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Skin boosters

Skin boosters are injectable hyaluronic acid treatments that hydrate the skin from within, improving smoothness, elasticity and glow. They don’t add volume or lift; they improve the quality of the skin itself.

Your practitioner
Numbing cream applied before a skin treatment

Contents

How skin boosters work

Healthy skin contains naturally occurring hyaluronic acid, which helps maintain hydration and supports the skin’s structure. As we age, the concentration of hyaluronic acid within the skin gradually declines, contributing to dryness, dullness and the development of fine lines.

Skin boosters replenish hyaluronic acid within the dermis, leading to:

  • Improved skin hydration
  • Enhanced skin luminosity
  • Smoother skin texture
  • Reduced appearance of fine lines caused by dehydration
  • Improved skin softness and elasticity

Although improved skin quality may make the skin appear healthier and more youthful, skin boosters do not provide the lifting or volumising effects associated with dermal fillers. 

Common treatment areas include:

  • Face
  • Neck
  • Décolletage

 

A box of Profhilo with a pre-filled syringe

The Treatment

Following consultation to discuss your concerns and treatment goals, your suitability for treatment can be assessed.

During treatment

Skin boosters are administered using a series of small injections placed into the superficial layers of the skin.

Treatment time:

  • Approximately 15-20 minutes

A topical anaesthetic cream can be applied if required.

Small raised bumps at the injection sites are common immediately after treatment and usually settle within 12–48 hours depending on the product and treatment area.

The products we use

Profhilo®

Profhilo® contains a high concentration of hyaluronic acid (64 mg in 2 ml) in a formulation that combines high and low molecular weight chains without chemical cross-linking. It is manufactured using NAHYCO® technology, which combines high and low molecular weight hyaluronic acid without the use of chemical cross-linking agents.

Following injection, Profhilo® spreads through the superficial tissues, providing widespread hydration and improving skin quality over time.

Teoxane Redensity 1® (BabyGlow®)

Teoxane Redensity 1®, recently relaunched as BabyGlow®, is a skin revitalisation treatment containing non-crosslinked hyaluronic acid together with a patented blend of amino acids, antioxidants, vitamins and minerals that support healthy skin function.

BabyGlow® is designed to improve:

  • Skin hydration
  • Skin texture
  • Skin radiance
  • Fine lines
  • Overall skin quality

It is particularly suitable for patients seeking subtle skin rejuvenation with minimal change to facial appearance.

Treatment & maintenance protocols

Profhilo®

The standard treatment protocol consists of:

  • 2 treatment sessions
  • Sessions spaced 4 weeks apart

Some patients with more advanced skin ageing may benefit from a third treatment depending on clinical assessment.

Teoxane Redensity 1® (BabyGlow®)

The recommended initial course consists of:

  • 3 treatment sessions
  • Sessions spaced approximately 3–4 weeks apart

The precise treatment schedule will be tailored to your individual skin condition.

Maintenance treatment

To maintain results, repeat treatments are recommended every 4-6 months.

The exact interval varies between individuals according to age, skin quality and lifestyle factors such as sun exposure and smoking.

When will I see results & how long do they last?

Patients often notice improvements in skin hydration within the first few weeks.

Maximum improvement is generally seen within a couple of weeks of completion of the initial treatment course.

Results vary between individuals but typically last 4 months.

Maintenance treatments help preserve improvements in skin hydration and quality.

A smiling woman with fair hair, close up

What skin boosters can and can’t do

Skin boosters are a good treatment for dull, dry or crepey skin when what you want is better skin rather than a different shape. The change is subtle, and it wears off.

It can

  • Improve hydration, smoothness and glow over a course of two or three sessions, with the full effect about a month after the last one.
  • Soften fine crepey lines caused by dry, thin skin on the face, neck, décolletage and hands.
  • Suit people who want their skin to look better without any change to the shape of the face.
  • Be combined with filler, anti-wrinkle injections or skincare in one plan.

It can’t

  • Add volume or lift. They spread thinly through the skin. For hollow cheeks or defined lips you need dermal filler.
  • Treat lines caused by movement. Frown and forehead lines need anti-wrinkle injections.
  • Last. The hyaluronic acid is broken down within months, and most people need a maintenance session every four to six months.
  • Show a result the same day. Bumps and swelling settle over a day or two, and the improvement builds over the weeks after the course.
  • Replace sun protection and skincare. Sun damage carries on unless the skin is protected, and the result fades faster in smokers and sun-seekers.

Your practitioner will tell you at your consultation which of these apply to you.

Our aesthetic practitioner

This treatment is planned and carried out by our aesthetic practitioner and dentist, Dr Katy Nassar.

Dr Katy Nassar

Dentist and aesthetic practitioner

GDC-registered dentistMSc Skin Ageing and Aesthetic Medicine

Risks, and how often they happen

Every treatment carries risk. Here they are in three groups, with how often they happen where the evidence allows. Your practitioner will go through them with you, and they are in your written consent.

Expected Almost everyone, and they settle

  • Small raised bumps at each injection point for 12 to 48 hours, sometimes longer in thin skin.
  • Redness and mild swelling for a day or two.
  • Tenderness at the injection points for a day.
  • A wait for the result, which builds over the weeks after the course.

Uncommon Some patients, and some need further treatment

  • Bruising at the injection points, lasting up to two weeks.
    About 1 in 7Profhilo study of 64 patients
  • Swelling lasting several days rather than hours.
    About 1 in 12same study
  • Lumps that persist beyond a few days, more likely in thin skin or if the product sits too shallow. They can be massaged, left to settle or dissolved.
    Uncommon
  • Infection or a delayed inflammatory reaction at an injection site, treated with medicines or by dissolving the product.
    Uncommon

Rare but serious

  • Cold sore reactivation around the mouth in people who get them.
    Rare
  • A blocked blood vessel, a risk shared by all injectables. Skin boosters are thin and placed shallow, but the risk is not zero and the product can be dissolved.
    Very rare
  • Allergic reaction to the product or the anaesthetic cream.
    Very rare

For the long term

  • Results last about four months after a course, with a maintenance session every four to six months to keep them.
  • If you stop, the skin returns gradually to how it would have been. Nothing is left behind once the hyaluronic acid has gone.
  • Sun and smoking shorten the effect. Daily sunscreen and good skincare make the result last longer.
Where these figures come from

Figures are drawn from published studies, and your own risk may be higher or lower. More from the NHS on before you have a cosmetic procedure.

Frequently asked questions about skin boosters

How much do skin boosters cost?
Profhilo and Redensity 1 (BabyGlow) are £300 per treatment. Profhilo is usually a course of two treatments four weeks apart, and Redensity 1 a course of two or three. A first consultation with Dr Katy Nassar is £50.
How long do skin boosters last?
Results typically last about 4 months. Maintenance treatments help keep the improvement in hydration and skin quality.
What is the difference between Profhilo and BabyGlow?
Both are hyaluronic acid skin boosters. Profhilo is usually given as two sessions four weeks apart. Teoxane Redensity 1 (BabyGlow) is usually a course of two or three sessions, four weeks apart. Your practitioner recommends one after looking at your skin.
Do skin boosters add volume?
No. They improve the quality of the skin, its hydration, smoothness and glow, rather than adding volume or lift. For lost volume, dermal filler is the usual treatment.
How long does treatment take?
About 15 to 20 minutes, with numbing cream if you would like it.
Can I have skin boosters while pregnant or breastfeeding?
No. We do not offer skin boosters during pregnancy or while breastfeeding. You can book once you have finished breastfeeding.