The secret to glowing skin that lasts up to six months

The lowdown:
After some numbing cream is applied and left to sink in for 30 minutes, Dr Shotter works deftly with the five small injections around the face with Profhilo and 20 smaller shots for Volite. They sting near the nose and lip, but the cheeks are quite a breeze.

It’s administered along with an IV line of saline, vitamins and amino acids to also boost the efficacy of the treatment.

She recommends a course of two Profhilo sessions and a dose of Volite in between and you’ll be guaranteed glowier after the three sessions.

As with any injectables, there is a little stinging for a few seconds during the procedure, a little downtime – possibly a few bumps at the injection site or the odd bruise, along with some tenderness for a few hours, but the results speak for themselves and they keep on working for up to six months.

The Beauty Director’s verdict:
This is the kind of glow that you can’t get from basic facials or expertly applied make-up, it doesn’t wash off and you wake up looking fresher every single day. It also helps to soften fine lines and support sagging, as well as boosting collagen too – well worth a few pinpricks and 15 minutes in the doctor’s chair.

See: Dr Sophie Shotter for her Ultimate Glow + Hydrate,
At The Cosmetic Skin Clinic, 8 Devonshire Place, London W1G 6HP or Illuminate Skin & Wellness, 50 Churchill Square, Kings Hill, West Malling, Kent ME19 4YU.
Price: Profhilo from £650 and Glow packages, from £2,400
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Q&A with Dr Sophie Shotter on Hyaluronic Acid injectables

1. What is the USP of the Ultimate Glow and Hydrate Facial and why do we need it now?
The Ultimate Glow & Hydrate combines clinically proven technologies to get the biggest injection of moisture into the skin. Profhilo is an injectable hyaluronic acid which works to stimulate collagen, elastin and hyaluronic acid production within the skin. Volite is also an injectable hyaluronic acid, but works slightly differently to Profhilo - it sits within the skin for 6-9 months and acts as a sponge, holding moisture within the skin for this period. The Ultimate Glow involves Profhilo at the first session, Volite 2 weeks later, and a second Profhilo 2 weeks after that. The Hydrate component involves giving an intravenous drip of vitamins and electrolytes designed to optimise your body’s hydration. I give this at the time of each injectable session to make sure you body is optimally hydrated and able to make the most out of the injected hyaluronic acid. The result is firmer, healthier skin with a definite radiance.

2. What’s the difference between Profhilo and Juvéderm Volite and why do you combine them?
Profhilo is what we call ‘un-crosslinked’ whereas Volite is ‘cross-linked’, like a dermal filler. Profhilo is the texture of runny honey. We inject it in set points in the face, from where it spreads through the dermis. It stays in the skin for between 20 and 30 days during which time it’s stimulating your fibroblasts to become more active which is what produces results. Volite on the other hand is cross-linked to form a very soft gel which lasts in the skin for between 6 and 9 months. During this time it acts as a sponge within the skin, holding moisture there. So whilst they are both made of hyaluronic acid they behave very differently. For me it isn’t necessarily a choice between them - if we want optimum hydration, the combination of them is the dream.

3. How long do the results last?
Results from Profhilo last around 6 months, and from Volite 6-9 months. So I would recommend repeating the Ultimate Glow & Hydrate every 6 months.