Medically reviewed by Dr Tapan Patel
Last reviewed: 22nd February 2026
Profhilo at PHI Clinic, Harley Street
At PHI Clinic we offer Profhilo as part of a broader regenerative approach to skin quality, chosen for the right patient, at the right stage, and almost always within a wider plan rather than as a single treatment. Our practitioners are GMC-registered medical professionals working under the clinical leadership of Dr Tapan Patel, who teaches advanced injectable techniques to colleagues across the world.
Profhilo is one of the most carefully studied bio-remodelling treatments in modern aesthetics. Done well, it improves skin firmness, hydration and overall quality. Done poorly, it does very little. Most of what makes the difference is assessment, placement and patient selection, not the product itself.
What is Profhilo and how does it work?
Profhilo is an injectable bio-remodelling treatment made from a stabilised form of hyaluronic acid (HA). Unlike dermal fillers, which are designed to add volume in a specific place, Profhilo is engineered to spread evenly under the skin, where it slowly releases hyaluronic acid into the deeper layers over the course of around four weeks.
This slow release does two things. First, the released HA hydrates the skin from within. Second, and more importantly, it stimulates fibroblast activity, the cells responsible for producing collagen and elastin. Over the following weeks, the skin’s own collagen and elastin networks are remodelled, and skin quality improves: firmer, more elastic, more hydrated, with a finer texture.
This is what "bio-remodelling" means in practice. The visible change is gradual because it depends on your skin doing the work; Profhilo provides the signal.
Who Profhilo is suitable for
Profhilo is most suitable if you are in your 30s, 40s, 50s or 60s and noticing changes in skin firmness, hydration or overall quality; your concern is skin laxity rather than volume loss; and you want a subtle, gradual improvement rather than a visible change after one appointment. A course of two sessions and twice-yearly maintenance gives the most consistent results.
When Profhilo is not the right first step
If your main concern is volume loss, a structural filler is likely more appropriate. If you have significant skin laxity that won’t respond to bio-remodelling alone, we would typically combine or substitute with RF microneedling or Ultraformer, and explain why at consultation. Profhilo is not offered during pregnancy or breastfeeding, with active skin infection in the treatment area, or with known hypersensitivity to hyaluronic acid. A medical history review at consultation will rule out any other contraindications.
What Profhilo results actually look like
Profhilo is subtle by design. The most common feedback from our patients is that their skin looks healthier and more rested, and that other people notice the change without being able to identify it. You shouldn’t look "treated"; you should look like yourself, well-slept.
Two sessions, four weeks apart, are required to complete a course. Most patients notice gradual improvement from week three or four onwards, with the full effect typically visible eight to ten weeks after the second session. Results last around six months, with maintenance treatments scheduled twice yearly for most patients.
Browse our before and after photos across our most-requested treatments.
Profhilo face treatment
The face treatment uses a precise multi-point injection technique, with anatomically chosen sites on each side of the face. The areas most commonly treated are the cheeks, jawline, perioral area (around the mouth) and lower face, but Profhilo affects the wider facial area through diffusion.
Best for: skin laxity around the lower face and jawline, fine crepiness, dehydrated or dull-looking skin, and the early signs of facial ageing where structural intervention isn’t yet appropriate.
Profhilo Body
Profhilo Body is a separate, higher-volume formulation designed for areas where the skin shows laxity but volume isn’t the issue, including the upper arms, abdomen, inner thighs, knees, and the chest and décolleté.
Best for: crepey skin, post-weight-loss laxity, thinning skin on the décolleté and upper arms. Not a fat-reduction treatment; Profhilo Body addresses skin quality, not contour.
Why patients choose PHI Clinic for Profhilo in London
Choosing the right clinic for Profhilo matters more than choosing the product. The molecule itself is the same regardless of who administers it; the difference is in how it’s used.
At PHI Clinic, every Profhilo course begins with a full consultation, not a treatment. We assess your skin quality, your hydration baseline, the architecture of your face, and whether Profhilo is actually the right treatment for the result you want. We say no to Profhilo more often than people expect. For some patients, polynucleotides will work better. For others, a skin booster like SkinVive is more appropriate. For others again, the best answer is a structural treatment such as dermal filler or RF microneedling, with Profhilo added later.
When Profhilo is the right call, your treatment is performed by a fully qualified medical practitioner using a precise, anatomy-led injection technique calibrated to your facial structure. The approach is designed to disperse Profhilo across the deeper skin layers safely and consistently.
PHI Clinic is GMC, BCAM, JCCP and CQC accredited, and the clinic has been independently recognised at The Aesthetics Awards over more than a decade, most recently with Best Non-Surgical Result in 2023.
Regulated, accredited and medically led
Profhilo is a CE-marked injectable bio-remodelling treatment from IBSA Group, regulated for use in the UK. Treatment is performed by GMC-registered doctors at PHI Clinic following in-person consultation.
PHI Clinic is CQC-registered for the regulated activities we provide, giving patients the assurance of independent inspection and oversight. Our Medical Director, Dr Tapan Patel, is a member of the British College of Aesthetic Medicine (BCAM) and an Inaugural Member of the Allergan Medical Institute (AMI).
We do not provide unregulated cosmetic services. Every Profhilo treatment begins with a doctor consultation and a clear treatment plan tailored to your skin and medical history.
