Polynucleotides and Profhilo are both skin quality injectables, both popular, and both genuinely effective. The question I get asked most often is which one is better. The honest answer is that it depends entirely on what your skin needs.
They work through different mechanisms, suit different patients and produce different kinds of results. This blog sets out those differences clearly, with my clinical view on who is best suited to each.
Polynucleotides vs Profhilo at Health & Aesthetics
What Is Profhilo, and What Does It Do?
Profhilo is an injectable skin treatment based on highly concentrated, ultra-pure hyaluronic acid. It is made by IBSA using a patented technology called NAHYCO, which thermally bonds high and low molecular weight HA without chemical crosslinkers. The result is a product with a very high HA concentration (64mg per 2ml) and a consistency that allows it to spread freely through the tissue once injected rather than sitting in one spot.
When Profhilo is injected at five specific points on each side of the face (the BAP technique), it diffuses widely beneath the skin, deeply hydrating the tissue and providing a bioremodelling effect on collagen and elastin. The results are beautiful: skin looks plumper, more luminous and healthier, typically within two to four weeks of the first session. A standard course is two sessions, four weeks apart.
The effect is real and the results are pleasing. But here is the critical thing to understand: Profhilo is primarily a hydration and bioremodelling treatment. It improves how the skin looks and feels by deeply moisturising the tissue and providing some stimulus to collagen and elastin. It does not repair damaged cells. It does not regenerate tissue at a cellular level. And it does not address inflammation within the skin. Those distinctions matter.
The Glow Factor
Profhilo’s most celebrated quality is the glow it produces. Patients often describe their skin as looking lit from within in a couple of weeks after treatment. For a younger patient with basically healthy skin who wants a boost of radiance before an event, a holiday or simply as a seasonal skin refresh, Profhilo can be genuinely lovely. It just means knowing what it is, and what it is not.
What Are Polynucleotides, and Why Do They Matter?
Polynucleotides are long chains of DNA fragments, typically derived from highly purified salmon DNA, which has a high degree of biocompatibility with human tissue. They have been used in medicine for many years in wound healing and tissue repair, and their application in aesthetic medicine is well supported by a growing body of clinical evidence.
When injected into the dermis, polynucleotides work at a genuinely cellular level. They activate fibroblasts, the cells responsible for producing collagen and elastin. They stimulate the repair and renewal of the extracellular matrix, the structural framework that gives skin its firmness and resilience. They reduce oxidative stress and inflammation within the tissue. And they improve the skin’s hydration, not by flooding the tissue with hyaluronic acid from the outside, but by enhancing the skin’s own ability to retain moisture from within.
The distinction between surface-level hydration and cellular regeneration is the most important thing to understand about the difference between these two treatments. Profhilo hydrates the skin. Polynucleotides help the skin to repair, renew and function better at a biological level. They do not just make the skin look healthier; they make the skin be healthier.
At Health & Aesthetics we offer two polynucleotide products from the same family: Plinest and Newest. Understanding the difference between them is useful, because it adds another layer of choice depending on what your skin needs.
Plinest vs Newest: which Polynucleotide is right for you?
Plinest contains polynucleotides only. It works by stimulating the skin’s own repair and regeneration processes: activating fibroblasts, boosting collagen and elastin production and improving the structural quality of the skin over time. It is a pure regenerative treatment. Newest combines polynucleotides with hyaluronic acid. That addition of HA means Newest delivers both cellular regeneration and deep hydration simultaneously, in a single product. For patients who want the regenerative benefits of polynucleotides but also want improved hydration and a quicker visible glow alongside the longer-term repair, Newest is a particularly compelling option. Think of it as bridging the gap between Profhilo and a pure polynucleotide treatment: you get the skin-conditioning hydration of an HA booster alongside the deeper biological work of polynucleotides. Which one we recommend depends on your skin and your goals, and that is something we assess during your consultation.
The Core Difference: Hydration vs Regeneration
This is the distinction that matters most, and it is worth understanding clearly.
Profhilo was developed to solve a specific and valuable problem: how to deeply hydrate and mildly bioremodel the skin in a comfortable, low-downtime treatment with visible results in a short timeframe. It has been doing that job very well for years, and it continues to do so.
Polynucleotides take a different approach altogether. Rather than introducing a hydrating substance into the tissue, they switch on the skin’s own biological processes: collagen production, elastin synthesis, cellular repair and anti-inflammatory activity. The improvement is slower to appear, because it is based on real biological change rather than a product diffusing through the tissue. But what develops is more than a temporary improvement in how the skin looks; it is a genuine improvement in what the skin does.
For a patient who wants their skin to look glowing and refreshed, Profhilo is a lovely option. For a patient who wants their skin to actively regenerate, to become structurally better over time and to address the underlying biology of ageing, polynucleotides offer something more.
Who Is Each Treatment Best Suited To?
