Profhilo treatments

Profhilo is a skin bioremodeller consisting of high concentration hyaluronic acid. It works by stimulating skin collagen and elastin production as well as promoting increased skin hydration. Profhilo is administered in small amounts by intradermal injection using very fine needles and aims to boost, tighten, hydrate and lift your skin. Profhilo is used to treat tired, aged, lax and dehydrated skin as well as for fine lines and wrinkles. Profhilo is commonly used for skin rejuvenation on the face but can also be used on the neck and hands. Profhilo is not the treatment of choice for deep lines and scars or to add volume, it is not a dermal filler and will not produce the same results as these. You will be offered a topical anaesthetic cream before injection of Profhilo to help reduce discomfort during the procedure. 

 

Profhilo is injected on two treatment sessions 4 weeks apart, to maintain results a further 2 treatment course is recommended every 6 months. After initial treatment you can expect to see results gradually over a period of 4-6 weeks. Results should last 6 months on average but they can last for longer or shorter time periods. I am aware that results vary between clients and results are dependent on many individual factors. I am aware that there is no guarantee that I will achieve desired results and that more than one treatment course may to be needed to achieve or maintain desired results.

 

I understand that several appointments may be necessary to produce optimal results and I will be notified, in advance of each session of treatment, about the location where the next treatment session is going to take place and the identity of who is going to be involved in my care at each stage.  I also understand that I will be kept informed of progress and that I can change my mind at any point.

 

 

RISKS AND SIDE EFFECTS: As with any procedure there are potential risks and complications associated with Profhilo. You must be aware of the following possible risks before proceeding. You must fully discuss any questions with your practitioner. 

 

 

 

Common complications:

 

These include pain, bleeding and bruising at the time of injection. After injection, the area may feel tender but should not be actively painful. If you experience significant pain following Profhilo then you must contact your practitioner as soon as possible for review. Bruising is dependent on several factors, most of the time bruising is mild but occasionally can be more significant. Bruising can take up to 2 weeks to fully resolve but should be much improved after 1 week. More uncommonly severe bruising can lead to haematoma formation, a collection of clotted blood. In this case the swollen collection of blood will need at least 2 weeks to resolve naturally and your practitioner will give you the appropriate after care advice. Your skin may appear red and swollen after Profhilo injection, this is usually mild and should improve after a couple of days, but it can last up to 14 days in some cases.

 

 

Uncommon complications include:

 

Skin infection (cellulitis) which presents as hot, red, shiny skin and you may also be generally unwell. In the case of suspected infection following Profhilo, you should contact your practitioner but also seek medical assessment as soon as possible as you will likely need antibiotics. Occasionally infection can form a swollen collection called an abscess. In this case you again must seek urgent medical attention. If you suffer from cold sores (a herpes virus infection of the lip) these can sometimes be reactivated following injections. Occasionally people can develop an unwanted inflammatory reaction to Profhilo and this can lead to nodule formation called granuloma. These often present as a delayed complication several months after the treatment. Several treatment options are available for granuloma formation and you may require medical assessment. Sometimes people can faint or feel faint with injections, you must tell your practitioner as soon as possible if you feel unwell during the treatment.

 

 

Rare complications include:

 

Allergic reaction to Profhilo, including anaphylactic reaction which would require emergency medical assistance and transfer to hospital. Rarely Profhilo can be injected into an artery blocking the flow of blood to the tissue being treated. This is known as vascular occlusion, if untreated it is serious because it can lead to death of tissue (necrosis) which may require reconstructive surgery to correct. In the rare event of vascular occlusion, it would be treated with emergency injections of a dissolving drug called Hyaluronidase. This is an enzyme that removes the hyaluronic acid occluding the blood vessel and can usually fully reverse the vascular occlusion leading to no long-term harmful effects. Your practitioner will be trained in how to use Hyaluronidase in an emergency, however if treatment with Hyaluronidase is not successful then you would require urgent medical assessment or assessment by a doctor who is a specialist in aesthetic medicine.   

 

 

I have been advised of the relevant information associated with this treatment and I confirm that I fully understand this advice.  This includes advice about:

 

- the aims/motivations for having the procedure and the desired outcome

- the risks inherent in the procedure

- the risks inherent in refusing the procedure

- the risks specific to me

- the expected benefits of the treatment

- the potential disadvantages of the treatment

- alternative procedures and their pros and cons - including the option of no treatment at all

- any uncertainties about and the likelihood of success of the procedure

- any follow-up treatment that may be required