If you have been researching skin rejuvenating treatments in Ireland, three have undoubtedly stood out: Profhilo, skin boosters, and polynucleotides.
All three are injectable treatments designed to improve skin quality rather than add volume or reshape facial features. All three are growing rapidly in popularity, and all three can sound confusingly similar when you first encounter them.
This guide explains how each treatment works, what it costs, who it suits, and how to decide which is right for you.
What all three treatments have in common
Before looking at the differences, it is worth understanding what these treatments share. All three are injectable skin-quality treatments. Unlike anti-wrinkle injections, which relax muscles, and dermal fillers, which add volume, these treatments work beneath the skin's surface to improve hydration, firmness, texture, and overall skin health.
None of them will dramatically change your facial shape or structure. They are about making your existing skin look and feel healthier - smoother, more hydrated, firmer, and more radiant.
The results tend to be subtle and natural-looking, which is why these treatments are increasingly popular among people who want improvement without any obvious sign of having had "work done."
All three require a course of treatments rather than a single session, and all require maintenance treatments to sustain results over time.
Profhilo: deep hydration and bio-remodelling
Profhilo is an injectable treatment that uses a very high concentration of pure hyaluronic acid, a substance that occurs naturally in the body and plays a key role in keeping skin hydrated. Profhilo contains one of the highest concentrations of hyaluronic acid of any skin treatment currently available.
Unlike traditional skin boosters, which are injected across many points in the skin, Profhilo is typically administered at just five strategic points on each side of the face. From these injection sites, it spreads beneath the skin, sometimes described as flowing "like honey", to deliver hydration across a wide area. This spreading action is what makes Profhilo distinct: it does not stay in one place like a filler, but disperses to improve overall skin quality.
Profhilo works by stimulating the production of both collagen and elastin, the two proteins most responsible for skin firmness and elasticity. The result is a treatment that both hydrates the skin from within and gradually improves its structural quality over time.
What it is best suited for: overall skin hydration, mild to moderate skin laxity, dullness, loss of firmness, and the early signs of ageing. It works well on the face, neck, décolletage, and hands.
Treatment protocol: typically two sessions, spaced four weeks apart. Maintenance treatments are generally recommended every six months.
When you will see results: an initial improvement in hydration and glow is often visible within a few days of the first session. The full effect, including improved firmness and elasticity, develops over the weeks following the second session.
How long results last: approximately six to nine months, depending on the individual. Regular maintenance extends this.
Typical cost in Ireland: approximately €250 to €350 per session, with a full course of two sessions typically costing €500 to €700. For a full breakdown, see our Profhilo cost guide.
Skin boosters: targeted hydration
Skin boosters is a broad category that includes several products, such as Restylane Vital, Juvederm Volite, and Sunekos.
What they share is a common approach: micro-injections of hyaluronic acid (sometimes combined with amino acids or other active ingredients) delivered across the treatment area to improve hydration, smooth fine lines, and give the skin a fresher, more luminous appearance.
Unlike Profhilo, which uses a small number of injection points and relies on the product spreading beneath the skin, traditional skin boosters are injected at many points across the treatment area, often using a grid-like pattern. This allows the practitioner to target specific zones more precisely.
Skin boosters are sometimes considered the "entry-level" option in this category. They provide a noticeable improvement in skin hydration and glow, and can be particularly effective for areas of fine lines, dry or dull skin, and the neck and décolletage.
What they are best suited for: surface-level hydration, fine lines, dull or dehydrated skin, and areas where a lighter-touch treatment is appropriate. They are popular as a maintenance treatment between courses of Profhilo or polynucleotides.
Treatment protocol: typically two to three sessions, spaced two to four weeks apart. Maintenance is usually recommended every four to six months.
When you will see results: an improvement in skin hydration and glow is usually visible within one to two weeks of the first session.
How long results last: approximately four to six months, depending on the product used and the individual.
Typical cost in Ireland: approximately €200 to €350 per session, depending on the product and clinic.
Polynucleotides: cellular regeneration
Polynucleotides are the newest of the three aesthetic treatments and represent a different approach to skin rejuvenation.
Rather than using hyaluronic acid to hydrate the skin, polynucleotides are derived from purified DNA fragments, typically from salmon (more recently changed to trout), that work at a cellular level to stimulate tissue repair and regeneration.
When injected into the skin, polynucleotides activate fibroblast cells, encouraging them to produce new collagen and elastin. They also have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, which means they can help repair skin that has been damaged by UV exposure, environmental stress, or the natural ageing process.
