The single most important distinction in injectable aesthetics is often the least understood: the difference between a dermal filler and a skin booster. They share a delivery method. Their mechanism, purpose and result could not be more different.
Fillers add. Boosters rebuild.
Dermal fillers work by physical displacement, they occupy space in the tissue, creating an immediate volumising effect. The skin above is unchanged; it simply has more support beneath it. When the filler degrades, the volume returns to its previous state.
Skin boosters work differently. They interact with the biology of the dermis, stimulating fibroblasts to produce collagen, elastin and hyaluronic acid; restoring the skin's extracellular matrix; improving the tissue's intrinsic capacity to retain moisture and maintain structural density. The skin itself changes. The result looks like your skin, ten years ago, not 'done', not volumised, but genuinely better.
The extracellular matrix: why it matters
The extracellular matrix (ECM) is the biological scaffolding of the dermis, the network of proteins (collagen, elastin, fibronectin) and glycosaminoglycans (including hyaluronic acid) that give skin its structure, resilience, hydration and function. With age, UV exposure, stress and hormonal change, the ECM degrades: collagen production slows, elastin becomes less supple, HA concentration falls. The result is skin that looks tired, thin and lacking the quality it had at 25.
Skin boosters target this degradation directly, not by adding synthetic volume, but by stimulating the fibroblasts responsible for ECM production to resume and increase their output.
Profhilo: the original bioremodeller
Profhilo from IBSA Derma is the most extensively studied bioremodelling treatment available. It contains 64mg/2ml of hyaluronic acid, one of the highest concentrations in any injectable product, but in an unstabilised, BDDE-free formulation that does not behave like a filler.
Injected at five anatomical points per side of the face (the BAP technique, Bio Aesthetic Points), Profhilo spreads through the dermis rather than remaining localised. As it does, it interacts with fibroblasts across a wide tissue area, triggering the production of collagen types I, III and IV alongside elastin. The result is an intrinsic improvement in skin density, elasticity and hydration that develops over 3–4 weeks post-treatment and continues to mature for up to three months.
Two sessions four weeks apart constitute the standard protocol. Maintenance at six months sustains and compounds the improvement. Profhilo can be used on the face, neck, décolletage and hands.
Sunekos: amino acids and HA combined
Sunekos takes the bioremodelling concept further by adding amino acids to the HA carrier, specifically a patented combination of glycine, L-proline, L-leucine, L-valine, L-lysine HCl and L-alanine that mirrors the essential building blocks of the ECM. Where Profhilo stimulates fibroblast activity via HA alone, Sunekos also supplies the raw materials fibroblasts need to build new collagen and elastin.
Sunekos 200 is a lighter formulation designed for superficial injection, ideal for fine lines, periorbital improvement and the delicate skin around the lips. It is particularly effective for the under-eye area, where its calibrated viscosity allows safe injection at a depth appropriate for extremely thin periorbital skin.
Sunekos 1200 uses a higher concentration for deeper dermal remodelling, addressing more significant tissue loss, deeper lines and the changes associated with moderate to advanced ageing. Both formulations are used in a course of four sessions.
Jalupro HMW: for damaged and depleted skin
Jalupro High Molecular Weight from Professional Dietetics combines HA with amino acids specifically formulated to stimulate fibroblast proliferation, not just activity, but the production of new fibroblasts. This makes it particularly valuable for skin that has undergone significant depletion: photo-damaged skin, smokers' skin, crepey skin on the neck and décolletage, and skin that has lost structural integrity through chronic sun exposure or prolonged stress.
The HMW formulation provides sustained HA availability in the tissue for longer than standard bioremodellers, supporting the newly proliferating fibroblasts as they begin ECM production. It is frequently combined with Profhilo in comprehensive programmes: Jalupro rebuilds the fibroblast population; Profhilo sustains the remodelling process.
Beautifeye HA135 Fillmed: periorbital specialist
The skin around the eye is uniquely challenging in aesthetics. At 0.5mm thickness, it is among the thinnest on the body. The anatomy is complex. The vasculature is rich. Most products, fillers and bioremodellers alike, are formulated for thicker facial skin and carry significant risk when used in the periorbital zone: Tyndall effect, migration, overcorrection, vascular compromise.
Beautifeye HA135 from Fillmed is the only skin booster specifically engineered for periorbital application. The cross-linking degree, HA concentration (135mg/ml) and injection technique have all been calibrated for the specific anatomy of the area around the eye, producing improvement in under-eye crepiness, mild tear trough hollowing and fine periorbital lines without the risks associated with using standard products in this zone.
Which product is right for you? The correct skin booster depends on your skin type, your primary concern and your anatomy. A thorough consultation at Aesthetics Medispa will assess these factors and make a specific recommendation, not the most popular product, but the most appropriate one for your skin.
What results look like
The results of skin booster treatment are consistently described by clients as: 'my skin looks like it did ten years ago'; 'people ask what I've done but can't identify anything specific'; 'not done, just better'. This is the defining characteristic of bioremodelling, the improvement is intrinsic to the skin, not additive, and looks entirely natural because it is the skin's own biology improving.
Results develop over 4–12 weeks following treatment as the collagen synthesis response matures. The improvement is not immediate in the way filler volume is, which is why many clients are initially surprised to find that the best results arrive weeks after treatment rather than immediately after leaving the clinic.
Treatments that work. Results you can see.
Every treatment at Aesthetics Medispa begins with a thorough consultation, understanding your skin, your health and your goals before anything is recommended.