By Dr Duncan Brennand, Lead Aesthetic Doctor at L’Atelier Aesthetics, 101 Harley Street
Skin boosters have become the quiet workhorse of modern aesthetic medicine. Unlike fillers, they are not designed to reshape the face. They are designed to improve the quality of the skin itself, so that the face you already have looks hydrated, firmer and better rested. Profhilo, Sunekos and Seventy Hyal are three of the most asked-about options on Harley Street, and they are not interchangeable. Below is how they compare in practice, and which one we reach for most at the clinic.
For most patients with loss of skin quality, laxity and early ageing, Profhilo is the skin booster we recommend first. It uses the highest concentration of non-crosslinked hyaluronic acid on the market, stimulates its own collagen response, and has the longest track record of clinical data. Sunekos is a useful alternative for thinner, more crepey skin around the eyes, because it combines hyaluronic acid with amino acids that support the skin’s own matrix. Seventy Hyal is a budget option that works well for younger skin, but the evidence base is thinner. For an ageing face, Profhilo does more.
Skin boosters are injected into the dermis rather than deeper planes. They are not volumisers. The active ingredient in each of these three products is hyaluronic acid, a molecule that holds many times its weight in water. When injected, it immediately hydrates the skin and attracts water into the tissue. Over the following weeks, the hyaluronic acid also acts as a gentle biostimulator, signalling fibroblasts in the dermis to lay down new collagen and elastin. That second effect is where the firming and tightening comes from; the initial glow is from the hydration itself.
The differences between products come down to the concentration of hyaluronic acid, whether it is crosslinked, how it spreads through the dermis, and whether any additional ingredients such as amino acids are included. Concentration drives biostimulation. Spread and flow determine how the product settles under the skin and whether small lumps are likely. Additional ingredients target specific skin concerns, which is why Sunekos is often chosen for periorbital skin where amino acids help rebuild the extracellular matrix.
Skin boosters suit patients in their mid-thirties onwards who have noticed their skin looks duller, thinner or more crepey than it used to. They are also a sensible first step for younger patients with sun-damaged skin or poor hydration. Common presenting concerns include early jowling, softness along the jawline, dull cheeks, and crepey skin on the neck or decolletage.
Skin boosters are not the right choice if the main issue is volume loss. A hollow cheek or a flat tear trough needs a filler conversation at consultation, not a booster. Similarly, if there is significant laxity along the jawline or neck, a booster alone will not lift the tissue; it may need to be combined with energy-based tightening. We will tell you at consultation if that is the case.
Here is how the three compare on the variables that matter clinically.
Profhilo sits at the top of the evidence pile. It is a thermally crosslinked hyaluronic acid that spreads smoothly through the dermis without leaving lumps, and the clinical data on its collagen stimulation is the most robust of the three. Sunekos is genuinely different in intent: the amino acids are the active addition, and they help rebuild the dermal matrix in thinner skin, which is why it is often chosen around the eyes. Seventy Hyal is a cheaper product with less published evidence; it can work for younger skin, but for an ageing face it does not match Profhilo’s effect.
Patients sometimes ask us about polynucleotides as a fourth option. They sit in a different category and are particularly useful for skin repair rather than hydration alone. There is a fuller comparison in our Profhilo vs polynucleotides review.
| Variable | Profhilo | Sunekos | Seventy Hyal |
|---|---|---|---|
HA concentration | 64 mg/2 ml (highest) | Medium, plus amino acids | 70 mg/2 ml (varied) |
Biostimulation | Strong, 4 collagen types | Moderate, matrix support | Mild to moderate |
Best for | Face, neck, jawline, hands | Under-eye, thin skin | Younger skin, face |
Course | 2 sessions, 4 weeks apart | 4 sessions, 1 week apart | 2 sessions, 4 weeks apart |
Hydration improves within the first one to two weeks after the first session. The collagen response builds over six to eight weeks, which is why the full effect of a Profhilo course is best judged around two months after the second session. Results typically last six to nine months depending on age, lifestyle and sun exposure, and we recommend a maintenance session every six months to hold the benefit.
Sunekos results are subtler and shorter-lived, which is why the course is four sessions a week apart rather than two a month apart. Seventy Hyal sits somewhere in between and again depends heavily on the skin it is being used on.
“If a patient walks in asking for a skin booster and they have an ageing face, I will be recommending Profhilo. The evidence is stronger, the effect on jawline skin is visibly better, and the two-session course is more realistic for most people than chasing four Sunekos visits. Sunekos has a specific role in thin periorbital skin, and I do still reach for it there. Seventy Hyal is fine in younger skin, but I would not choose it over Profhilo in a patient over forty.” – Dr Duncan Brennand, Lead Aesthetic Doctor, L’Atelier Aesthetics
At the clinic, Dr Brennand personally delivers all skin-booster injections. The consultation is where the choice of product is made, and it is based on skin quality, age, concerns and what a patient has tried before.
At L’Atelier Aesthetics, Profhilo is the skin booster we recommend first for most patients with an ageing face, because of its higher hyaluronic acid concentration and stronger evidence for collagen stimulation. Sunekos is the better choice for thin periorbital skin, where amino acids help rebuild the dermal matrix. Dr Brennand decides between them at consultation based on the skin in front of him.
A Profhilo course at L’Atelier Aesthetics is two sessions spaced four weeks apart. Sunekos is four sessions spaced one week apart. Seventy Hyal is usually two sessions spaced four weeks apart. Maintenance, once the initial course is complete, is typically a single session every six months.
Skin boosters are placed with very fine needles and most patients describe them as a brief stinging sensation that settles within seconds. We use a topical anaesthetic for patients who prefer it. There is no significant downtime; small injection bumps can remain for an hour or two afterwards.
Profhilo downtime at L’Atelier Aesthetics is minimal. Expect small raised injection points for up to 24 hours, which settle on their own. Mild bruising can appear at an injection site and clears within a few days. Makeup can be applied the next morning.
Yes. Skin boosters and dermal fillers work in different planes and are routinely combined. Profhilo sits in the dermis to improve skin quality, while filler sits deeper to restore volume. Dr Brennand will plan the sequence and timing at consultation so the two treatments do not interfere with each other.
We welcome patients from across Marylebone, Mayfair, Fitzrovia, Regent’s Park, Soho, Knightsbridge, Belgravia, Chelsea and Kensington, as well as visitors travelling to London for specialist aesthetic and skin treatments. Our location benefits from excellent transport links, with Oxford Circus only a 13 minute walk away, Bond Street and Regent’s Park Underground stations are also both within easy reach. The clinic is also conveniently accessible from major London rail stations and Heathrow, Gatwick and London City airports thanks to the Elizabeth line, making visits straightforward for both UK and international patients.
Whether you are travelling from within London or further afield, our Harley Street clinic provides a calm, professional environment for personalised aesthetic and skin health treatments in one of the capital’s most respected medical locations.
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