Polynucleotides vs Profhilo: the honest comparison most clinics won't put in writing
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 1, 2026
Two regenerative injectables that do genuinely different things — and how a dentist-injector decides between them
Profhilo is a stabilised hyaluronic acid for broad hydration and early laxity; polynucleotides are DNA fragments that signal skin repair, often best for thin, crepey under-eye skin. Many people benefit from both. At Dental & Wellness London, Islington, Profhilo is £350 per session or £625 for two, and polynucleotides are from £250 per session.
- Profhilo: hydration and early laxity
- Polynucleotides: repair for thin, crepey skin
- Polynucleotides usually better under the eyes
- Many people benefit from both
- Profhilo £350 · two sessions £625
- Polynucleotides from £250
Polynucleotides or Profhilo?
Two different jobs
Profhilo is a stabilised hyaluronic acid that spreads widely under the skin, hydrating it and giving a subtle lift. Polynucleotides are purified DNA fragments that signal skin cells to repair and rebuild. Both improve skin quality; neither adds volume.
- Profhilo: broad hydration and early laxity across the face and neck. Two sessions, a month apart.
- Polynucleotides: thin, crepey or fragile skin, especially under the eyes. Usually three sessions.
Many people arrive at this comparison believing it is a contest, and that one treatment must be better than the other. Some have read that Profhilo is the established standard; others that polynucleotides have made it obsolete. Neither reflexive answer is right, because the two treatments are not really competing. So rather than crown a winner, we set out what each one does and the reasoning we use in consultation at our Islington clinic, so that you can see which is likely to fit your skin. Other boosters, such as Restylane Skinboosters, are covered separately.
What Profhilo is
Profhilo is a stabilised form of hyaluronic acid, the same water-loving molecule used in dermal fillers, but made so that it spreads through the tissue rather than holding a shape. It does two things. It hydrates the skin deeply, and over the following weeks it encourages a modest increase in collagen and elastin, which is what the manufacturer calls bio-remodelling. It is injected at set points across an area in a recognised pattern, which is why sessions are relatively quick.
What polynucleotides are
Polynucleotides are purified, fragmented chains of DNA, usually from salmon or trout. They hydrate too, but their defining action is biological signalling: they prompt fibroblasts, the cells that make collagen, to repair, and they have an antioxidant, calming effect on the tissue. Put simply, polynucleotides are a repair signal, whereas Profhilo is closer to a reservoir of water. Our Plinest page describes one polynucleotide product in detail.
The shared ground is real. Both hydrate, both encourage some collagen, both are injected and both work gradually. The difference is emphasis: Profhilo leads with hydration and a soft lift, polynucleotides with repair and tissue quality.
Polynucleotides vs Profhilo, side by side
Mechanism
Profhilo holds water and gently remodels. Polynucleotides signal cells to repair and help settle inflammation. In one sentence: Profhilo improves hydration and tone; polynucleotides improve repair capacity and texture.
Best-suited skin
Profhilo tends to suit early laxity and dehydration across larger areas, such as the lower face, neck and décolletage. Polynucleotides tend to suit skin that is thin, fragile and tired. On crepey, sun-damaged or sensitive skin, the calming character of polynucleotides often gives them the edge. They are also used on the scalp; see polynucleotides for hair loss.
Treatment course
Profhilo is typically two sessions a month apart, then maintenance roughly every six months. Polynucleotides are typically three sessions, two to four weeks apart, then maintenance every six to nine months. Both build over weeks; neither gives an overnight change, and any clinic implying otherwise is overselling. If a single-session option appeals, Volite is a hyaluronic acid booster given in one visit.
Cost
At Dental & Wellness London, Profhilo is £350 for a single session or £625 for the standard two sessions. Polynucleotides are from £250 per session, usually across a course of three, and we confirm the full course cost in writing before you commit. A skin and aesthetic consultation is £65, redeemable in full against treatment. At that consultation we will often recommend the simpler or lower-cost option when it is the better fit.
Which is better for under-eyes?
Usually polynucleotides, because thin under-eye skin responds well to a repair signal. Profhilo is not designed for the under-eye area.
The under-eye is the thinnest skin on the face and the least forgiving anatomically. Polynucleotides behave gently in delicate tissue, which is one reason so many clinicians now favour them here, and we cover the area in detail on our polynucleotides for under-eyes page. Placement near the eye is also where a dental surgical background earns its place. Dentists work daily around vital facial structures, and the orbital region is dense with blood vessels, nerves and muscle that need to be understood in three dimensions. If dark circles are caused by hollowing rather than thin skin, a tear trough filler conversation may be more relevant, and we will say so.
Can I have both?
Yes. Many people have Profhilo for the face and neck and polynucleotides under the eyes, spaced appropriately. Prescribed and administered by Dr Vishal Patel, BDS, MSc Aesthetic & Restorative Dentistry, GDC 103127, the clinic’s sole aesthetic prescriber.
Sometimes the plan is sequential rather than simultaneous: polynucleotides first to improve tissue quality, then Profhilo to hydrate and lift, or the reverse depending on the skin. We map the order and spacing to you at consultation rather than treating both areas at once by default.
How we choose between them
A framework is useful, but in the consultation room a few signals usually decide it.
- General dehydration and early laxity across the face or neck: we usually start with Profhilo.
- Thin, crepey skin under the eyes: we usually reach for polynucleotides.
- Sensitive, reactive or visibly inflamed skin: the calming effect of polynucleotides often wins.
- A tighter budget with a broad hydration goal: Profhilo’s two-session protocol is often the more sensible spend.
