Profhilo vs Dermal Filler: What's the Difference?

Profhilo and dermal filler are both built on hyaluronic acid, both popular, and both frequently confused with each other. But they're designed to do genuinely different jobs — understanding the difference makes it much easier to know which one (or both) might suit you.

What they have in common

Both treatments use hyaluronic acid (HA), a substance your skin already produces naturally to hold onto moisture. Both are injectable, both are used to address signs of ageing, and both are generally considered safe when carried out by a qualified practitioner.

Where they differ

The difference comes down to what the HA is designed to do once it's injected:

• Profhilo is a highly purified, unmodified form of HA, injected at multiple points so it spreads evenly beneath the skin. Rather than staying put, it diffuses through the tissue — hydrating from within and stimulating your own collagen and elastin production. The result is a gradual improvement in skin quality, tone and firmness, rather than a change in shape or volume.
• Dermal filler uses a thicker, more cross-linked form of HA that's designed to stay exactly where it's placed. It's used to add volume and definition to specific areas — cheeks, lips, jawline — restoring structure that's been lost, or enhancing natural contours.

Which one is right for you?

It really comes down to what you're hoping to change:

• If your main concern is skin quality — dullness, dehydration, fine lines, an overall tired appearance — Profhilo is designed exactly for that.
• If your concern is lost volume or shape — flatter cheeks, thinner lips, a less defined jawline — dermal filler is built to address that directly.
• Many people benefit from both, at different points, depending on how their skin and face change over time.

A note on results

Because they work differently, they also show results differently: filler gives an immediate, visible change, while Profhilo's effect builds gradually as it stimulates your own skin. Neither is "better" — they're simply solving different problems, which is exactly why a proper consultation matters before choosing either.

Our approach at Braidburn Health

Every aesthetic treatment at Braidburn Health starts with a one-to-one consultation, where Dr O'Brien discusses what you'd actually like to change before recommending anything — including, sometimes, recommending neither. Full pricing for both Profhilo and dermal filler is on our Aesthetics page.