Words by Katie Wood
It’s hard enough going through major bowel surgery and ending up in intensive care, high dependency and then the surgical ward for seven weeks, but when you eventually get home and catch proper sight of yourself in a mirror it just doubles the depression.
Hair falling out, skin dull and considerably more lines than I started out with earlier this year. All in all, I’d been at death’s door but that was exactly why I thought it was time to treat myself.
I turned to Dr Liliana Laird – an experienced medical director at the beauty clinic Espacio in Edinburgh who I’ve been going to on and off for years.
Her recommendation was Profhilo. ‘Never heard of it’, I thought, but this former GP, who has been a medical doctor for over 30 years and is a full member of the British College of Aesthetic Medicine and the GMC, has never let me down, and as she’s always specialised in skincare she knows her stuff. Accordingly I signed up for two sessions on the face. There was certainly no way I was up for going under the scalpel again after what I’d been through!
Of course, we’re now living in the era of injectable ‘tweakments’. There’s nothing new about using wrinkle reducing and dermal filler injectables, but apparently Profhilo addresses your skin from the inside out, boosting hydration and remodelling ageing and sagging skin.
This category of treatment is called ‘ bioremodeling’. It is not a dermal filler or bio-revitaliser, Profhilo contains pure, high grade hyaluronic acid. In a 2ml syringe there is a total of 64mg of hyaluronic acid (which is 50 per cent low molecular weight hyaluronic acid and 50 per cent high molecular weight hyaluronic acid).
It is the first BDDE-free stabilised injectable hyaluronic acid-based product for treating skin laxity. Why is this important? Well, to give it its full title, BDDE is 1,4-butanediol diglycidyl ether. This is a chemical which is bonded to hyaluronic acid in many dermal fillers to slow the rate at which the body breaks them down. Because Profhilo doesn’t contain BDDE there is a lower risk of hypersensitive reactions to the treatment and there’s also the reassurance that you’re not introducing synthetic chemicals into your body.
Ultra-pure hyaluronic acid is precisely injected into the area being treated. Then, unlike wrinkle reducing and dermal filler treatments, the Profhilo stimulates collagen and elastin, improving hydration in the deeper layers of the skin. As a stabilised product, it has a prolonged action in the skin. During this time the stimulation of four different types of collagen and elastin takes place by slow release of hyaluronic acid. Results include the improvement of the skin’s texture, firmness and radiance in addition to reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
The injections are strategically placed at key points to rejuvenate the skin’s own collagen-making abilities. It can be used on numerous areas such as the face, hands, neck, and chest and it can be used on its own or in combination with other aesthetics treatments currently on offer. Two treatments are recommended, spaced four weeks apart, and you’ll see the benefits from six-nine months.
The actual injections didn’t really hurt (you can have a numbing cream put on beforehand) and although I had a small bruise on day two (easily covered by concealer), thanks to the skill of Dr Liliana the whole treatment was remarkably easy.
Immediately after treatment; there may be slight redness, swelling, bruising, tenderness and an itching sensation in the treated area. Personally, I didn’t experience any of that. You have to avoid touching the treated area for six hours after treatment, and after that the area can be washed with a gentle cleanser and sterile make-up can be applied.
I noticed a definite glow right away and it just gets better and better. The second treatment makes a big difference and the best is yet to come.
You can also use Profhilo on the body – to tighten slack skin on underarms and thighs, for instance. Think that’ll be my Christmas gift to myself!
Factbox
Profhilo is a dermal filler treatment that works by stimulating the production of collagen and elastin in the skin.
Espacio clinic is based in Castle Terrace in the heart of Edinburgh.
Dr Liliana Laird is well known for her holistic approach to ageing and wellbeing. She offers the very latest in treatments and is constantly researching and assessing what’s coming onto the aesthetics market.
