Dr Yasmin Tayeb's Top Three Treatments for Healthy, Glowing Skin

My Top Three Treatments for Healthy, Glowing Skin

Ask any doctor which treatments they reach for again and again, and you learn a lot. Not the newest gadget or the trendiest name, but the ones that quietly deliver, session after session, on real faces. When I was asked to name my three favourites, I chose a combination rather than a single hero. Microneedling radiofrequency with the Secret Pro, Profhilo, and cheek filler.

What links them is a shared goal. None of these treatments is about chasing a dramatic change or a done look. They are about skin that appears healthy, well rested and lifted, with the natural structure of the face respected rather than overridden. I often point out that when patients say a friend told them they look well, rather than asking what they have had done, that is the result I am aiming for.

This post walks through each of the three, how they work, what a session involves and why they sit so well together. If your main concern is dullness, a grey or tired-looking complexion, or a face that has started to flatten and drop with age, this is a combination worth understanding.

Microneedling radiofrequency with the Secret Pro

The Secret Pro is a multi-technology platform made by Cutera, and the part I love is the fractional radiofrequency microneedling, sometimes called Secret RF. It works by driving very fine insulated needles into the skin and then releasing radiofrequency energy from their tips once they reach the right depth in the dermis.

That combination is the clever bit. The needles create controlled micro-injuries, which alone would trigger some collagen production. But the radiofrequency energy heats the deeper layers of the skin at the same time, and it is that heat which really wakes up the fibroblasts, the cells responsible for making new collagen and elastin. The insulation on the needles means the surface of the skin is largely protected while the energy is delivered where it counts, lower down.

Why it gives skin that glow

Over the weeks that follow a treatment, the skin gradually remodels. New collagen firms and thickens the dermis, fine texture improves, pores can look smaller and the overall surface reflects light more evenly. That even light reflection is a big part of what we read as a glow. Dull skin is often skin with uneven texture, a tired barrier and sluggish cell turnover, and radiofrequency microneedling addresses several of those at once.

The lifting effect I mention comes from that deeper tightening. As the dermis contracts and rebuilds, the skin sits more snugly against the underlying structure, which can soften early laxity along the jaw and cheeks. It is a gradual, natural change rather than an overnight one, and results tend to build over three months as collagen matures.

What a session and recovery look like

Before treatment the skin is cleansed and a numbing cream is applied, usually for around half an hour, so the treatment itself is comfortable for most people. The handpiece passes over the treatment areas, and you may feel warmth and a mild prickling sensation. Afterwards the skin typically looks flushed, a little like mild sunburn, and can feel slightly rough or grid-textured for a day or two.

Most people find the redness settles within one to three days, and any tiny marks from the needles fade quickly. It is sensible to keep the skin clean, avoid heavy make-up for the first day, use gentle hydrating products and be diligent with sun protection while the skin recovers. A course of sessions spaced a few weeks apart generally gives the best results, with maintenance once or twice a year afterwards.

Profhilo for deep hydration and plumpness

If radiofrequency microneedling works on texture and structure, Profhilo works on the quality and hydration of the skin itself. It is an injectable made from highly purified, stabilised hyaluronic acid, and it belongs to a category often called bio-remodelling rather than filling.

That distinction matters. A traditional dermal filler is designed to hold its shape and create volume in a specific spot. Profhilo does the opposite. It is deliberately fluid, so once injected it spreads through the tissue, releasing hyaluronic acid gradually and drawing water into the skin. Hyaluronic acid is a substance the body already makes, and it can hold many times its own weight in water, which is why the skin looks so hydrated and plump afterwards.

More than surface moisture

The hydration is only half the story. Profhilo also stimulates the skin to produce its own collagen and elastin over time, which is why it improves firmness and that well-rested quality rather than simply adding moisture. I describe it as getting rid of the shadows and greyness in the skin, and that is a fair way to put it. Skin that is properly hydrated and remodelled reflects light better and looks fresher, so the tired, flat appearance lifts.

Because it is so spreadable, Profhilo is usually delivered through a small number of precise injection points, often five on each side of the face, positioned so the product can diffuse across the whole area safely. The standard protocol is two sessions about four weeks apart, then top-ups every six months or so to maintain the effect.

The patient experience

The treatment is quick, often around fifteen to twenty minutes, and uses very few injections, so it is well tolerated. Small raised bumps appear where the product is placed, and these usually flatten and absorb within a day, occasionally a little longer. Some minor redness or the odd bruise at an injection point is possible but tends to be mild. Most people head straight back to their day and simply avoid touching or massaging the area, alcohol, and strenuous exercise for the first day.

