Guide · Bio-remodelling HA
Profhilo in Singapore: hybrid HA, BAP points, sessions and realistic expectations
Profhilo is a fluid hyaluronic acid injection that spreads under the skin to improve its quality. Here is what is in it, how the five BAP points work, the manufacturer's two-session protocol, what the studies show, and what it does not do: it is not a volumiser.
Written & medically reviewed by Dr Sin Yong · 9 October 2026
Quick answer
- Profhilo in Singapore is a doctor-injected bio-remodelling treatment made by IBSA: 32 mg of high-molecular-weight and 32 mg of low-molecular-weight hyaluronic acid in a 2 mL syringe, stabilised by heat into hybrid complexes rather than by chemical cross-linking.
- It is usually injected at five Bio Aesthetic Points (BAP) on each side of the face, about 0.2 mL per point, and spreads under the skin. The product information recommends two sessions 30 days apart, then maintenance if needed.
- It aims at skin quality, such as hydration, suppleness and fine crepey lines. It is not a volumiser: it will not lift a cheekbone, fill a hollow or define a jaw, and the evidence comes from small, open-label studies.
- At SkinRev Lab, CityLink Mall, and IN Eternity Clinic, Pacific Plaza, bio-remodelling HA injections are performed by Dr Sin Yong after assessment and priced at consultation. Ask which product would be used.
Watch · Dr Sin Yong explains
The basics
What Profhilo is: hybrid hyaluronic acid, not a filler
Profhilo is an injectable hyaluronic acid (HA) product made by IBSA and on the market since 2015. Each 2 mL syringe contains 32 mg of high-molecular-weight HA (about 1,100 to 1,400 kDa) and 32 mg of low-molecular-weight HA (about 80 to 100 kDa). The two are mixed and then stabilised by a patented heating process into what the maker calls hybrid cooperative complexes, without the chemical cross-linking agents used in typical HA fillers.
The result is a very fluid gel with a high HA content, 64 mg in 2 mL, that spreads through the tissue after injection rather than staying in place as a lump of volume. That is the key to what it is for. A dermal filler is designed to hold a shape; Profhilo is designed to disperse under the skin and improve its quality.
It is a medical device injected by a doctor. In Singapore it is offered as a 'bio-remodelling' treatment, and the general principles of this category are covered on our bio-remodelling HA injections page.
Mechanism
How the two sizes of hyaluronic acid are meant to work
High-molecular-weight HA holds water and gives some mechanical support in the tissue. Low-molecular-weight HA fragments are thought to act more as signals to skin and fat cells, and laboratory work on these complexes has been used to support claims about collagen and elastin production. Laboratory findings do not automatically translate into visible change, so the clinical studies matter more.
Because it is only lightly stabilised, the gel is low in viscosity and spreads from each injection point within hours. The small raised bumps at each point usually flatten within a day. The changes people notice, if any, are in hydration, suppleness and the look of fine crepey lines over the following weeks, not a change in face shape.
Technique
The five BAP points, and why so few injections
Profhilo is usually injected with the Bio Aesthetic Points (BAP) technique, which uses five points on each side of the face, ten in total. The maker's described technique places them at the cheekbone prominence, kept at least 2 cm from the outer corner of the eye; at the nasal base, where a line from nostril to ear crosses a vertical line down from the pupil; at least 1 cm in front of the lower edge of the tragus; in the lower face beside the chin, towards the corner of the mouth; and about 1 cm above the angle of the jaw.
At each point, about 0.2 mL is placed as a small bolus in the deep dermis or just beneath it, often followed by gentle massage. The points were chosen to keep injections few and away from larger vessels while letting the fluid gel spread across the malar and submalar areas. The doctor still adapts the points to your anatomy; fewer injections do not remove the risk, because any injection near facial vessels needs careful technique.
Other areas such as the neck use different patterns. Numbing cream is optional for many people because the needle is fine and the number of injections is small.
Sessions
Two sessions a month apart: the manufacturer protocol
The product information, as quoted in a 2020 safety review co-authored by IBSA staff, recommends 'an initial cycle of two treatment sessions at 30-day intervals, followed if necessary by maintenance treatments', and suggests adapting the protocol to the person's degree of ageing. In practice, the timing of any maintenance is individual and decided at review rather than fixed in advance.
The published studies follow the same starting pattern. In an Italian study of 64 women treated twice, four weeks apart, at five points per side, improvements in clinical scores, self-assessment and skin measurements were significant from week 4 or 8 and still significant at week 16. A smaller study of 11 women given two monthly treatments found improved hydration, elasticity and water loss through the skin at three months.