What unites every version of the recommendation is the aim: natural results, facial balance and skin that ages well, with the honesty to tell you when the simpler option is the right one. Results vary, and we do not promise a fixed outcome.
Results and how long they last
With Profhilo, most people notice the hydration first, often within a couple of weeks of the first session, with the firmer, more even tone building after the second. With polynucleotides, the early change is again hydration, while the improvement in texture and thickness builds gradually over two to three months as the repair signal does its work. In both cases the benefit typically lasts around six months after a course, sometimes longer, and a maintenance session keeps it going. Older or sun-damaged skin can respond more slowly, which we explain at the outset rather than halfway through.
Common misconceptions
- “Polynucleotides have replaced Profhilo.” They have not. They do a different job, and for broad hydration across the face and neck Profhilo remains a sound choice.
- “Profhilo is a lighter filler.” It is hyaluronic acid, but it is designed to spread rather than to hold shape, so it does not restore volume.
- “One session is enough.” Both treatments are designed as courses. A single session gives a partial result, which is why we quote the full course.
- “The newer treatment must be better.” Newer does not mean more suitable. The right treatment is the one that matches your skin and your concern.
Who should not have either treatment
Neither treatment is offered during pregnancy or breastfeeding, or over active skin infection or inflammation in the area. Polynucleotides are not suitable if you have a fish allergy. Certain autoimmune or bleeding conditions are assessed individually, and where a medical question comes first we will refer you to your GP or a dermatologist.
What neither treatment does
Neither Profhilo nor polynucleotides add volume. Neither lifts a deflated cheek or rebuilds a softened jawline. If your concern is structural volume loss, both are the wrong treatment and a dermal filler is the right conversation; we compare the two categories on our skin boosters vs fillers page. Neither removes deep static lines, and neither replaces sun protection, sleep and a steady routine, which do more for skin over a lifetime than any injectable.
What treatment feels like, and aftercare
Both treatments involve a series of small injections. Profhilo leaves small raised bumps at the injection points for a few hours; polynucleotides can leave small bumps for a day or two and occasionally bruising, particularly under the eye, which settles within a week. There is no general downtime and most people return to work the same day. We advise avoiding make-up on the treated area for the rest of the day and skipping strenuous exercise, saunas and alcohol for around 24 hours.
Why have it with us
His training includes the International Fellowship in Advanced Aesthetic Science, a facial anatomy and cadaver course with Dr Ali Pirayesh at the University of Amsterdam, and IBSA training. Dr Vishal Patel has around twenty years in dentistry and ten years in facial aesthetics, holds an MSc in Aesthetic & Restorative Dentistry from Manchester, and is an AACD member. IBSA is the manufacturer of Profhilo, so the Profhilo technique we use is the one he trained in directly. Every treatment follows an in-person assessment; there is no remote prescribing.
The clinic is at 222 Essex Road, Islington, London N1 3AP, two minutes from Essex Road station and a short ride from Angel, Highbury, Canonbury, Hackney and Stoke Newington. Many patients cycle or use a Lime or Forest e-bike. We see patients Monday to Friday, 8am to 7pm, by appointment.
Clinically reviewed by Dr Vishal Patel · BDS · MSc Aesthetic & Restorative Dentistry · GDC 103127. Last reviewed 1 October 2026.
Dr Vishal Patel
Clinical lead · Sole aesthetic prescriber · 10 years in facial aesthetics
BDS Liverpool · MSc Aesthetic & Restorative Dentistry (Manchester) · GDC 103127 · International Fellowship in Advanced Aesthetic Science (IFAAS) · Facial anatomy and cadaver course with Dr Ali Pirayesh, University of Amsterdam · Harley Academy · IBSA and NeoStrata trained
We will tell you when a treatment is not the right answer. That honesty is part of the treatment.
Read Dr Patel’s profile →For the full picture, including how this compares with the alternatives, see our guide to skin boosters.
Further reading
How they work
Ideal indications
Special consideration
If one treatment answers your concern, we recommend that one; the two are combined only when skin needs both repair and hydration.
The right product, for your skin.
Consultation — £65
A skin assessment with an honest view of what will help. The fee is redeemable in full against treatment.
Your plan
One product or both, with costs in writing.
Treatment and review
Sessions spaced over weeks, then a review.
Start with a consultation
- £65, redeemable in full against treatment
- Carried out by Dr Vishal Patel
- A written plan before treatment
Or call 020 8127 4567 · WhatsApp +44 7974 910222
222 Essex Road, Islington N1 3AP · Mon–Fri, 8am–7pm
Our happy patients,
in their own words
Transparent pricing
Prices are set out below. Your written plan confirms the fee before any treatment begins.
Clear prices, set out before you start.
Redeemable in full against treatment
Two sessions £625
Per session
Included
- Assessment by Dr Patel
- A written plan
Quoted separately
- Maintenance, priced per session
Questions
people ask
If your question isn't answered here, call reception on 020 8127 4567 or email reception.
Which is better, polynucleotides or Profhilo?
Neither overall. Profhilo suits broad hydration and early laxity; polynucleotides suit thin, crepey skin and the under-eye area.
Can I have both?
Yes, often Profhilo for the face and neck and polynucleotides under the eyes.
Which is better for under-eyes?
Usually polynucleotides.
How much do they cost?
At Dental & Wellness London, Islington, Profhilo is £350 per session or £625 for two, and polynucleotides are from £250 per session.
Do Profhilo or polynucleotides add volume?
No. Both improve skin quality without changing your shape.
