, lymph nodes, bone, muscle and other soft tissue structures are possible. Most traumatic injuries heal completely on their own. In rare cases they could cause ongoing problems in appearance, sensation or function and may require medical intervention to treat or may be permanent.

• Infection:

Bacterial, viral or fungal infections can occur post procedure. Infections can cause redness, pain and swelling. Infections can resolve or progress into an abscess or biofilm which can be slower to recover. Rarely infections can occur months later as ‘biofilm reactions’. Symptoms include itching, lumpy feeling just under the skin. Injections into the lip can trigger cold sores in a susceptible person. These may require treatment. These problems may resolve in time but may require medical intervention. Long term effects can persist in rare occasions.

• Reactions:

Reactions rarely occur but can include an immediate reaction causing swelling, and very rarely life threatening anaphylaxis. Delayed reactions localised to the skin can cause nodules, lumps or bumps or very rarely sterile abscesses. These may occur soon after the procedure or months later. They may require treatment and may leave permanent effects on the appearance, sensation and/or function of the affected area(s). The chance of delayed reaction increases if you have active autoimmune disease or an active immune system including bacterial or viral infections elsewhere in your body.

• Lumps, bumps, swellings:

Unwanted visual side effects are rare but if they occur they may cause dissatisfaction or distress, and include an increase in asymmetry, swelling, lumps, bumps, puffiness or surface irregularities.

• Skin changes:

Procedures are rarely associated with pigment changes, the formation of thread veins or new capillaries, and other blemishes. These may either recover, require medical intervention or be permanent.

• Blood vessel blockage:

In very rare instances blood vessels can be blocked by hyaluronic acid. This can cause localised tissue injury called ‘necrosis’ which can result in permanent scarring. There are extremely rare cases in which blood supply to the eye or parts of the brain are affected causing blindness or stroke. Seeking help immediately if you suspect a blood vessel blockage (occlusion) is vital to preventing or minimising the risk of permanent scarring.