A study in 30 Chinese women, treated at weeks 0 and 4, found significant improvement in surface hydration and skin barrier function at week 12. Wrinkle and volume-loss scores fell over time, but the differences between visits were not statistically significant. All of these studies were small and open-label, without a placebo group, so they show what is possible rather than what any one person can expect.
Expectations
What Profhilo in Singapore can and cannot do
Profhilo is a skin-quality treatment. It is not a volumiser, and expecting it to behave like a filler is a common source of disappointment. Being clear on this before treatment saves time and money.
If your concern sits in one of the 'cannot' areas below, ask about the treatment that targets it instead.
- It may help: dehydrated, dull skin; fine crepey texture on the cheeks, lower face or neck; early loss of firmness in people from their late twenties onwards.
- It will not: lift a flat cheekbone, fill a hollow temple or tear trough, project the chin or define the jawline; those need structural filler or a collagen biostimulator.
- It will not: lift heavy jowls or remove excess skin; lifting with HIFU or radiofrequency, or a surgical opinion, is more relevant.
- It is not aimed at: pigmentation, enlarged pores or acne scars, where lasers, peels or facials are usually more useful.
- Changes, when they come, build over weeks and vary between people.
Overfilled faces
Profhilo and a face that already has a lot of filler
Profhilo is still hyaluronic acid, and HA binds water. The amount per session is modest, but if your face already looks puffy or heavy after years of filler, adding more HA of any kind is usually not the first step. HA filler persists far longer than many people are told: in an MRI study of 33 people, gel was still visible in all of them at least two years after mid-face filler, and in one person up to 15 years later.
The more useful order is to find out what is already there, which ultrasound can show, and treat the cause of the heaviness, often by dissolving the filler that is causing it, before deciding whether any skin-quality treatment is needed. Profhilo is not a way to correct pillow face. Because it is HA, it can be broken down by hyaluronidase, but that is a safety net rather than a reason to inject it into an overfilled face.
Risks
Side effects, rare risks and who should not have it
Expect small bumps at the ten points for several hours to a day, and possibly redness, tenderness or a small bruise. In the 64-woman study, 23% had minor, temporary skin reactions at the injection sites. A review of three years of worldwide reports to the manufacturer, covering more than 40,000 patients, logged 12 adverse event reports, none serious, mostly early swelling, redness and bruising and a few later nodules or swelling. Spontaneous reports undercount minor events, and the review was co-authored by IBSA staff.
Any injection into the face carries a rare risk of blocking a blood vessel. Seek help at once if skin near the area turns pale, white, blotchy or dusky, pain keeps increasing, or your vision changes.
It is not advised during pregnancy or breastfeeding, with active infection, cold sores or inflamed acne in the area, or with a known allergy to HA products. Autoimmune disease, a bleeding tendency or blood thinners should be discussed first. If your main problem is a skin condition such as eczema, rosacea or melasma, seeing a dermatologist first is sensible.
Alternatives
Alternatives and complements to consider
Injectable skin boosters work on skin quality in different ways: softer HA boosters placed as many tiny droplets, polynucleotide (PN) boosters thought to support repair, and poly-D,L-lactic acid (PDLLA) boosters that prompt gradual collagen. For lost volume, a hyaluronic acid filler or a poly-L-lactic acid or polycaprolactone collagen biostimulator is the relevant conversation, and for laxity, energy-based lifting.
If you are not ready for injections, SkinRev Lab offers needle-free options such as the Needleless SkinBooster and the Rejuran® PDRN Facial. They work closer to the surface and do not reach injection depth, so they are gentler and changes build over a course. Choosing to wait, or to do nothing, is also reasonable.
Aftercare
Before and after a Profhilo session
Tell the doctor about any recent filler, toxin, laser or skin treatment, and avoid booking the day before an important event, because bumps or a bruise can take a day or more to settle. If you have a history of cold sores around the mouth, mention it.
Afterwards, avoid make-up for a few hours, and strenuous exercise, saunas and facial massage for about a day. Attend the second session about a month later if that is the plan, and judge the result some weeks after it, in photographs taken in the same light.
