“Patients ask me about Jalupro several times a week because they see it on social media,” says Dr. Frank Agullo, founder of Southwest Plastic Surgery.
Forbes asked him about the product in July, for a feature on why Europe will not stop talking about it. What follows is the longer version of what he told them.
What a Skin Booster Is
A skin booster is an injectable aimed at the quality of the skin rather than the shape of the face.
“Chasing volume versus treating skin quality is a real change in aesthetics, and I see it every day,” Dr. Agullo says. “Whether Jalupro itself is a new era is a different question. It is HA plus amino acids; studies that look at Jalupro alone are typically small and often industry funded.”
The effect he sees in his own patients is specific:
“When I inject skin boosters, I notice the skin improves in hydration and texture as well as increases light reflection. This is a real result. But it is a subtle one, and much of the marketing promises things that have never been evidenced by any clinical studies.”
Better light reflection. That is the honest version of glow.
There is also a regulatory point most social media posts leave out. “It is not approved by the FDA as an injectable here in the USA, which is why most of its following is in the UK and Europe.”
Who Actually Benefits
“I would pick the 30 to 50 year olds with minor texture changes, early fine wrinkles or crepey skin of the eyes, lower face and neck, or the ones whose skin simply looks dull and dehydrated.”
He is equally direct about who should save their money. “It is doubtful that someone with significant laxity, major deep folds, or a great deal of volume loss will notice anything enough to shell out the kind of money this procedure requires. A course usually means 2 to 4 sessions plus maintenance, so the total spend adds up quickly for a subtle result.”
The Skin Quality Column
“At this moment in time, Profhilo, polynucleotides, and microneedling occupy the same skin quality column and add nothing in terms of volume. Profhilo is the more commonly known of the HA boosters, and has worked similarly to Jalupro in my personal experience.”
In the US, the FDA approved option in this family is SkinVive by Juvederm, and that is the skin quality injectable available at The Medspa at Southwest Plastic Surgery.
“I am, however, encouraged by the early data that has emerged on polynucleotides. These show particular promise for the area surrounding the eyes. Microneedling has the longest track record and the most independent evidence, especially when combined with radiofrequency.”
Independent evidence is a different thing from manufacturer evidence, which is why microneedling holds its place here no matter what is trending.
“Microneedling combined with growth factors, PRP or PDGF, shows the most promise with a true change at the microscopic level. The length of time before you need maintenance is similar across the injectable options, with most lasting roughly 3 to 6 months.”
The Misconception He Corrects Most Often
“The one misconception I fix most often is how a skin booster operates versus a filler, or whether one can skip a surgical procedure altogether. Skin boosters will not lift anything up; they cannot return volume where none exists anymore; they cannot tighten sagging skin at all meaningfully; results vary between different people; they last temporarily, and they do not necessarily guarantee an effect after one treatment.”
For a heavy jawline or a sagging midface, the honest answer is a facelift, not a series of injections that were never designed to lift.
Who Should Not Have One
This part rarely appears in the social media version.
“I do not treat patients who are pregnant or breastfeeding with Jalupro or any skin booster. Unfortunately, there is no safety data available for use in this patient demographic. In patients suffering from active skin infections or those who poorly control autoimmune diseases, I suggest caution with Jalupro or similar skin boosters.”
What We Offer
The Medspa at Southwest Plastic Surgery works from the FDA approved end of this category: SkinVive by Juvederm, the broader injectables menu, microneedling, laser treatments, and chemical peels.
“Injectables and skin quality treatments are a large portion of my practice. Yes, I do skin boosters, biostimulators, and fillers. I also train people to inject.”
What gets recommended at a consultation depends on the skin in front of him, not on what is trending that month.
About Dr. Agullo
Dr. Frank Agullo is a double board-certified plastic surgeon, Mayo Clinic fellowship trained, Clinical Associate Professor of Plastic Surgery at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center Paul L. Foster School of Medicine, and a Castle Connolly Top Doctor for thirteen consecutive years. He was quoted on skin boosters in Forbes in August 2026.
Schedule a Consultation
Bring the screenshot. If a treatment you saw online is not right for your skin, you will be told so directly. Call (915) 590-7900, text 1-866-814-0038, or contact us to book. #StayBeautiful
@RealDrWorldWide on Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat, @Agullo on X, or @AgulloPlasticSurgery on Facebook.
Dr. Agullo wrote two companion pieces: the marketing versus medicine editorial on drworldwide.com, and the piece on where skin quality sits next to surgery on agulloplasticsurgery.com.
