Treating Tummy Loose Skin with Profhilo
Having excessive loose skin, especially around the tummy, is a very common concern in many adults. This usually occurs when one experiences dramatic weight loss. Women in general are very susceptible to this after pregnancy, when the stretched skin around the abdomen and other regions fail to return to their original states. Unlike fat, which can be burned-off by exercise, loose skin around the tummy is challenging to manage without surgery (tummy tuck, also known as abdominoplasty). However, if you dislike going under the knife, you may consider firming up your loose skin with Profhilo®.
What is Profhilo®?
Profhilo Body is a 100% injectable hyaluronic acid(HA)-based, chemical stabiliser-free product used to treat aging and sagging skin. Despite the similar HA composition, Profhilo® is neither a dermal filler nor a skin booster. Instead, it acts via a new process: bio-remodelling of the collagen and elastin structures in the skin.
Unlike most other HA products, Profhilo® is the only HA product on the market to combine both low molecular weight HA (L-HA) and high molecular weight HA (H-HA) in the a complex, without the use of additional chemical stabilisers. This is achieved using patented NAHYCO thermal stabilising technology, making Profhilo® one of the safest HA products on the market.
Once injected, Profhilo® slowly release its HA content from the complexes gradually over a month. The HA released stimulates the skin to produce 4 different types of skin collagen and elastin, along with other key skin rejuvenation processes. These processes are designed to address age-induced skin laxity. Overall, the following effects can be seen:
- Visible improvement in skin elasticity
- Reduced skin laxity and sagging
- Less fine lines and wrinkles
- Brighter, more supple skin from improved hydration
Profhilo® for post-pregnancy/post-weight loss skin laxity
Ageing is not the only reason that can cause loose skin. Skin laxity can often be simply caused by physical over-stretching from pregnancy or obesity. The stretching can damage support structures in the skin like collagen and elastin. After giving birth or losing weight, the stretched, damaged skin may be unable to return to its original state. This often leads to a loose “flab” of skin around the tummy and waist area.
Profhilo®, primarily used to treat signs of ageing on the face and neck, can address loose skin around the body caused by physical stretching as well. At The Clifford Clinic, we offer Profhilo® treatment to for sagging skin around different parts of the body like the arms, legs and torso. This includes skin laxity due to:
- Loss of skin collagen from ageing, or other similar processes
- Stretched skin around the tummy and waist due to pregnancy
- Weight loss
Because Profhilo® works by bio-remodelling of collagen and elastin structures in the skin, it is effective in these cases as well. In some cases, the results can be comparable to a tummy tuck/abdominoplasty surgery, but without going under the knife!
How is Profhilo® treatment like?
Our doctors will inject Profhilo® into key Bio-Aesthetic Points (BAPs) around the treatment area. These BAPs are strategically selected to allow Profhilo® to maximise its effects.
Before the injection, numbing cream will be applied to minimise any discomfort that may be experienced during the treatment. Our doctors will then mark out the BAPs before carefully injection Profhilo® into these BAPs. The treatment area is gently massaged after that to distribute the product evenly. The whole session will take no more than an hour to complete.
Treatment with Profhilo® has minimal to no downtime. You can usually return to your daily activities immediately after.
When can I see results? What should I expect?
The initial results are typically seen about 1 month after the first treatment session, where the skin around your arms, legs or tummy will start to tighten and sag less. This tightening will continually improve over the next 2 to 3 months. Some patients report seeing slight results within 1 week of the first session.
However, depending on the size of the treatment area and extend to skin laxity, more sessions may be required before the results can be seen. For post-pregnancy skin laxity which can affect the entire waist, at least 3 initial sessions may be needed.
Treatment routine with Profhilo®
If you are new to Profhilo®, our doctors recommend that you start with 2 sessions about a month apart. Subsequently, one session is recommended every 6 months for the for the most optimal results.
Am I suitable for Profhilo®?
You are suitable for Profhilo®? if you are not suffering from cardiovascular diseases, pregnant or breast-feeding. In fact, Profhilo® can be used to treat post-pregnancy skin laxity around the abdomen as long as you are generally healthy.
Profhilo® is suitable for all skin types and carries little to no down-time. In fact
However, Profhilo® has limited effects on loose abdominal muscles, which can also be caused by pregnancy or weight fluctuations. In this case, you may want to consider Tummy Tuck/ abdominoplasty, which is offered at Clifford Surgery, our plastic surgery branch.
If you are unsure, feel free to schedule a consultation with our highly skilled and experienced doctors at The Clifford Clinic. They will assess your condition and give you professional advice on the best treatment regimen for you.