Skin boosters in Malaysia: Profhilo, Rejuran, Juvelook and exosomes explained

What are skin boosters?

“Skin booster” is a marketing term rather than a medical one. It usually means small amounts of an injectable placed just under the skin to improve hydration, texture, fine lines or firmness, rather than to add volume the way a lip or cheek filler does. The main types work quite differently:

How many sessions, and how long do results last?

• Hyaluronic acid boosters: in one study of Profhilo, women had two treatments four weeks apart, and improvement was still measurable at 16 weeks.
• Polynucleotides: a 2024 review found most studies used three to four sessions about two weeks apart. The authors noted the evidence is still limited and of low-to-moderate quality.
• Collagen stimulators: results build slowly. In the US trial for Sculptra, people had up to four sessions, and many still showed improvement two years later.

Results vary between people, and most treatments need top-up sessions to maintain them. Be cautious of any promise of a fixed result or a fixed number of months.

Is it legal? What Malaysian rules say

Skin booster injectables are regulated in Malaysia as medical devices. Products sold here must be registered with the Medical Device Authority (MDA). As of October 2026, the MDA register lists products including Profhilo, Rejuran, Sculptra, Restylane Skinboosters and NCTF 135 HA. You can search it yourself on the MDA medical device register.

The Ministry of Health lists filler injections as a minimally invasive aesthetic procedure. They may only be done by a registered doctor holding a Letter of Credentialing and Privileging (LCP), in premises registered under the Private Healthcare Facilities and Services Act 1998.

A note on exosomes: searching the MDA register for “exosome” returns no products. In Malaysia, cosmetics are legally for use on the outside of the body, so a cosmetic exosome serum is not approved for injection. Doctors have reported cases of skin damage and scarring after exosome products meant for the skin were injected.

How to check the doctor, clinic and product (the 3Ps)

The Ministry of Health urges the public to “check the 3Ps” before any aesthetic procedure:

1. Practitioner: look the doctor up on the Malaysian Medical Council’s MeRITS register, and check MOH’s national registry of doctors with an LCP.
2. Premises: the clinic should be registered with MOH. MOH publishes its list of registered private clinics, including those offering aesthetic services.
3. Procedure and product: ask for the product’s name and check it on the MDA register. Make sure the procedure is one MOH allows. Breast and buttock fillers, for example, are illegal in Malaysia.

Side effects and risks

Common, usually short-lived effects include bruising, redness, swelling, tenderness and small bumps at the injection points, which typically settle within days to a week.

Less common but important risks:

• Lumps and nodules, particularly with collagen stimulators. In the Sculptra trial, 17% of patients developed nodules or bumps, sometimes appearing months later. Unlike hyaluronic acid, these cannot be dissolved with an enzyme.
• Injection into a blood vessel. This is rare but serious, and can cause skin damage, vision loss or stroke. It is the main reason injections should only be done by trained doctors who can recognise and treat it immediately.
• Infection and allergic reactions.

Seek urgent medical care for severe or increasing pain, skin that turns pale, blue or dusky, or any change in your vision after an injection.

Questions to ask at your consultation

• Which product will you use, and is it registered with the MDA?
• Do you hold an LCP for this procedure?
• What results can I realistically expect, and how many sessions?
• What are the risks for me, and what happens if there is a complication?
• What is the total cost, including follow-up sessions?

A careful doctor will review your medical history, medicines and allergies, explain alternatives, and give you time to decide. Be wary of pressure to book on the spot.

How much do skin boosters cost?

Prices depend on the product, the amount used and the number of sessions. In October 2026, clinic adverts in Malaysia commonly listed skin booster treatments from around RM500 to over RM3,000 per session. Ask for a written quote that includes all planned sessions. A much lower price can be a warning sign of unregistered products or an unlicensed provider.

Finding an aesthetic clinic in Kuala Lumpur

Our directory lists doctor-led aesthetic clinics in Kuala Lumpur and Petaling Jaya, with addresses, opening hours and directions. Whichever clinic you choose, check the 3Ps above before booking any injectable treatment.

Browse the clinic directory

Frequently asked questions