Skin boosters
Skin booster is a category, not a product, and the category has become crowded enough that the name alone tells you very little. Here is what actually separates the products sold under it.
At a glance
The short version. Everything below expands on it.
- Dryness, dullness, fine lines and general skin quality
- Usually two to three, two to four weeks apart
- From around two to four weeks
- Four to nine months depending on the product
- £220 a session, £300 to £1,000 for a course
Prices from the UK Aesthetics Pricing Benchmark.
About Skin boosters
What a skin booster is
A skin booster is an injectable, usually hyaluronic acid based, delivered into the skin to improve hydration and quality rather than to add volume or change shape.
The distinction from filler is the same one that applies to Profhilo. A filler is placed to hold a shape. A booster is distributed to improve the tissue. Where they differ from each other is in what else the product does beyond hydrate.
The main types
Grouping them by what they actually do is more useful than grouping them by brand, because brands enter and leave this market constantly.
- Pure hyaluronic acid hydrators, such as Restylane Skinboosters and Seventy Hyal. These hydrate and plump. Straightforward and predictable
- Bio-remodellers, such as Profhilo. These also stimulate collagen and elastin, and use a defined injection protocol
- Polynucleotide based products, such as Plinest and Nucleofill. These work on the skin's repair processes and are often chosen for the under eye area
- Amino acid and nutrient blends, such as Sunekos. These combine hyaluronic acid with the building blocks the skin uses to make its own
Choosing between them
For straightforward dryness and dullness, a pure hyaluronic acid hydrator does the job and costs less. For laxity and crepey texture, a bio-remodeller is the better fit. For thin, crepey under eye skin, polynucleotides tend to outperform the alternatives.
Being sold the newest product rather than the right one is the most common problem in this category. Ask what the product does differently, not just what it is called.
What to expect
The timeline
- 1
Day 0
Small bumps at injection points and possible bruising. Bumps usually settle within a few hours.
- 2
Days 1 to 3
Swelling and bruising fade. Skin may feel firmer or better hydrated already.
- 3
Weeks 2 to 4
First clear visible change in hydration and glow. Second session usually falls here.
- 4
Weeks 6 to 8
Best result after completing the course.
- 5
Months 4 to 9
Effect fades depending on the product used. Maintenance is usually a single session.
Aftercare and risks
Aftercare
- Do not massage or apply pressure to the injection points for 24 hours
- Avoid makeup for 12 hours
- Avoid strenuous exercise, saunas, steam rooms and sunbeds for 48 hours
- Avoid alcohol for 24 hours
- Do not have facials, peels or laser for two weeks
- Use sunscreen daily on the treated area
- Contact the clinic if pain increases rather than settles, or if the skin changes colour
Risks and side effects
- Bruising and swelling, most noticeable in the first 48 hours
- Small bumps at the injection points, usually short lived
- Tenderness at the injection sites
- Infection, which is uncommon but needs prompt treatment
- Allergic or hypersensitivity reaction, which is rare
- Underwhelming results where the wrong product was chosen for the concern
For practitioners
Notes from the treatment room
- Diagnose the concern before choosing the product. Most disappointing outcomes in this category are a product mismatch rather than a technique problem.
- Explain what the client is paying more for when you recommend a premium product. If you cannot articulate the difference, they will assume there is not one.
- Course pricing protects the result. A single session of most boosters will not deliver what the marketing images show.
- Record product, batch and volume as you would for any injectable. This category is not exempt.
Skin boosters questions
What is a skin booster?
A skin booster is an injectable, usually hyaluronic acid based, delivered into the skin to improve hydration, texture and overall quality. Unlike a dermal filler it is not intended to add volume or change the shape of the face.
What is the difference between a skin booster and filler?
A filler is placed to stay where it is put and occupy space, which is how it restores volume or changes contour. A skin booster is distributed through the skin to improve its quality. One changes shape, the other changes the surface.
How much do skin boosters cost in the UK?
Around £220 a session is the middle of the UK market, with most clinics between £150 and £400. A course of two or three sessions typically runs £300 to £1,000 depending on the product.
How long do skin boosters last?
Between four and nine months depending on the product. Pure hyaluronic acid hydrators tend to sit at the shorter end, and bio-remodellers and polynucleotide products at the longer end.
Which skin booster is best?
It depends on the concern rather than the brand. Pure hyaluronic acid hydrators suit dryness and dullness. Bio-remodellers such as Profhilo suit laxity and crepey texture. Polynucleotides tend to be the better choice for thin under eye skin. Being sold the newest product rather than the right one is the most common mistake in this category.
Related treatments
Profhilo
A stabilised hyaluronic acid injected at five points per side to improve skin laxity and hydration.
Polynucleotides
Purified DNA fragments used to improve skin quality and hydration, most often under the eyes.
This page is general information about a treatment, not clinical advice, and it is not a substitute for a consultation. Treatment decisions should be made with a qualified practitioner who has assessed you in person.
Run the clinic behind the treatment
Beautay handles the booking, the consent form, the aftercare message and the client record, so the admin around each appointment stops eating your day.
No card required • 30-day free trial • Free data migration