"Isn't Profhilo just hyaluronic acid?" I hear this question several times a week. And it's fair — both contain hyaluronic acid. But the difference lies not in the substance itself, but in what it does inside the tissue. And that difference is significant.
The short answer
Hyaluronic filler fills. It adds volume where volume is missing — lips, cheeks, chin, jawline. Profhilo remodels. It stimulates the skin to produce more collagen and elastin on its own. More firmness, better texture, tighter skin — but no added volume.
Think of it this way: filler is like a cushion that fills a shape. Profhilo is like renovating the foundation — afterwards, everything sits better without anything having been added.
How does a hyaluronic filler work?
Fillers are cross-linked hyaluronic acid gels. The cross-linking is key: it makes the gel hold its shape. When I inject filler into a lip, it stays exactly where I place it and provides volume right there. It doesn't migrate, it doesn't spread — at least not with good products and proper technique.
Depending on the application, there are gels of varying firmness. For lips I use a soft product, for the jawline a firmer one, for the cheeks something in between. Results last six to eighteen months, depending on the zone and product.
How does Profhilo work?
Profhilo contains one of the highest concentrations of hyaluronic acid on the market — 64 mg in 2 ml. But it's not cross-linked. That means it's thin and spreads through the tissue. And that's exactly the intention.
The hyaluronic acid in Profhilo consists of a combination of high- and low-molecular-weight chains that bond thermally (not chemically, as with fillers). Once in the tissue, this combination stimulates fibroblasts — the cells that produce collagen and elastin. The skin responds by rebuilding itself from within. More collagen means more firmness. More elastin means more resilience.
You don't see the result immediately, but after two to four weeks. And it doesn't look "done" — it just looks better. The skin appears fresher, plumper, healthier.
When to choose which?
In practice, I usually base the decision on three questions:
Filler, when:
- You want specific volume (fuller lips, a more defined jawline, more cheek volume)
- You want to change a particular shape (project the chin, straighten the nose)
- You want a result that's immediately visible
Profhilo, when:
- Skin quality is the issue (loss of elasticity, thinning skin, dull complexion)
- You don't want volume, you want tightening
- You want to treat the neck and decolletage area (fillers are usually unsuitable here)
- You want a subtle result that nobody notices
Both, when:
- You're over 40 and want to improve both volume and skin quality
- You want to build the foundation first (Profhilo) and then add targeted volume (filler)
In my practice, I combine these two treatments regularly. A typical example: a patient in her early 50s wants to look fresher. I start with two Profhilo sessions to build up skin quality. Four weeks later, I place targeted filler in the cheeks and nasolabial fold. The result is more natural than filler alone would have been, because the skin above it looks better.
Treatment comparison
| Hyaluronic Filler | Profhilo | |
|---|---|---|
| Goal | Volume, contour | Skin quality, tightening |
| Result | Immediately visible | After 2-4 weeks |
| Duration | 6-18 months | 6-12 months |
| Sessions | 1 session | 2 sessions (4 weeks apart) |
| Areas | Lips, cheeks, chin, jawline, nasolabial, temples | Face, neck, decolletage, hands |
| Pain | Mild (with numbing cream) | Minimal (10 injection points) |
| Downtime | 0-2 days (mild swelling) | None (possibly small bumps for a few hours) |
What I often see in practice
Patients who come to my practice for the first time asking for "hyaluronic acid" usually mean filler. They have a specific idea: fuller lips, less nasolabial fold, a more defined jawline. And that's the right treatment for them.
Then there are the patients who say: "My skin just looks tired somehow, but I don't want to look 'done'." Those I usually steer towards Profhilo or skinboosters. The change is subtler, but everything looks naturally better — without anyone being able to pinpoint what's different.
And sometimes someone sits in front of me and needs neither one nor the other, but a wrinkle treatment. That happens too. That's why the consultation matters: only once I've seen your face and understood your goals can I say what makes the most sense.
A final thought
The best treatment is the one you can't see. Whether filler or Profhilo — the goal is the same: you should look better, not different. Which path gets you there depends on your skin, your age, and your goals. Not on a trend.
