Injectable skin treatments are often grouped together as if they all do the same thing.
But not all injectables are designed to add volume or change the shape of your face. Some are there to restore structure. Others focus on improving skin quality.
Understanding the difference is key when comparing Profhilo vs dermal fillers – because they’re not competing treatments. In many cases, they do completely different jobs.
If you’re trying to decide between skin hydration vs volume, here’s what each option actually does, and how to choose what’s right for you.
Many patients come to the L’Atelier clinic in Harley Street asking for a specific product they’ve seen online, without being entirely sure what it actually does. Terms like “dermal filler”, “skin booster” and “hydration treatment” are often used interchangeably, which can make very different injectable skin treatments sound the same.
In reality, they work in different ways and at different layers of the face. Some improve skin quality and hydration, while others restore structure and volume. Understanding that distinction makes choosing the right treatment much simpler – and leads to more natural, balanced results.
Profhilo is an injectable treatment made from high-concentration hyaluronic acid.
Unlike traditional fillers, it isn’t designed to sit in one place or create shape. Instead, it spreads beneath the skin and works more like a bio-remodelling treatment.
Its main effects are:
Deep skin hydration
Improved elasticity
Smoother texture
Subtle firmness
Healthier overall glow
It stimulates collagen and elastin production while attracting water into the skin.
Think of Profhilo as improving the quality of the canvas, rather than changing the structure of the face.
Dermal fillers also use hyaluronic acid, but they behave very differently.
They are thicker gels that stay where they’re placed and are carefully injected to:
Restore lost volume
Contour cheeks or jawline
Define lips
Support folds and lines
Improve facial proportions
In simple terms, fillers replace structure that time has reduced.
They are sculptural, precise and shape-focused.
This is one of the most common questions.
Short answer: no.
Although both contain hyaluronic acid, Profhilo is not classed as a dermal filler because:
it doesn’t create volume
it doesn’t change facial contours
it spreads rather than stays localised
So when patients search “Profhilo vs dermal fillers”, they’re really comparing two completely different treatment goals.
| Feature | Profhilo | Dermal Fillers |
|---|---|---|
Main purpose | Skin hydration & quality | Structure & volume |
Texture | Very fluid | Thicker gel |
Placement | Spreads under skin | Stays where injected |
Result | Glow, firmness, elasticity | Contour, lift, definition |
Best for | Crepey, dull, ageing skin | Volume loss or shaping |
Changes face shape? | No | Yes |
Profhilo is often ideal if you’re noticing:
Dull or dehydrated skin
Fine lines and crepey texture
Loss of elasticity
Early or mild ageing changes
“Tired” looking skin without obvious sagging
It’s particularly popular for patients who want subtle, natural improvement without altering their features.
Many people describe it as looking like a fresher version of themselves, rather than looking “treated”.
Fillers may be more suitable if you have:
Hollow cheeks or temples
Loss of mid-face support
Deep folds around the mouth
Thinning lips
A desire for more definition or contour
If structure has been lost, hydration alone won’t replace it. This is where fillers provide the support that the face needs.
A simple way to think about it:
Skin looking thin, dry or crepey → Profhilo
Face looking hollow or sagging → fillers
Both concerns → combination treatment
Ageing affects multiple layers of the face, so addressing only one layer rarely gives the most balanced result.
Yes – and this is often where the best results happen.
Because they do different jobs, they can work together.
A common approach is:
This combination can create results that look softer and more natural than using fillers alone, because the skin itself looks healthier.
At the L’Atelier clinic on Harley Street, treatment plans are typically layered and personalised rather than relying on a single product.
There isn’t a universal “better” option when it comes to injectable skin treatments.
It’s not really Profhilo vs dermal fillers.
It’s about understanding what your skin needs, what has changed structurally and what outcome you want to see.
A thorough medical consultation at our clinic in Harley Street allows your practitioner to assess these layers and recommend the right mix of hydration, support, or both.
The goal is always the same: natural, healthy-looking results that still feel like you.
Not better — just different. Profhilo improves skin quality, while fillers restore structure and volume.
Typically around 6 months after the initial two-treatment course.
Depending on the area and product, usually 6–18 months.
No. It hydrates and firms but doesn’t sculpt or enhance.
Often yes, though your practitioner may stage treatments depending on your goals.
Both can look very natural when performed conservatively and tailored to your anatomy.
Most patients experience mild swelling or small injection marks for 24–48 hours.
A personalised consultation is the safest and most accurate way to decide.
Your feedback is always important to us, as it helps us to improve our systems and processes in our continual pursuit of excellence. If you have any suggestions, comments, or concerns please get in touch.
Profhilo Structura is a newer evolution within the Profhilo range, developed specifically to address age related changes in the deeper layers of the face, particularly the subcutaneous fat.
As we age, volume loss is not only related to the skin itself, but also to shifts and reduction in facial fat compartments, which can lead to flattening of the cheeks, loss of contour, and reduced structural support.
Profhilo Structura is designed to restore and support adipose tissue using a high concentration of stabilised hybrid hyaluronic acid complexes produced with NAHYCO technology.
Rather than acting as a traditional volumising filler, it works by improving deep firmness and tissue quality, creating a subtle lipolifting effect that helps re support the mid face while maintaining natural facial movement and expression.
This makes Profhilo Structura particularly suitable for patients experiencing early structural ageing who want support and firmness without obvious volume replacement.
