REVIEW   Free access

Esperienze Dermatologiche 2018 March;20(1):5-14

DOI: 10.23736/S1128-9155.18.00470-3

Copyright © 2018 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: English

Hybrid cooperative complexes of high and low molecular weight hyaluronans (Profhilo®): review of the literature and presentation of the VisionHA project

Enis AGOLLI ¹, Bianca DIFFIDENTI ², Novella DI ZITTI ³, Enrico MASSIDDA ⁴, Francesco PATELLA ⁵, Chiara SANTERINI ⁶, Annalisa BEATINI ⁷, Michele BIANCHINI ⁸, Stefania BIZZARRI ⁹, Valentina CAMILLERI ¹⁰, Antonella GALLODORO ¹¹, Nicoletta GRANATA ¹², Sebastian LASPINA ¹³, Alberto LIBERTI ¹⁴, Giovanni LIZIO ¹⁵, Anna MALGIOGLIO ¹⁶, Aliona MURATOV ¹⁷, Doariano OTTAVIAN ¹⁸, Maurizio OTTI ¹⁹, Carlo PERAMEZZA ²⁰, Mario PARISE ²¹, Marco UGOLINI ²², Cristina VARESI ²³, Maria C. TOFFANIN ²⁴, Gilberto BELLIA ²⁵ ✉

¹ Nuova Ricerca Day Hospital, Rimini, Italy; ² Private Practictioner, Naples, Italy; ³ CTO Ospedale Militare, Rome, Italy; ⁴ Private Practictioner, Cagliari, Milan, Italy; ⁵ Private Practictioner, Trani, Barletta-Andria-Trani, Italy; ⁶ Private Practictioner, Ospedaletto, Pisa, Italy; ⁷ Centro Medico Laserpoint, Sarzana, La Spezia, Italy; ⁸ Istituto Medico Medlight Srl, Florence, Italy; ⁹ Istituto Neurotraumatologico Italiano, Grottaferrata, Rome, Italy; ¹⁰ Private Practictioner, Turin, Italy; ¹¹ Private Practictioner, Taormina, Messina, Italy; ¹² Santissima Trinità Hospital, Cagliari, Italy; ¹³ Private Practictioner, Udine, Italy; ¹⁴ Private Practictioner, Pagani, Salerno, Italy; ¹⁵ Private Practictioner, Modena, Italy; ¹⁶ Private Practictioner, Rome, Italy; ¹⁷ Private Practictioner, Desenzano del Garda, Brescia, Italy; ¹⁸ San Camillo Hospital, Treviso, Italy; ¹⁹ La Sapienza University, Rome, Italy; ²⁰ Private Practictioner, Rimini, Italy; ²¹ ULSS Pedemontana, Santorso, Vicenza, Italy; ²² EasyMed Srl, Gallarate, Varese, Italy; ²³ Private Practictioner, Milan, Italy; ²⁴ Azienda Ospedaliera di Padova, Padua, Italy; ²⁵ IBSA Farmaceutici Italia Srl, Lodi, Italy

During life, skin undergoes chrono-aging, a process characterized by the slowing of metabolic processes and normal cellular activities. Laxity, dermal thinning and wrinkles formation, major aspects of skin aging, are strictly related with a marked reduction in hyaluronic acid (HA) content in the extracellular matrix. HA has therefore become a well-known dermal agent, shown to promote collagen synthesis, stimulate fibroblast proliferation, and correct skin defects. Most HA-based products used in aesthetic medicine are based on chemical cross-linking that, while improving stability, rigidity, and elasticity, substantially modifies the natural structure of HA. Profhilo® is a novel HA preparation, based on stabilized, cooperative, hybrid complexes, produced with NAHYCO® Hybrid Technology, an innovative patented thermal production process to stabilize the HA without the use of cross-linking agents. Profhilo® has high HA concentration, low viscosity, optimal tissue diffusion, and high manageability, favoring a multilevel dynamic tissue remodeling. The effectiveness of Profhilo® in improving the extracellular environment was demonstrated in in vitro studies, and its use in aesthetic medicine by a specifically developed 5-injection points technique, has been object of publications, showing positive results in terms of skin vitality and turgidity with a good tolerability profile. In order to explore new, advanced procedures for HA use in aesthetic medicine, the VisionHA project was launched, including educational activities and experience-sharing workshops. During the VisionHA project, different combination protocols and injection techniques have been tested for different facial and body areas. A few exemplary clinical experiences are here described.

KEY WORDS: Hyaluronic acid - Skin aging - Treatment