When you are looking for a treatment that improves skin quality without changing the shape of your face, you will quickly come across two popular options: Profhilo® and skin boosters (usually Restylane Vital®). Both are based on hyaluronic acid and both improve the skin's radiance, but they work in different ways and suit different needs.
Quick overview
| Profhilo | Skin booster (Restylane Vital) |
|---|
| Type | Bioremodelling hyaluronic acid | Lightly cross-linked hyaluronic acid |
| HA concentration | 32 mg/ml | 20 mg/ml |
| Cross-linked | No (NAHYCO technology) | Yes (lightly cross-linked) |
| Injection points | 10 (BAP technique) | 20–40 |
| Sessions (initially) | 2 | 3–4 |
| Interval | 4 weeks | 2–4 weeks |
| Duration | 6–9 months | 4–6 months |
| Price/session (typical) | SEK 3,500–5,500 | SEK 2,500–4,000 |
How do they work?
Profhilo – bioremodelling
Profhilo contains one of the highest concentrations of hyaluronic acid on the market (32 mg/ml). Using the patented NAHYCO® technology, high- and low-molecular-weight HA are combined in a hybrid matrix, entirely without cross-linking agents. This means that Profhilo:
- Spreads naturally through the tissue from the injection point
- Stimulates 4 types of collagen and elastin
- "Remodels" the skin's supporting tissue rather than adding moisture at individual points
- Provides a "slow release" of HA over several weeks
Skin booster – deep hydration
Restylane Vital and similar skin boosters are lightly cross-linked HA gels that are injected at many small points across the whole face. They work more like "moisture depots" that slowly release hyaluronic acid into the surrounding tissue:
- Local hydration at each injection point
- Improves elasticity and suppleness
- Mild collagen stimulation
- The effect is more "local" than bioremodelling
Injection technique – BAP vs many points
Profhilo: BAP technique
Profhilo is administered at 5 specific points per side of the face (10 points in total). These Bio Aesthetic Points are chosen to:
- Be safe anatomical zones (avoiding vessels and nerves)
- Enable optimal spread
- Maximise bioremodelling across the whole face
Skin boosters: 20–40 microinjections
Skin boosters are injected in a grid pattern across the whole face with 20–40 small injections. This can cause more discomfort during the treatment and more swelling afterwards – but is effective for targeted hydration.
What results do they give?
Profhilo
- ✅ Improved skin quality and structure
- ✅ More radiance and "glow"
- ✅ Improved resilience
- ✅ A subtle "lifting effect" from collagen stimulation
- ✅ A natural result without a change in volume
Skin boosters
- ✅ Deeper targeted hydration
- ✅ Smoothed-out fine lines
- ✅ Softer skin texture
- ✅ Good for specific problem areas (under the eyes, décolletage)
- ✅ More "spot treatment"
Which suits you best?
Choose Profhilo if you:
- Are 35+ with early sagging
- Want an overall effect across the whole face
- Want long-lasting collagen stimulation
- Want a "lift" without a change in volume
- Prefer fewer injection points
Choose a skin booster if you:
- Have dry or dehydrated skin
- Want deep, targeted hydration
- Need treatment of specific areas (e.g. tear trough, décolletage, hands)
- Prefer a lower per-session price
Can they be combined?
Yes – many experienced practitioners combine Profhilo (for an overall effect) with skin boosters in specific problem areas. Both can also be combined with fillers (for volume) and Botox (for dynamic wrinkles) in a comprehensive plan.
Treatment schedule
Profhilo
- Treatment 1: Day 0
- Treatment 2: 4 weeks later
- Maintenance: 1 treatment every 6 months
Skin boosters
- Treatments 1, 2, 3: 2–4 weeks apart
- Maintenance: 1 treatment every 4–6 months
Safety
Both treatments have a good safety profile. The common side effects are mild and temporary:
- Small bumps at the injection points (24–48 hours)
- Slight redness and swelling
- Bruising in rare cases
Since neither material is permanent and both are hyaluronic acid-based, any problems can be corrected with Hyalase.
Conclusion
Profhilo is an innovative bioremodelling treatment that gives an overall result with few injection points. Skin boosters are a more classic hydration treatment that suits specific areas or dry skin types. Both are safe, effective and scientifically well supported[1,2].
The best choice depends on your specific needs – discuss it with an experienced practitioner who can recommend what suits your skin best.