At SkinRev Lab
What happens at SkinRev Lab
Bio-remodelling HA injections and injectable skin boosters are performed by Dr Sin Yong after a consultation, at SkinRev Lab, #B1-28 CityLink Mall, 1 Raffles Link, linked underground to City Hall and Esplanade MRT, open daily 11am to 8pm (WhatsApp +65 8266 9585), or at IN Eternity Clinic, 9 Scotts Road, #12-01 Pacific Plaza, beside Orchard MRT, Monday to Saturday 11am to 8pm (WhatsApp SkinRev Lab on +65 8266 9585 or IN Eternity Clinic on +65 8815 3008).
He looks at your skin quality, laxity, bone and fat support and any earlier injectables, using ultrasound where earlier filler is involved, and tells you plainly whether bio-remodelling fits your concern or whether another option, or no treatment, makes more sense. Treatment is priced at consultation. Our pages do not commit to a brand, so ask which product would be used.
Sources
References & sources
- Cassuto D, Delledonne M, Zaccaria G, Illiano I, Giori AM, Bellia G. Safety assessment of high- and low-molecular-weight hyaluronans (Profhilo) as derived from worldwide postmarketing data. Biomed Res Int. 2020;2020:8159047. PMID 32685528.
- Sparavigna A, Tenconi B. Efficacy and tolerance of an injectable medical device containing stable hybrid cooperative complexes of high- and low-molecular-weight hyaluronic acid: a monocentric 16 weeks open-label evaluation. Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol. 2016;9:297-305. PMID 27713647.
- Laurino C, Palmieri B, Coacci A. Efficacy, safety, and tolerance of a new injection technique for high- and low-molecular-weight hyaluronic acid hybrid complexes. Eplasty. 2015;15:e46. PMID 26491508.
- Cheng SWN, Lim SYD, Cigni C, Grimolizzi F, Goh CL. Efficacy and tolerability of stable hybrid cooperative complexes of high- and low-molecular weight hyaluronic acid in Asian patients: an open-label study. Aesthetic Plast Surg. 2026;50(1):27-36. PMID 40921777.
- Master M, Azizeddin A, Master V. Hyaluronic acid filler longevity in the mid-face: a review of 33 magnetic resonance imaging studies. Plast Reconstr Surg Glob Open. 2024;12(7):e5934. PMID 39015357.
- Murray G, Convery C, Walker L, Davies E. Guideline for the safe use of hyaluronidase in aesthetic medicine, including modified high-dose protocol. J Clin Aesthet Dermatol. 2021;14(8):E69-E75. PMID 34840662.
Common questions
Your questions,
answered
What is Profhilo made of?
Hyaluronic acid only: 32 mg of high-molecular-weight and 32 mg of low-molecular-weight HA in 2 mL, stabilised by heat into hybrid complexes rather than by chemical cross-linking.
Is Profhilo a filler?
Not in the usual sense. It is a fluid HA gel that spreads under the skin to improve hydration and texture. It does not hold a shape, so it is not used to add volume or contour.
How many Profhilo sessions are needed?
The manufacturer's protocol is two sessions 30 days apart, followed by maintenance if needed. How often maintenance is worthwhile is individual and is decided at review.
What are the BAP points?
Bio Aesthetic Points are five injection points on each side of the face, at the cheekbone, the nasal base, in front of the ear, beside the chin and above the jaw angle. About 0.2 mL is placed at each and spreads.
When will I see results from Profhilo?
Bumps settle within about a day. In studies, changes in hydration and skin measurements were seen from about four to eight weeks and lasted to 12 to 16 weeks of follow-up. Results vary, and some people notice little.
Will Profhilo lift my face or fill hollows?
No. It is not a volumiser and will not lift heavy jowls, fill hollow temples or shape the chin. Those concerns need filler, a collagen biostimulator, energy-based lifting or surgery.
Is Profhilo suitable if I already have a lot of filler?
Usually not as a first step. It is still HA and binds water. If your face looks heavy after filler, it is better to assess and treat the existing filler before adding anything.
Can Profhilo be dissolved?
It is hyaluronic acid, so hyaluronidase can break it down. In practice the gel spreads thinly, and dissolving is rarely needed, but the enzyme remains a safety option.
Is Profhilo the same as a skin booster?
It is often grouped with skin boosters, but it is injected at only ten points as small boluses that spread, rather than as many tiny droplets. Our Profhilo vs Rejuran guide compares the two approaches.
Who performs it at SkinRev Lab, and how much is it?
Dr Sin Yong performs bio-remodelling HA injections after a consultation at SkinRev Lab, CityLink Mall, or IN Eternity Clinic, Pacific Plaza. Treatment is priced at consultation.