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Bazaar asks a doctor to explain the procedure that aims to perfect your proportions using dermal filler

Non-invasive cosmetic procedures have rocketed over the past year, and while Botox still sits at the top of the most popular non-surgical cosmetic procedures worldwide with over 6.2 million procedures carried out in 2021, so coined 'profile balancing' procedures have also been on the rise. The increased demand for profile balancing – using dermal fillers – may be attributed to the fact that a treatment can be carried out in the same timeframe as a lunch break, but promise results that rival a surgical procedure.

Bazaar spoke to leading aesthetic practitioner Dr Raj Acquilla to find out everything you need to know about the cosmetic treatment.

Profiloplasty, commonly referred to as profile balancing, is a cosmetic treatment which looks to balance and optimise an individual's facial profile by altering the proportions of the face through the use of dermal fillers. Rather than altering specific facial features, this treatment takes an overall view of your profile, considering the proportions of the nose, forehead, cheeks, lips, chin and jawline. "This is to optimise the lateral profile based on convexities, projection, angles, ratios and proportion," explains Dr Acquilla. "All of these end points are based on geometric facial aesthetic ideals," he says.

The pandemic threw up issues when it came to certain types of dermal filler, which reacted badly with the vaccine in some individuals and caused localised swelling. Dr Acquilla favours using Belotero, which is malleable and soft in its nature and allows him to sculpt under the skin once injected. "Softer fillers should be used in the the forehead and lips whereas more structured products are better for the nose, cheeks, chin and jawline," he says.

Because of the completely individual nature of profile balancing, it can work for anyone who is looking to improve the strength of their facial profile or enhance individual features in line with others, as the practitioner will work harmoniously to balance out the rest of the face.

According to Dr Acquilla, you can expect to see results for between 12-18 months.

While profile balancing was starting to rise in popularity pre-pandemic, the increase in awareness of how we are perceived via selfies and video calls has likely led to demand for the treatment increasing substantially. "We used to treat the frontal and oblique views but owing to increased self-awareness caused by social media videos now the lateral view is equally important," says Dr Acquilla.

Where we're returning to a real-life routine that prioritises access and ease, the seamless nature of the procedure is another reason people favour the treatment. "No anaesthetic is required when using the latest techniques," he adds, "thinnest needle is available and lidocaine is integrated into the gel".

Another draw of profile balancing is its minimal downtime; an appointment will normally take 30 minutes (not including the consultation, which should be in-depth to attain your desired results) with results being visible immediately. With a skilled practitioner there should be no swelling and very minimal bruising.

As with any cosmetic procedure, only ever see qualified, reputable practitioners, and ask to see examples of their work before deciding if they are the right person to work on you.