This regenerative mechanism makes polynucleotides particularly effective for areas where the skin is thin, fragile, or showing signs of deeper damage, notably the under-eye area, where traditional fillers and even Profhilo can be more difficult to use safely.
You may hear polynucleotides referred to colloquially as the "salmon facial" - a term that comes from the salmon-derived DNA fragments used in some products (such as Nucleofill and Plinest). While the name is memorable, the science behind the treatment is well-established, with published research supporting the role of polynucleotides in tissue repair and collagen stimulation.
What they are best suited for: skin texture and tone improvement, under-eye rejuvenation (dark circles, crepiness, mild hollowing), fine lines, acne scarring, and skin that has suffered environmental or UV damage. They are also used on the neck, face, and scalp (for hair rejuvenation).
Treatment protocol: typically three to four sessions, spaced two to four weeks apart. This aligns with the skin's natural cell turnover cycle. Maintenance sessions are generally recommended every four to six months.
When you will see results: polynucleotides work more gradually than Profhilo or skin boosters. Initial improvements may be visible after two to three weeks, but the full regenerative effect typically develops over two to three months as new collagen is produced.
How long results last: approximately nine to twelve months - generally longer than Profhilo or skin boosters, because the treatment stimulates structural changes in the skin rather than relying primarily on hydration.
Typical cost in Ireland: approximately €250 to €400 per session, with a full course of three to four sessions typically costing €700 to €1,200.
How the three treatments compare
Rather than thinking of these treatments as competitors, it helps to understand them as working at different levels of the skin and addressing different concerns.
Profhilo delivers deep hydration and bio-remodelling using hyaluronic acid. It is the best option for overall skin quality, firmness, and glow - particularly for people in their 30s to 50s whose skin is losing hydration and elasticity but does not yet have significant textural damage.
Skin boosters provide targeted surface hydration and are the gentlest option. They are well-suited to younger skin that needs a refresh, or as a maintenance treatment between more intensive courses.
Polynucleotides work at the deepest level, stimulating genuine tissue regeneration rather than primarily adding hydration. They are the strongest option for skin that has suffered real damage from ageing, sun exposure, or scarring. They are particularly effective in delicate areas like the under-eyes where other treatments may not be appropriate.
Many practitioners now recommend combining these treatments as part of a longer-term skin health plan. A common approach is Profhilo for overall hydration and firmness, combined with polynucleotides for targeted regeneration in specific areas such as the under-eyes or neck. Your practitioner can advise on the right combination based on your individual concerns.
You can compare these treatments side by side using our comparison tool, or take our treatment quiz if you are unsure which approach suits your skin best.
What to consider when choosing
The right treatment depends on your individual skin condition, your concerns, your age, and what you are hoping to achieve. Here are some questions to consider.
What is your primary concern? If it is overall dullness and loss of firmness, Profhilo is likely the strongest starting point. If it is specific areas of damage, texture issues, or under-eye concerns, polynucleotides may be more appropriate. If you want a gentle hydration boost with minimal commitment, skin boosters are a good entry point.
How much downtime can you accept? All three treatments have minimal downtime, but polynucleotides can cause small bumps under the skin that take two to five days to absorb, particularly in the under-eye area. Profhilo may cause mild swelling at injection sites for 24 to 48 hours. Skin boosters generally have the least visible after-effects.
What is your budget? Skin boosters are typically the most affordable per session, but Profhilo requires fewer sessions to maintain the results. Polynucleotides require the most sessions initially but tend to last the longest. Consider the total cost of a full course, not just the per-session price.
Are you looking for a first treatment or a maintenance option? If you are new to skin rejuvenation, Profhilo is often recommended as a starting point because of its broad benefits and straightforward protocol. If you have already tried Profhilo and want to address specific concerns more deeply, polynucleotides are a natural next step.
Finding a verified practitioner
All three of these treatments are injectable procedures that should be administered by a qualified, experienced practitioner. While the regulatory requirements vary depending on the specific products used, the safest approach is always to choose a practitioner who is registered on one of Ireland's professional registers - the Medical Council, the Dental Council, or the NMBI.
You can search for register-verified aesthetic practitioners across Ireland on SafeSkin, where every listed clinic has been independently checked against these registers.
You can also use our cost calculator to estimate treatment costs, or read our guide on how to choose a qualified aesthetic practitioner for more detailed advice on what to look for and what questions to ask.
Medically reviewed by Dr Stephen Creedon
All SafeSkin editorial content is reviewed by a registered medical professional before publication.