Both Profhilo and dermal fillers use hyaluronic acid — but they work in entirely different ways and address different concerns. Understanding the distinction is essential to choosing the right treatment for your skin, and it's one of the most common questions we're asked at Clinic 8.
What are dermal fillers?
Dermal fillers are injectable gels that physically add volume to specific areas. When we inject filler into the lips, it makes them fuller. When we inject it into the cheeks, it restores the lift and definition that diminishes with age. The results are immediate and precisely targeted — you leave the clinic with visibly fuller lips or more defined cheekbones the same day.
Fillers also contain a local anaesthetic (lidocaine), which makes the treatment progressively more comfortable as it progresses. They last between 9 and 18 months depending on the area and product used, and can be dissolved using hyaluronidase if needed — one of the key safety advantages of hyaluronic acid fillers over permanent alternatives.
What is Profhilo?
Profhilo® is something quite different. Rather than adding volume to a specific area, it spreads through the deeper layers of the skin and stimulates four different types of collagen and elastin — the proteins responsible for skin firmness, elasticity and hydration. The result is a significant tightening and lifting effect across the whole treated area, alongside a deep, lasting hydration that topical products simply cannot replicate.
"Profhilo doesn't add volume or change your features — it upgrades the quality of your skin itself."
It contains one of the highest concentrations of hyaluronic acid available in any injectable product, and is injected into five specific anatomical points (the BAP technique) to allow it to spread evenly. The recommended protocol is two sessions one month apart, after which many clients see a maintenance session every 6–12 months.
So which one do you need?
The answer depends entirely on your concern:
- You want fuller lips or more defined cheekbones → dermal fillers
- Your skin feels dull, dry or lacks its youthful glow → Profhilo
- You have skin laxity or sagging → Profhilo (and possibly the Nefertiti lift for the jawline)
- You want to restore volume lost to ageing → dermal fillers
- You want to improve overall skin quality → Profhilo or biorevitalisation
Many of our clients benefit from both — Profhilo to improve skin quality and overall firmness, and targeted fillers for specific areas of concern. Your free consultation is the best place to work out the right combination for your face and your goals.
