Polynucleotides vs Profhilo: they are not competing for the same job
The most common question we get about biostimulators. The answer is less about which is better and more about which problem you actually have.
These two treatments get compared constantly, usually as though one must be superior. They are both injected, both described as biostimulators, and both promise better skin without adding volume. From the outside they look interchangeable.
They are not. They work through different mechanisms on different problems, and the choice between them is usually obvious once the right question is asked.
Side by side
| Polynucleotides | Profhilo | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Purified DNA fragments | High-concentration stabilised hyaluronic acid |
| Mechanism | Prompts repair and collagen production | Hydrates and bio-remodels tissue |
| Treats | Skin quality, texture, thin or crepey skin | Firmness, laxity, overall tone |
| Star area | Under-eyes | Neck and lower face |
| Sessions | 3, two to three weeks apart | 2, four weeks apart |
| Visible from | 6–12 weeks | 4–6 weeks |
| Face price | £175 single / £460 course | £250 single / £430 course |
| Eye or neck | £150 eyes / £400 course | £400 face & neck / £720 course |
The question that decides it
Ask yourself which of these two sentences is closer to true.
- "My skin looks thin, crinkled, and worn." That is a quality problem. Polynucleotides.
- "My skin looks like it has lost its hold — it sits differently than it used to." That is a firmness problem. Profhilo.
Most people know immediately which one they mean. The confusion usually comes from marketing that describes both treatments in the same words.
Where each one clearly wins
Polynucleotides win under the eyes
This is not a close call. Under-eye skin is thin, mobile and unforgiving, and polynucleotides are placed superficially without the water-binding tendency that makes other products risky in that area. Profhilo is not typically used in the tear trough.
They also win for skin that is genuinely compromised — sun-damaged, thin with age, or recovering from something. Repair is what they do.
Profhilo wins on the neck
Also not close. The bio-remodelling effect is what neck skin responds to, and Profhilo's ability to spread through tissue rather than staying at the injection point is exactly right for an area that needs even treatment across a wide surface.
It also wins on convenience: two sessions rather than three, and results appearing several weeks sooner.
Using both
Perfectly reasonable, and common in a considered plan. The usual arrangement treats different areas rather than layering them:
- Polynucleotides for the under-eyes — three sessions across six weeks.
- A pause of two to four weeks.
- Profhilo for the lower face and neck — two sessions four weeks apart.
- Reassess at three months from the start, then plan maintenance.
Cost over a year
A realistic first-year comparison, taking each at its recommended protocol plus one maintenance session:
| Year one | |
|---|---|
| Polynucleotides, eyes (course + 1 top-up) | £550 |
| Polynucleotides, face (course + 1 top-up) | £635 |
| Profhilo, face (course + 1 top-up) | £680 |
| Profhilo, face & neck (course + 1 top-up) | £1,120 |
Face for face, close enough that price should not be the deciding factor. Choose on the problem; the neck is simply a larger area to treat.
If you still cannot decide
Then the honest answer is that you probably have a bit of both, and the sequencing matters more than the choice. That is a consultation conversation — fifteen minutes in daylight settles it faster than any article can.
For more depth on each, see the polynucleotide guide and the wider skin booster comparison.
Common questions
Which is better, polynucleotides or Profhilo?
Neither is better in general. Polynucleotides treat skin quality — thin, crepey, worn skin, and the under-eye area especially. Profhilo treats firmness and laxity, and is the stronger choice for the neck.
Can I have polynucleotides and Profhilo together?
Yes, across a planned course, but not injected into the same area within a fortnight. The usual approach treats different areas — polynucleotides under the eyes, Profhilo on the lower face and neck.
Which works faster?
Profhilo. Results appear from four to six weeks, against six to twelve weeks for polynucleotides. Profhilo also needs only two sessions rather than three.
Is Profhilo safe under the eyes?
Profhilo is not typically used in the tear trough. Polynucleotides are the usual choice for the under-eye area because they are placed superficially and do not carry the same water-binding tendency.
Ask us about this
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