Treatment comparison
Profhilo Skin Booster vs Polynucleotides
Profhilo vs polynucleotides at The London Road Clinic, Newark. Understand the difference between these two skin-quality injectables and which suits your skin.
Side by side
At a glance
| Compare | Profhilo Skin Booster | Polynucleotides |
|---|---|---|
| Product type | Stabilised high-concentration hyaluronic acid (IBSA) | Purified salmon or trout DNA fragments (Croma Polyphil) |
| Primary action | Bio-remodelling: spreads through the tissue and stimulates collagen and elastin | Regeneration and repair: activates fibroblasts and calms inflammation in the skin |
| Best for | Overall skin quality and firmness across an area such as the lower face, neck or hands | Thin, fragile or crepey skin, and delicate zones such as the under-eye |
| Sessions needed | 2 sessions, typically 4 weeks apart | 2 to 3 sessions, typically 4 weeks apart |
| Downtime | Usually minimal; small injection bumps settle quickly | Usually minimal; temporary swelling or small marks settle quickly |
| Results timeline | Builds over roughly 60 days across the course | Builds over 4 to 8 weeks per session, cumulative across the course |
| Reversibility | Not a cross-linked filler; metabolises naturally over time | Not a cross-linked filler; metabolises naturally over time |
| Price from | From £250 | From £195 |
The science
How each treatment works
Profhilo Skin Booster
Profhilo uses high-concentration hyaluronic acid placed in specific bio-remodelling points on the face, neck or hands. Rather than sculpting or adding bulk, the aim is to spread hydration, improve elasticity and rebuild overall skin quality over time. It works especially well for skin that feels crepey, dull or less resilient rather than primarily volume-depleted.
Full Profhilo Skin Booster details →Polynucleotides
Polynucleotides are purified nucleic-acid fragments used in regenerative injectable treatments. Unlike dermal filler, they do not add volume or change facial shape. Instead, they work over time to support skin repair processes, improve hydration and build elasticity. At The London Road Clinic they are particularly used for fine lines, crepey texture and reduced firmness in delicate areas such as the eye area and mid-face.
Full Polynucleotides details →Clinical perspective
Which is right for you?
Hydration and firming, or repair and regeneration
Profhilo remodels and hydrates the skin. Polynucleotides repair and regenerate it. Both improve skin quality without adding volume, but they reach that result through different biology.
Profhilo is a high-concentration hyaluronic acid that is placed at a small number of points and then spreads through the tissue, drawing in water and prompting the skin to lay down fresh collagen and elastin over around 60 days. The effect is broad improvement in hydration and firmness across a whole area. Polynucleotides work differently. They are purified DNA fragments that act at the level of cell signalling, prompting fibroblasts to multiply and calming inflammation. That makes them a repairing, regenerative treatment rather than a purely hydrating one, and it is why they suit depleted, fragile skin so well.
Your skin decides, not the brand name
Skin that has lost quality across an area points toward Profhilo. Skin that is thin, worn or crepey, or a delicate zone such as the under-eye, points toward polynucleotides.
The most common mistake is choosing by reputation rather than by concern. If the issue is overall bounce and firmness across the lower face, neck or hands, Profhilo is usually the more targeted starting point. If the skin is fragile, finely lined or slow to recover, or the priority is the under-eye, the gentle regenerative action of polynucleotides tends to be the better fit. Your clinician will identify what is driving the concern before recommending either.
They are often better together than apart
Profhilo and polynucleotides address different layers of skin quality and are frequently used in sequence rather than chosen between.
A considered plan often leads with polynucleotides to repair and calm depleted skin, then follows with Profhilo to hydrate and firm the improved foundation. For the under-eye, polynucleotides usually do the early work first. Whether a combination is right for you, and in what order, is planned at consultation based on your skin and your priorities rather than decided in advance.
Finding the right fit
Who each treatment suits
Profhilo Skin Booster
- Adults whose main concern is overall skin quality and firmness rather than one specific feature
- Those with crepey or lax skin across the lower face, neck, chest or hands
- Those who want broad improvement across an area without changing their facial shape
Polynucleotides
- Adults with thin, fragile or finely lined skin that needs repair more than hydration alone
- Those whose priority is the under-eye or another delicate zone
- Those who want a gentle, regenerative treatment that also calms inflammation
Common questions
Frequently asked
Is Profhilo or polynucleotides better?
Which is better for under-eyes?
Can Profhilo and polynucleotides be combined?
Where do HA skin boosters fit in?
How long do the results last?
Are these suitable during pregnancy?
Related reading
Go deeper
Explore each treatment
Read the full treatment details
65 London Road, Newark
Still not sure which is right for you?
Your clinician will assess your skin, talk through both options and give you an honest recommendation, including if neither is the right choice. No obligation to proceed.
Medically reviewed by Dr Shahe Boghossian, Medical Consultant, GMC 5204600. Last reviewed 6 Aug 2026.
