Skin boosters are simply injectable treatments of hyaluronic acid (HA) into the skin to provide instant hydration to make the skin ‘glow’. Skin boosters are also known as ‘skin revitalisers’, ‘beauty boosters’ or ‘injectable moisturisers’.
Hyaluronic acid (HA) is a hydrating molecule that is also known as a ‘water loving sugar’. It is the most hydrophilic molecule in nature as can hold up to 1000 times in weight in water!
Skin boosters are used to rehydrate the skin, improve skin radiance, improve elasticity & firmness, thicken the dermis, smooth superficial fine lines and crepey skin, and improve the early signs of photo-ageing.
It is important to understand that these treatments are designed to enhance skin health and do not provide volumisation.
So if you are looking to looking to improve the quality of your skin and want to improve areas of dehydration, crepey skin and sun damage then this could be the treatment for you. It’s time to bring back your natural glow!!
What are they used for?
Skin boosters are used to improve skin health, increase skin hydration, improve texture, improve skin laxity and to thicken the dermis. Skin boosters are suitable for dehydrated skin, fine lines, sleep lines and crepey skin. Skin boosters can also be used in the lips for a ‘lip hydration’ treatment. A lip hydration treatment will hydrate the lips so that they look like you are wearing lip gloss but without the ‘lip filler’ look.
Skin boosters are not suitable for volumisation e.g. cheek enhancement or for filling deeper lines e.g. nasolabial folds. Dermal fillers are used for volumisation.
Skin boosters are designed to be used alongside botox and dermal filler treatments to enhance your results further. It is essential that your skin is in tip- top condition to get the best results from your other treatments. Your skin is the biggest organ of your body and it is important to look after it. Healthy skin that is blemish free and glows is an indicator of good intrinsic health. Wear your skin rather than make up!
The ageing process
The ageing process is multifaceted and no single determinant can be identified as the culprit. Some of the main causes are genetics, biological, socio-economic and psychological factors. The most detrimental factor is exposure to UV light. Skin ageing is therefore caused by both extrinsic factors (e.g. UV exposure, diet, lifestyle, alcohol intake) and intrinsic factors (e.g. hydration, oil production, genetics).
There are 3 layers to the skin; the epidermis, dermis & subcutaneous fat layer. Ageing affects each layer slightly differently. As we age, the number of melanocytes in the epidermis decrease but the remaining ones increase in size causing pigmentation. There are changes to the connective tissue in all 3 layers but mainly in the dermis causing a reduction in the amount of collagen and elastin which gives the skin a weathered look called elastosis. The sebaceous glands in the dermis produce less oil which causes a drying effect to the skin. The number of fat cells in the subcutaneous layer reduce giving the skin a lax appearance. There are changes to the bone for example the bony orbits of the eyes become larger so that our eyes appear more sunken as we age.
What effect do skinboosters have on ageing?
For the skin to appear healthy, hydration is essential to boost the extracellular matrix (ECM). The main components of the ECM in our dermis are hyaluronic acid (HA), elastin and collagen. As we age, the levels of HA reduce and our fibroblasts produce less collagen and elastin leading to thinner, dehydrated and aged skin known as elastosis. Studies have shown that by injecting HA into the dermis, it induces fibroblast activity to produce more collagen and elastin. Furthermore, it regenerates the ECM by promoting gene expression for elastin and collagen.
What is the difference between skin boosters, fillers and polynucleotides?
Skin boosters are made from hyaluronic acid. Some skin boosters also contains other ingredients such as glycerol, multivitamins, amino acids, minerals and antioxidants to feed the skin with essential nutrients. They are normally a runny liquid consistency designed to spread hydration throughout the skin.
Dermal fillers are also made from hyaluronic acid. However, during the manufacturing process the hyaluronic acid is cross-linked and further stabilized with a chemical additive to ensure the product lasts longer in the skin & stay where it is put. Fillers have a thicker gel-like consistency designed to ‘fill’ folds and creases and to provide ‘volumisation’ to depleted areas such as cheeks.
Polynucleotides are fairly new to the aesthetics market yet have been used medically for years. They are bioactive molecules consisting of DNA fragments derived from fish. Fish DNA closely resembles human DNA. The DNA polymers are extracted mostly from male trout gonads through advanced purification and sterilisation procedures. Therefore this treatment would not be suitable for a vegan.
They are categorised as a type of ‘collagen stimulator’ as their function is stimulate the production of collagen & elastin. They are a runny consistency and can be injected into all areas of the face/neck/décolletage to promote skin rejuvenation.
What is the difference between the different brands of skin boosters ?
There are a wide range of skin boosters products on the market.
Some of the most common brands include Belotero revive, Restylane vital, Juvederm volite, Profhilo, SuneKOS & Teosyal Puresense redensity 1.
