Profhilo vs Dermal Fillers — a direct comparison
Reviewed By
Dr Vishal Patel
BDS Liverpool · MSc Aesthetic & Restorative Dentistry Manchester · GDC 103127 · AACD Member · Invisalign Diamond II Provider · IFAAS (International Fellowship in Advanced Aesthetic Science) · Facial anatomy & cadaver course, Dr Ali Pirayesh, University of Amsterdam · Harley Academy foundation training in injectable aesthetics · IBSA-trained (Profhilo) · NeoStrata-trained (skin peels) · Lynton Lasers trained, incl. ONDA
Last Updated
October 2, 2026
Two injectables, two different jobs
Profhilo and dermal fillers are often discussed as if they were rival versions of the same treatment. They are not. Both are made from hyaluronic acid, a substance the body already produces, but they are formulated to behave very differently once injected. Confusing the two is one of the more common reasons people arrive at consultation having booked a treatment that does not match what they actually want.
Profhilo is a highly concentrated, low-viscosity hyaluronic acid. Rather than staying where it is placed, it spreads through the skin, drawing in water and supporting the skin's own collagen and elastin. The aim is skin quality: firmness, hydration, a finer texture and better reflection of light. It does not add volume, and it does not change the shape of the face.
Dermal fillers are cross-linked hyaluronic acid gels. The cross-linking gives them structure, so they hold their position and restore volume in a defined place: the cheeks, temples, chin, jawline, lips or tear troughs. The effect is visible straight away.
The key difference
The useful question is not which product is better but what has actually changed in your face. If the skin has become thinner, drier or less springy while the underlying structure is still intact, Profhilo is usually the more appropriate answer. If volume has genuinely been lost from a specific area, filler addresses that more directly. When both have happened, which is common from the forties onwards, the two can work at different layers of the same concern.
- Profhilo: improves the skin you have, gradually, across a wider area.
- Dermal filler: restores structure in one place, immediately.
How to read this page
The table below sets the two side by side on mechanism, suitability, downtime, longevity, risk and cost at DWL. The sections that follow describe who tends to suit each, and how we approach the decision in practice. If you are also weighing other skin boosters, see our comparison of skin boosters and fillers. Results vary, and the right plan depends on assessment rather than on a product chosen in advance. For surface-level skin quality, see HydraFacial vs microdermabrasion.
Further reading
Profhilo and dermal fillers solve different problems. Profhilo is a hyaluronic acid treatment that spreads through the skin to improve hydration, firmness and texture without changing the shape of the face. Dermal fillers are a firmer gel placed in a specific area to restore volume that has genuinely been lost, such as the cheeks, lips or jawline. Skin-quality concerns usually suit Profhilo; lost volume suits filler. Many people benefit from both.
The verdict at a glance
| Profhilo | Dermal fillers | |
|---|---|---|
| What it treats | Skin quality: hydration, firmness, fine crêpiness and texture | Volume that has genuinely been lost in a specific area |
| Mechanism | A highly concentrated, low-viscosity hyaluronic acid that spreads through the skin and supports its own collagen and elastin | A cross-linked hyaluronic acid gel that stays where it is placed and restores structure there |
| Best for | Early laxity, dull or dehydrated skin, the neck and décolletage, people who want no change in face shape | Cheek hollowing, a softening jawline, chin projection, lip shape, tear-trough hollows |
| Not suitable for | Defined volume loss, which it will not replace; pregnancy or breastfeeding; active skin infection | Concerns that are really about skin quality; pregnancy or breastfeeding; active infection; a bite or jaw issue that filler would only mask |
| Sessions | Usually two sessions about four weeks apart, then maintenance | Often a single appointment, with a review at around two weeks |
| Downtime | Small raised bumps at the injection points for roughly 24–48 hours | Swelling and possible bruising for a few days; lips tend to swell most |
| Results onset | Gradual, building over the weeks after the second session | Visible straight away, settling over about two weeks |
| How long results last | Typically around six months, with maintenance sessions to sustain it | Varies by product and area, typically six to eighteen months |
| Risks | Bruising, tenderness and temporary bumps; serious complications are uncommon | Bruising, swelling, lumps, and the rare but serious risk of a filler entering a blood vessel, which is why anatomy matters |
| Reversible? | Not dissolved in practice; it is broken down naturally | Hyaluronic acid filler can be dissolved with hyaluronidase if needed |
| Cost at DWL | £350 per session, or £625 for the two-session course | Priced by area: lip filler from £200 (0.5ml), tear trough from £250 (0.5ml), jawline £300 (1ml), other areas from £350 |
| Offered at DWL? | Yes, by Dr Vishal Patel | Yes, by Dr Vishal Patel |
| Often combined: Profhilo for the quality of the skin, conservative filler only where structure is genuinely missing. A skin and aesthetic consultation (£65) is redeemable in full against treatment. | ||
| Both are hyaluronic-acid treatments with a well-established safety record when placed by an anatomically trained clinician. Results vary between individuals. | ||
Which one is right for you
Profhilo tends to suit people whose concern is the quality of the skin rather than its shape. Typical signs are skin that looks duller, feels drier, has developed a fine crêpiness, or no longer springs back as it did, while the cheeks, jawline and chin still have reasonable support underneath.
