Can you stomach 40 injections of ‘injectable moisturiser’ at a cost of £850 to smooth out wrinkly mummy belly?

A ‘transformative’ injectable moisturizer that softens wrinkles on the stomach, arms and bust is being offered in British cosmetic clinics.

The innovative procedure involves up to 40 injections of diluted hyaluronic acid – a natural substance used in skin care products and in lip and cheek fillers – which rejuvenates the skin.

Women report that the £850 treatment, Profhilo Body, delivers remarkable results, erasing fine lines and sagging caused by ageing, sunbathing, weight loss and pregnancy.

Conventional injectable fillers smooth the skin by adding volume with substances such as hyaluronic acid and other gels, but can become clumpy if not used properly.

But this latest technique instead stimulates the skin’s own renewal processes, surgeons claim, releasing collagen proteins that naturally give the skin its elasticity.

This means it is not instantaneous. Multiple injections — up to 40 to correct stomach prolapse, experts say — can leave the skin red, bumpy or swollen for a few days, while the full results won’t be visible for weeks.

The treatment was launched in Britain by Dr Preema Vig at her clinic in London’s Mayfair.

The former GP says: ‘Other types of filler are designed to be shaped and molded and stay where they are.

‘But Profhilo Body is formulated in such a way that the hyaluronic acid disappears into the tissue quite quickly – within a few days.

Women report that the £850 treatment produces remarkable results, erasing fine lines and sagging caused by aging, sunbathing, weight loss and pregnancy. In the photo: before the treatment

This latest technique stimulates the skin’s own renewal processes, surgeons claim, releasing collagen proteins that naturally give the skin its elasticity. In the photo: after the treatment

‘Over the next month there will be a series of events that stimulate collagen, which tightens and brightens the skin.’

Hyaluronic acid occurs naturally in the skin, eyes and the fluids that lubricate the joints.

As a chemical, it is classified as a humectant – a substance that retains moisture – meaning it is often used in skin care.

As the skin ages, the cells produce less acid and existing levels begin to decline.

This causes visible signs of aging such as fine lines, wrinkles and loss of volume and elasticity.

Hormonal changes, excessive exposure to UV rays, smoking and stress can also contribute to the aging process of the skin.

Profhilo Body is usually administered in two sessions, four weeks apart.

The number of injections a patient needs depends on the looseness of the skin and the size of the area to be treated.

For example, the upper or inner arms may require up to 20 injections per session for maximum benefit.

Dr. Vig warns that there are limits to what the procedure can achieve. For example, it cannot help patients who are left with large amounts of excess skin after significant weight loss and who would benefit more from a tummy tuck.

However, she says: ‘It’s a fantastic treatment and the majority of people will experience a substantial improvement in that area and in collagen stimulation. Patients say it is transformative.”

One patient who has benefited is Katy Buckley, 52, who received the treatment to tackle sagging skin on her stomach.

The life coach from London says the problem got worse as she got older.

“I really wasn’t happy with the way my stomach looked,” she says. ‘I didn’t have sagging skin anywhere else on my body, but when I looked at my stomach I felt unhappy.

‘I lost a lot of my self-confidence and felt uncomfortable wearing clothes that showed my stomach.’

In 2021, Katy received ten Profhilo injections in her stomach. She says the injections didn’t hurt and she didn’t experience any side effects.

Within a month, many of the wrinkles were gone.

“I feel much happier now,” she says. ‘You can really see how the lines and wrinkles have faded.’

Lucy Mathias, mother-of-two from Chigwell, Essex, had the treatment to tackle ‘crepey’ skin on her neckline after she turned 40.

“It really made a difference,” she says. ‘All women notice it when you turn forty: your skin changes.

‘I started to feel a bit self-conscious and felt like my skin needed a revamp.

‘The treatment did what I wanted: my skin felt tighter, hydrated and more radiant, as if it was ten years younger.’