Profhilo suits skin that looks dull, dehydrated or crepey, and it is popular with people who are not ready for or do not want filler but want their skin to look healthier. It works beautifully across the face and is also used on the neck, decolletage and hands.

Cheek filler done strategically

The third of my favourites is cheek filler, and I am careful to explain why. The cheek is not a small, isolated area. It covers a large part of the mid-face, and the way it is treated affects the eyes, the smile lines, the jawline and the overall shape of the face. Done thoughtlessly, it is the treatment most likely to look overdone. Done well, it is one of the most natural and rejuvenating things you can do.

As we age we lose volume in the mid-face. Fat pads shrink and shift, bone remodels, and the support that once held the cheek high begins to fade. The skin that was resting on that support now has less underneath it, so it descends, deepening the folds around the nose and mouth and dragging on the lower face. Replacing volume in the right place lifts the whole structure from within.

The importance of placement

This is where the strategy comes in. The aim is not to blow up the front of the cheek or create a rounder, fuller face. It is to rebuild support in the areas where volume has genuinely been lost, often higher and more towards the outside of the cheek, so the mid-face is lifted and re-contoured while the person still looks like themselves. A well-placed cheek treatment can soften the tear trough and the nasolabial folds without either area being touched directly, simply because the foundation underneath has been restored.

I treat the cheek as a canvas for contour as well as lift. The right product in the right plane, placed in small amounts and assessed as I go, gives definition along the cheekbone and a natural sweep down towards the jaw. The filler I use is a hyaluronic acid gel, chosen for its ability to provide structure and hold its shape in this deeper position.

What to expect from cheek filler

Treatment starts with a proper assessment of the face at rest and in movement, because volume loss is rarely symmetrical. Numbing cream, and often a filler containing local anaesthetic, keeps the procedure comfortable. The product is placed using a needle or a blunt-tipped cannula, and the whole thing usually takes around thirty minutes.

Afterwards you can expect some swelling and the possibility of bruising, which is why many people schedule filler with a clear week ahead of any big event. The results are visible immediately and settle over the following two weeks as any swelling resolves and the product integrates. Hyaluronic acid cheek filler typically lasts somewhere between twelve and eighteen months, depending on the product and the individual, and has the reassurance of being dissolvable if ever needed.

Why these three work so well together

Each treatment answers a different layer of the ageing, dull-skin picture. The Secret Pro improves the skin itself, its texture, tone and firmness, giving that light-reflecting glow. Profhilo hydrates and remodels from within, lifting the greyness and adding plumpness. Cheek filler rebuilds the underlying architecture so the whole face is supported and contoured.

Treated in isolation, any one of them helps. Combined and sequenced sensibly by a doctor who understands how they interact, they add up to something more complete. Good skin quality on top of restored structure simply looks better than either on its own, and that is exactly why patients come away looking healthy and rested rather than obviously treated. Timing and order matter, which is why this kind of plan is always mapped out in consultation rather than booked off a menu.

Common questions about combining these treatments

Can I have all three on the same day?

Sometimes, but not always, and it depends on your skin and your plan. Injectable treatments and energy-based devices are often staggered so the skin can settle between them. During a consultation I will decide the safest and most effective order and spacing for you rather than trying to do everything at once.

Which one should I start with if my skin looks dull and grey?

Dullness is usually a skin-quality issue first, so Profhilo and Secret Pro radiofrequency microneedling tend to make the most immediate difference to glow and hydration. Cheek filler is added where there is genuine volume loss and the face needs structural support as well. The right starting point comes down to what your skin and face actually need.

Is there much downtime?

It is modest for all three. Radiofrequency microneedling leaves the skin flushed for a day or two, Profhilo causes small bumps that settle within about a day, and cheek filler can bruise or swell for a few days. Most people plan a treatment when they have a quiet day or two and a clear diary before any important occasion.

How long until I see results?

Profhilo and cheek filler show early results within days, with the final look settling over about two weeks. Radiofrequency microneedling is more gradual, building over roughly three months as new collagen forms. The combination is designed to look better and better over the first few months rather than peaking immediately.

Will I look natural?

That is the whole point of how I work. Conservative, well-placed treatment that respects your existing features is what keeps results looking natural. The goal is skin and structure that look healthy and rested, so people notice you look well without being able to say why.

Book a consultation with me

The best version of this plan is the one built around your face, your skin and what you want to change, which is why it always begins with a proper conversation. If dull, tired skin or a loss of lift and contour is on your mind, I can talk you through whether one of these treatments or a combination is right for you.

Wellface has clinics in Cobham, Esher and Wimbledon, and you are welcome to book a consultation with me at whichever is easiest for you. Come and tell me what you would like to see, and I will give you an honest, doctor-led view of how to get there.