The Script

Skin Booster Injections: Profhilo vs Polynucleotides, and How to Choose

Skin boosters, Profhilo, and polynucleotides all improve skin quality rather than add volume, but they are not the same. Here is how they differ, and how to choose.

Valentina PakhrutdinovaMedically reviewed by Valentina Pakhrutdinova24 July 20268 min read

Skin booster injection treatment at a London aesthetics clinic

Skin booster injections are treatments that improve the quality of your skin from within, working under the surface to hydrate and support it rather than adding volume like a filler. Three of the most talked-about options are Profhilo, polynucleotides, and classic hyaluronic acid boosters such as Sunekos. They overlap, but they are not the same, and the right choice depends on your skin and your goal.

What are skin booster injections?

Skin boosters are a category rather than a single product. What they share is a focus on skin quality, hydration, texture, firmness, and glow, delivered by injecting into or just under the skin rather than shaping a feature. Where a dermal filler adds structure, a skin booster improves the condition of the skin itself.

Within that category, Profhilo, polynucleotides, and hyaluronic acid boosters each work in a slightly different way and suit slightly different concerns. Understanding those differences is what helps you ask the right questions and avoid paying for the wrong treatment.

Part of the confusion is that these names are used loosely online, and some clinics group them all together as skin boosters. That is not wrong, but it hides the useful detail. Two treatments in the same broad category can still be aimed at different things, one at hydration, another at repair, another at firmness. Knowing which concern you actually want to address is the quickest way to narrow the choice.

Profhilo: what it does and who it suits

Profhilo is a bio-remodelling treatment made from a high concentration of hyaluronic acid. It hydrates the skin and stimulates it to produce more of its own collagen and elastin, which suits skin that has started to look lax, crepey, or dehydrated. It is commonly used across the face, neck, jawline, and hands. You can see our Profhilo treatment page, and our full Profhilo guide explains how it works in detail.

Polynucleotides: what they do and who they suit

Polynucleotides are regenerative injectables, often derived from purified salmon DNA fragments, that support the skin’s own repair processes and stimulate collagen and elastin. They are frequently chosen for skin repair and for delicate areas such as the under-eyes. You can read more in our guide to how polynucleotides work.

Classic HA skin boosters and Sunekos

Classic hyaluronic acid boosters deliver hydration through many small injections across an area, improving glow and the feel of the skin. Sunekos sits in this space too, combining hyaluronic acid with amino acids, and is often chosen for fine lines and skin quality, including around the eyes. When people ask about Sunekos versus Profhilo, the honest answer is that they do related but distinct jobs, and the better choice depends on your skin.

The differences at a glance

The table below compares the three at a high level. All timings are typical rather than guaranteed, and your clinician will personalise the plan.

Treatment	What it does	Best for	Typical course	How long it lasts
Profhilo	Bio-remodelling: hydrates and stimulates collagen and elastin	Skin laxity and hydration across an area	Two sessions about four weeks apart	Around six months, then maintenance
Polynucleotides	Regenerative: supports repair and skin quality	Skin repair, texture, and delicate areas like under-eyes	A course of sessions a few weeks apart	Varies; maintenance advised
HA boosters / Sunekos	Deep hydration and glow through micro-injections	Dehydrated, dull skin and fine lines	A short course of sessions	Months; a course gives the best result

A general comparison of Profhilo, polynucleotides, and hyaluronic acid skin boosters.

You will see many skin boosters before and after photos online. Treat them as a general guide only, because results build gradually and vary between individuals, and honest clinics are careful not to imply guaranteed outcomes.

What all three share is a gentle, gradual mode of action and a course-based approach. None is a single dramatic treatment. Each asks a little patience while your skin responds over the following weeks, and each is usually maintained over time rather than done once. Downtime tends to be minimal across the three, though small bumps, redness, or the occasional bruise at the injection points can occur and settle within a day or two.

How we decide what is right for you: The Script

Rather than starting from a treatment, we start from you. A consultation and skin assessment come first, and the recommendation follows from your concern, your skin quality, and your goals, not from what is trending. Sometimes that is Profhilo, sometimes polynucleotides, sometimes a hyaluronic acid booster, and sometimes a considered combination over time. Care is led by a registered nurse prescriber. The clinic is Save Face accredited and JCCP registered, and treatments are carried out in CQC-regulated premises. If you would like a clear recommendation for your skin, a consultation is the place to begin.

Questions

Frequently asked questions

Skin booster injections improve the quality of your skin from within, focusing on hydration, texture, firmness, and glow rather than adding volume. They are a category that includes Profhilo, polynucleotides, and hyaluronic acid boosters such as Sunekos. Each works slightly differently and suits different concerns.

Profhilo is a type of skin booster, specifically a bio-remodelling treatment using high-concentration hyaluronic acid to hydrate and stimulate collagen and elastin. Other skin boosters focus mainly on hydration and glow. So the difference is one of mechanism and emphasis, and the right choice depends on whether your concern is laxity or hydration.

Neither is simply better. Profhilo focuses on bio-remodelling and skin laxity across an area, while Sunekos combines hyaluronic acid with amino acids and is often chosen for fine lines and delicate areas like the under-eyes. The better option depends on your skin and your goal, which a consultation clarifies.

They are different rather than better or worse. Polynucleotides are regenerative and often chosen for skin repair and delicate areas, while Profhilo is a bio-remodelling treatment for laxity and hydration. Some people benefit from one, and some from a combination planned over time. Your assessment decides.

For the delicate under-eye area, polynucleotides and certain hyaluronic acid boosters such as Sunekos are often preferred, as they focus on skin quality rather than volume. The right choice depends on whether your concern is skin texture, hydration, or something structural, so an assessment of the area is important.

It varies by treatment and by individual. Profhilo results typically last around six months after the initial sessions. Polynucleotide and hyaluronic acid booster results also last months, with maintenance advised. Because these treatments support your own skin, consistency over time tends to give the most reliable outcome.

Yes, results are gradual by design. Skin boosters improve hydration and skin quality over the weeks following treatment as the skin responds, rather than changing your appearance instantly. Outcomes vary between individuals, so before and after images should be viewed as a general guide, not a promise.

The reliable way is a consultation and skin assessment. Your clinician looks at your skin quality, your concern, and your goals, then recommends the most suitable option, which may be one treatment or a combination. Matching the treatment to your skin is what gives the best result.

Important

This article is for general information only and is not medical advice. It should not replace a consultation with a qualified medical practitioner. Treatments described here are only suitable following an in-person assessment, and results vary between individuals. Always seek personalised clinical advice before deciding on any treatment.

Key takeaways

Skin booster injections improve hydration and skin quality from within, rather than adding volume.
Profhilo is a bio-remodelling treatment for skin laxity and hydration across an area.
Polynucleotides are regenerative and are often chosen for skin repair and delicate areas.
Classic hyaluronic acid boosters, including Sunekos, focus on hydration and glow.
None is best in the abstract. The right one depends on your skin and your goal.
A consultation and skin assessment decide which suits you.

Written by

Valentina Pakhrutdinova

Registered Nurse Prescriber (NMC), Aesthetic Complications Expert

Valentina is the founder and lead practitioner of The Beauty Script. A registered nurse prescriber with a background in emergency and intensive care nursing, she takes an anatomy-led, consultation-first approach and treats only what will genuinely make a difference. She is Save Face accredited, JCCP registered, and an Aesthetic Complications Expert.

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