Your Profhilo practitioners
Safe and effective treatment
Your safety is our priority at PHI Clinic. All Profhilo treatments for both face and body are carried out by our team of fully qualified and highly experienced doctors who specialise in Profhilo treatments. Profhilo is injected at specific treatment points, typically during 2-3 sessions spaced 4-6 weeks apart. All our patients have a thorough consultation before having Profhilo, and treatment is always carried out on a separate day.
We believe it is essential for patients to be able to think before deciding whether to go ahead with their bespoke Profhilo treatment plan.
How long does Profhilo last?
Most patients see the full effect of a Profhilo course around eight to ten weeks after the second session. Results last approximately six months, after which a single maintenance session is typically enough to keep skin quality where you want it.
Longevity depends on several factors: your baseline skin quality before treatment; your age and lifestyle (sun exposure, sleep, hydration, smoking); how consistently you maintain the result with skincare and SPF; and whether you’re combining Profhilo with other regenerative work.
Skipping the maintenance session is the most common reason patients feel results have "stopped working". Profhilo doesn’t fail; it simply needs continued signal to keep the skin remodelling.
Safety and side effects
Profhilo has been used in clinical practice for over a decade and is supported by published evidence on safety and effectiveness. The most common side effects are mild and short-lived: small raised papules at injection sites (which resolve within a few hours), mild redness or warmth, pinpoint bruising, and tenderness for 24 to 48 hours. Less common but possible are temporary lumps or swelling lasting longer than a week, asymmetry that requires review, and allergic reaction (rare). At PHI Clinic, all our practitioners are trained to manage any complication immediately, and your follow-up is included in the cost of your treatment. If anything feels different to what you were told to expect, contact us and you will be seen the same week.
Aftercare Advice
For the first 24 hours after your Profhilo treatment:
- Avoid touching, rubbing or massaging the treatment area
- Avoid make-up
- Avoid alcohol
- Avoid heat: saunas, steam rooms, hot showers and intense exercise
For the first two weeks:
- Avoid other injectable or energy-based treatments
- Avoid facials, dermaplaning, microneedling and chemical peels
- Use a gentle cleanser and SPF 50
Your practitioner will provide a full written aftercare guide at your appointment. View our full injectables aftercare guide.
Profhilo frequently asked questions
Profhilo is made of stabilised hyaluronic acid, the same substance the body produces naturally to maintain skin hydration and structure. It contains both high and low molecular weight hyaluronic acid, hybrid-bonded using thermal stabilisation rather than chemical cross-linking. This is what gives it its slow-release behaviour and its bio-remodelling effect.
The face treatment is most commonly used on the cheeks, jawline, lower face and perioral area. The neck and décolleté can also be treated. Profhilo Body, a separate formulation, is used for the upper arms, abdomen, inner thighs, knees and chest where the skin shows laxity rather than volume loss.
Most patients describe it as a brief sting at each injection point. The injection technique used at PHI Clinic is designed to limit discomfort. Topical anaesthetic is available if you’d prefer it, but most patients don’t request it.
Profhilo has a long-established safety profile, supported by clinical evidence and over a decade of real-world use. As with any injectable treatment, safety depends as much on the practitioner as the product: proper assessment, sterile technique and correct placement matter. At PHI Clinic every Profhilo treatment is performed by a GMC-registered doctor or qualified medical practitioner, with a full medical history review before treatment.
Around six months from completion of the two-session course. A single maintenance session every six months keeps results consistent for most patients.
Most patients notice early changes (improved hydration and a softer texture) within three to four weeks of the first session. The full effect typically becomes visible eight to ten weeks after the second session, as the skin completes its collagen and elastin remodelling.
No. We don’t perform any injectable treatments during pregnancy or breastfeeding. We’d be happy to plan your first course for after you’ve finished breastfeeding.
Dermal filler adds volume in a specific location, for example building cheek structure or refining chin projection. Profhilo doesn’t add volume. It diffuses through the deeper skin layers and stimulates your own collagen and elastin production. The two treatments address completely different concerns and are often used together. <a href="/treatment/dermal-fillers">Learn about our dermal fillers</a>.
Both are regenerative treatments, but they work differently. Profhilo uses hyaluronic acid to remodel the wider skin and is best for skin firmness and hydration across larger areas. <a href="/treatment/polynucleotides">Polynucleotides</a> use DNA-derived fragments to stimulate cellular repair and have an additional anti-inflammatory effect, particularly useful for delicate areas like the under-eye or for sensitive and reactive skin. Read our full comparison at <a href="/polynucleotides-vs-profhilo">Profhilo vs polynucleotides</a>.
For the first 24 hours, avoid touching the treatment area, alcohol, make-up, exercise and heat. For two weeks, avoid other injectable or energy-based treatments, facials, dermaplaning, microneedling and peels. Use SPF 50 daily. Your practitioner will give you a full written aftercare guide at your appointment.
Location
PHI Clinic
102 Harley Street,
London,
W1G 7JB,
United Kingdom
Tel: 02070345999
Opening Hours
Monday & Tuesday - 9:30am to 6:00pm
Wednesday & Thursday - 9:30am to 8:00pm
Friday - 9:30am to 5:00pm
Saturday - 11:30am to 12:30pm
Sunday - Closed
Opening times can change, if your appointment is outside of these times please contact the clinic for confirmation.
