There is a difference between a face that has lost volume and a face whose skin has lost quality, and they need different treatments.
Filler adds structure. Skin boosters do not add volume at all — they improve hydration, firmness and the way skin reflects light. If people keep telling you that you look tired when you feel fine, this is usually the category you want.
Profhilo or polynucleotides?
Profhilo
A high concentration of hyaluronic acid that spreads through the tissue rather than staying where it is placed. Best for overall hydration, firmness and laxity across the cheeks, neck or hands. Two sessions four weeks apart, then roughly every six months.
Polynucleotides
Purified DNA fragments that act on the skin's repair processes. Best for skin quality, texture and thin, crepey areas including under the eyes, where Profhilo is not appropriate. Usually three sessions three weeks apart.
They are not competitors and are often used together.
What these treatments will not do
They will not fill a line, restore lost volume, tighten significant sagging, or produce a visible change the following morning.
Results build over six to eight weeks and are the kind other people notice without being able to say why. If you want an immediate, obvious change, this is the wrong category and we will tell you so.
Profhilo and polynucleotides side by side
Profhilo
- Areas
- The lower face, neck, décolletage or hands.
- Under the eyes
- No. It is not placed directly under the eyes.
- The course
- Two sessions, four weeks apart, about fifteen minutes each.
- When to judge it
- Six to eight weeks after the second session. Very little happens in the first two weeks.
- Maintenance
- One session about every six months. Some people go longer.
- Price
- £200 a session, the same on the neck, décolletage or hands as on the face. £400 for the course.
- The first year
- £600. The course, then one maintenance session about six months later.
Polynucleotides
- Areas
- The face and neck.
- Under the eyes
- Yes, for thin or crepey skin. They will not fill a hollow or remove a shadow caused by one.
- The course
- Three sessions, about three weeks apart, about twenty minutes each.
- When to judge it
- Once the course is finished. They work slowly, and will not give a fast result.
- Maintenance
- One session every six to nine months.
- Price
- £200 a session. £600 for the course.
- The first year
- £800. The course, then one maintenance session six to nine months later.
The first-year figures are the session prices added up. If you cannot tell which you need, or whether you need either, that is what the consultation is for.
Treatments in this category
Profhilo
£200Profhilo is a very high concentration of pure hyaluronic acid, made without the chemical cross-linking used in dermal fillers.
Read morePolynucleotides
£200Polynucleotides are purified fragments of DNA — most products derive them from salmon or trout — that are injected into the skin to support its own repair processes.
Read moreHair Filler & Hair Restoration
from £150Injectable scalp treatments deliver hyaluronic acid, peptides and growth-supporting ingredients directly into the scalp to improve its condition and support the hair follicles already there.
Read moreCommon questions
Which skin booster is right for me?
Usually Profhilo if your skin has become dry or dull across the face, neck or hands. Usually polynucleotides if it looks crepey or uneven, or if the concern is the skin under your eyes. If you are not sure, that is what the consultation is for, and you will also be told if neither is the answer.
Is a skin booster the same as filler?
No. Filler adds structure and volume. Skin boosters add no volume at all: they work on hydration and the quality of the skin, and will not fill a line or change the shape of your face.
Can I have Profhilo and polynucleotides together?
Yes. They are often used together rather than one instead of the other, with the order and spacing planned at your consultation. Each session of either is £200.
Who carries out skin booster treatments?
Alicia Marsland, the clinic's nurse prescriber. Injectable treatments are with her, from the consultation to the last session.