Profhilo works well for:
- Patients who want to maintain good skin quality and enjoy a radiance boost, particularly those in their twenties and thirties with fundamentally healthy skin
- Patients seeking a quick improvement in radiance and glow, for example ahead of a wedding, holiday or significant occasion
- Those who are new to injectables and want to try a well-established, gentle treatment with a strong safety record and predictable results
- Patients with dry or dehydrated skin who want a meaningful improvement in luminosity and texture without a lengthy course of treatment
- Neck and décolleté rejuvenation where diffuse hydration is the primary goal
Polynucleotides work better for:
- Patients from their late thirties onwards who are seeing genuine signs of skin ageing, including loss of elasticity, fine crepey texture, uneven tone or early laxity
- Skin that is sun-damaged, inflamed, prone to rosacea or reactive, where the anti-inflammatory properties of polynucleotides are particularly relevant
- Under-eye concerns, where the thin, fragile skin benefits more from cellular regeneration than from hydration alone
- Acne scarring, where the tissue repair mechanism of polynucleotides directly addresses the structural damage in the dermis
- Patients who want something that works at a deeper biological level and creates longer-term structural change
- Anyone who wants their skin to improve biologically, not just aesthetically. If you also want hydration alongside that regeneration, Newest is worth discussing; if pure cellular repair is the priority, Plinest is the more focused option
A useful way to think about it: Profhilo is the treatment you choose when you want your skin to look luminous and hydrated, and enjoy that glow quickly. Polynucleotides are the treatment you choose when you want your skin to genuinely regenerate and be in better condition in six months than it is today.
Both are good choices. It is simply a matter of knowing what each one is designed to achieve and matching that to what you need.
My Honest View
I have watched the conversation in aesthetic medicine develop considerably over the past few years, and the growing interest in polynucleotides reflects something real. Patients are increasingly interested in investing in their skin’s long-term health rather than simply enjoying a short-term refresh. Polynucleotides suit that goal in a way that goes beyond what Profhilo was designed to deliver.
What I would resist is the idea that Profhilo and polynucleotides are essentially the same thing and you just pick whichever one is more popular at the moment. They are not the same thing. The underlying biology is different, the mechanism of action is different and the clinical outcomes are different. Understanding that distinction is what allows us to make a genuinely good recommendation for your skin.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I have Profhilo and polynucleotides together?
Yes, and for some patients this is a very sensible approach. Polynucleotides provide the cellular repair and regeneration, whilst Profhilo adds a boost of deep hydration and glow on top. The two treatments are compatible and complement each other well. We would discuss the most logical sequencing during your consultation, as in most cases we would recommend completing a course of polynucleotides first before adding Profhilo.
How many sessions do I need of each?
Profhilo is typically two sessions, four weeks apart, with maintenance every four to six months. Polynucleotides usually require a course of three to four sessions, spaced two to four weeks apart, with maintenance every four to six months.
Which one is better for the under-eye area?
Polynucleotides, in my clinical opinion. The skin beneath the eye is exceptionally thin and fragile, and what it needs in most cases is cellular regeneration and improved structural quality rather than additional hydration. Profhilo is not designed for injection around the eyes and is not appropriate in that area. Newest polynucleotides, are also not suitable for this area due to hyaluronic acid in the product.
Who is Profhilo best suited to?
Profhilo is particularly well suited to patients who are looking for a hydration boost and a glowing, refreshed appearance. If your skin is generally in good condition and your main goal is luminosity and improved texture rather than deeper regeneration, Profhilo can be a wonderful treatment. It is comfortable, quick, well tolerated and produces reliably pleasing results. Younger patients who want to maintain their skin rather than repair it often find it is exactly what they need. The most important thing is ensuring the treatment matches your goals, which is something we discuss properly at consultation.
What is the difference between Plinest and Newest?
Both are polynucleotide treatments from the same product family and both stimulate cellular repair and collagen production. The difference is that Plinest contains polynucleotides only, making it a pure regenerative treatment focused entirely on tissue repair, elasticity and skin quality improvement. Newest combines polynucleotides with hyaluronic acid, which means it also delivers hydration alongside the regenerative effect. If your skin is dehydrated as well as showing signs of ageing or damage, Newest allows us to address both in a single product rather than having to layer treatments. Patients who want the glow and hydration that Profhilo is known for, but with the added benefit of cellular regeneration, often find Newest sits in exactly the right place for them.
Are polynucleotides safe?
Yes. Polynucleotides have a well-established safety profile and a growing evidence base in both medical and aesthetic contexts. Purified salmon DNA has a high degree of biocompatibility with human tissue. The most common side effects are mild redness and small injection-site bumps, which resolve within 24 to 48 hours. Serious complications are rare, particularly when the treatment is administered by an experienced medical practitioner using a quality product. As with all injectables, the skill and judgement of the practitioner matters as much as the product itself.
How quickly will I see results from polynucleotides?
Results from polynucleotides develop gradually, which is part of their nature. Some patients notice early improvement in skin quality within three to four weeks of the first session. The full effect of a course typically becomes apparent six to eight weeks after the final session, as the skin’s collagen and elastin production continues to build. This is a different experience from Profhilo, where the glow is often visible within a couple of weeks of the first session. If you need fast results for a specific event, polynucleotides are not the right timing choice; if you are investing in your skin for the medium to long term, they are an excellent one.
Thinking About Which One Is Right for You?
If you have been enjoying Profhilo and are wondering whether polynucleotides might offer something more for your skin at this stage, the answer is worth exploring. Skin needs change over time, and the treatments that served you well at one stage of life may not always be the best fit as your skin matures.
If you are newer to skin treatments and trying to work out where to start, a consultation is the most straightforward way to get an honest answer. We will look at your skin, understand what you want to achieve and give you a clear recommendation based on what is actually right for you, not what happens to be the most popular treatment of the moment.