- Early laxity and dehydration, often from the mid-thirties onwards, where the aim is firmer, better-hydrated skin.
- The neck and décolletage, areas where filler is rarely appropriate but skin quality can improve.
- People who want no change in proportion, only skin that looks healthier and more rested.
- A first step before any filler, so that structure, if it is needed later, sits on better-quality skin.
Profhilo is not the right choice if the main concern is a hollow cheek or a softening jawline, because it will not replace lost volume. It is usually given as two sessions about four weeks apart, then maintained. You can read more on our Profhilo page.
Dermal fillers tend to suit people with a defined loss of volume or structure in a specific place, where a measured amount of support would restore balance rather than add something new.
- Cheek or midface hollowing, which can make the face look tired and contribute to deeper folds below.
- A softening jawline or a less projected chin, where structural support improves definition in profile.
- Lip shape and hydration, often with a small volume such as 0.5ml. See lip fillers.
- Tear-trough hollows in carefully selected cases, assessed with particular caution. See tear trough filler.
Filler is not the answer when the real concern is skin texture or dehydration, and it should not be used to disguise a bite or jaw problem that has a dental cause. Because the gel holds its position, placement and quantity matter more than the product name. Hyaluronic acid filler can be dissolved if needed, which is one reason we favour a conservative first treatment and a review at around two weeks.
In my practice, the product is rarely the problem; the assessment is. Many people who look over-treated were treated with filler for a concern that was never about volume. Their skin had lost quality, and volume was used to chase it. Equally, someone with genuine volume loss can be under-served by skin treatments alone, because Profhilo cannot rebuild structure.
So I start by looking at what has actually changed: the skin, the underlying support, and, as a dentist, the teeth and bite that shape the lower third of the face. Where the skin is the main concern, I usually recommend Profhilo first. Where there is a clear, localised loss of volume, I use conservative filler and review it before adding more. Where both are present, we plan the two in sequence. We also say no fairly often, including when the honest recommendation is to do nothing at all.
Both treatments work in areas rich in blood vessels and nerves, which is why I place great weight on facial anatomy and on taking time over every injection. Results vary between individuals, and I will explain the likely outcome and the risks before you decide.
The first step is a skin and aesthetic consultation (£65, redeemable in full against treatment). You can contact us to book, or read more about my background. We are at 222 Essex Road, Islington, London N1 3AP, about two minutes from Essex Road station. Buses 38, 56, 73, 341 and 476 stop on Essex Road, and many patients arrive on Lime or Forest e-bikes.
Frequently
asked questions
Wellness dentistry combines traditional dental care with whole-body health — treating the mouth as a window to overall wellbeing.
View all FAQs →What is the difference between Profhilo and dermal fillers?
Profhilo improves the quality of the skin itself: hydration, firmness and texture across a wider area, without changing the shape of the face. Dermal fillers restore volume in a defined place, such as the cheeks, lips, chin or jawline. Both are made from hyaluronic acid, but they are formulated to behave very differently once injected, so they answer different questions.
Can I have Profhilo and filler together?
Yes, and for many people a combined plan is the honest answer. We usually begin with Profhilo so the skin is in better condition, then add a conservative amount of filler only where volume is genuinely missing. Sequencing and spacing are agreed at consultation, and you are never committed to both because you started with one.
Which lasts longer, Profhilo or filler?
Filler usually lasts longer per treatment, typically six to eighteen months depending on the product and the area treated. Profhilo is generally maintained around every six months after the initial two sessions. The two are not really competing on longevity, because they do different jobs; the better question is which concern you are trying to address.
Which looks more natural?
Profhilo does not change face shape, so its effect is inherently subtle: people tend to say you look well rather than different. Filler can look entirely natural when it is used conservatively for real volume loss. It tends to look unnatural when it is overused or placed without a clear indication, which is an assessment issue rather than a product one.
Is Profhilo a filler?
No. Profhilo is sometimes described as an injectable moisturiser or skin booster. It contains a high concentration of hyaluronic acid that disperses through the skin rather than holding a shape. It will not lift a cheek or define a jawline. If you are comparing it with other skin boosters, our polynucleotides comparison may also help.
Can filler be reversed if I do not like it?
Hyaluronic acid filler can usually be dissolved with an enzyme called hyaluronidase. At DWL hyaluronidase dissolving is £180. We see it as a safety measure rather than a routine fix, which is why we prefer to place less filler, review at two weeks, and add more only if it is clearly needed.
Who carries out the treatment at DWL?
Dr Vishal Patel, BDS, MSc Aesthetic and Restorative Dentistry, GDC 103127, assesses, plans and administers all aesthetic injectable treatment at the clinic. He has around ten years in facial aesthetics, with cadaver-based facial anatomy training and IBSA training in Profhilo. Every plan starts with a consultation, and there is no obligation to proceed.
How much do Profhilo and fillers cost in Islington?
At our Essex Road clinic Profhilo is £350 per session or £625 for the two-session course. Filler is priced by area: lip filler from £200 for 0.5ml, tear trough from £250, jawline £300 for 1ml, and other areas from £350. The £65 skin and aesthetic consultation is redeemable in full against treatment.
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