There are many others including Hydro deluxe by Neauvia, PhilArt range by Croma, Pure+/Stylage Hydro/Hydromax by Prollenium, Seventy hyal 2000, Jalupro to name a few.
The following is a bit more detail on the most popular brands:
Profhilo is one of the most well known & popular skin boosters. It contains 32mg/ml of non cross-linked HA (which is a total of 64mg/2ml in one treatment). This is one of the highest concentrations of HA in the skin booster market! Profhilo is developed using a patented technology resulting in hybrid cooperative complexes between high molecular weight HA and low molecular weight HA without the used of any chemical cross-linking compounds. These complexes increase the stability of HA to enzymatic & mechanical degradation.
Profhilo is also known as a ‘bioremodeller’ as studies have show that it remodels the skin via the effects of both high & low-molecular weight HA on fibroblast activity that stimulates aged skin. Profhilo stimulates collagen I, III, IV, VII & elastin better than H-HA & L-HA from the hybrid complexes due to its action on fibroblast and keratinocytes. Profhilo can be used in the mid/low face, neck & décolletage. The recommended minimum age for treatment is 30 years but the target age is 40-50 years. It cannot be used on the forehead or eye area. Profhilo works very quickly and is a great treatment to enhance your glow before an event!
Teosyal redensity 1 is based on a mixture of 15mg/ml non cross-linked HA as well as 14 essential ingredients including; Vit B6, zinc, copper, 3 x antioxidants and 8 x amino-acids. This product improves skin quality by restoring the ECM and giving antioxidant protection against free radicals. The advantage of using a non crossed-linked filler is that it can be used close to the surface of the skin (unlike cross-linked filler). Therefore Redensity 1 can be used to hydrate the last 1-2 mm of the skin as age is seen in the last 1-2mm of the skin.
Belotero revive contains 20mg/ml non cross-linked HA and 17.5mg/ml of glycerol. Belotero revive has been licensed for treating the early signs of photo damage. It contains both HA and glycerol which are both humectants meaning they draw water into themselves so this product is a super powerful hydrator. Clinical trials (BELOVE study) on this product have shown an improvement of elasticity, hydration and skin radiance after 3-4 weeks.
SuneKOS 200 is a mix of 10mg/ml of non-cross linked LMW HA with a precise mix of 6 amino acids (glycine, proline, lysine, alanine, valine & leucine) with a specific combination that can stimulate the fibroblasts to produce collagen & elastin. The product focuses on the regeneration of the extracellular matrix (ECM) by promoting neocollagenesis and elastogenesis through fibroblasts for production of elastin & collagen IV & VII. One of the advantages of the SuneKos range of skin boosters is that SuneKos 200 can be safely injected under the eye to help with dark eye circles, fine lines and to improve elasticity.
Restylane vital is primarily based on cross-linked HA using NASHA technology to make them last longer & stay where they have been injected. There are 2 ranges, vital 20mg/ml – designed for the thicker areas of the skin such as the mid-face. The other product is vital light 12mg/ml – designed for the more delicate areas of the face where the skin is thinner such as the under eye area, the crows feet, top lip and the neck. The Restylane skinboosters form small ‘reservoirs’ of moisture under the skin that gives a long-lasting hydration and radiance. One of their main advantages is that they last slightly longer than other skin boosters due to the cross-linked HA.
Juvederm volite consists of 12mg/ml of cross-linked HA. It is patented with by vycross technology meaning the HA is cross-linked in a certain way to allow a lower concentration of HA and a product that lasts longer in the skin. Studies have shown that this product improves hydration and smoothness to rough, dry skin for up to 9 months. One of the main advantages of this product is that it last slightly longer than non cross-linked skinboosters.
Where can skin boosters be used?
Skin boosters can be used anywhere on the face where the skin is dehydrated, crepey or there are fine lines. The exception is Profhilo as this is licensed ONLY for use in the mid/low face, neck & décolletage and has a set injection pattern.
Skin boosters are popular for the following areas:
- Cheeks
- Crows feet
- Under eyes (only certain skin boosters licensed for the eye area e.g. suneKOS 200, light eyes)
- Lip hydration – this treatment is very popular to gives the lips a ‘just wearing lip gloss’ look. Suited to those who don’t want lip filler.
- Smile lines
- Sleep lines
- Neck lines (particularly the horizontal necklace lines)
- Décolletage
How many treatments do I need?
The protocol for most skin boosters is 3 x sessions repeated every 4 weeks. Then a top up session once every 6 months. Profhilo is 2 treatments one month apart followed by a top up session every 3 or 6 months. However, all skin boosters have a very flexible protocol which can be adapted to suit the individual.
How long does it take?
Approximately 20 minutes
Is it painful?
Several shallow injections are made into the skin. It is a well-tolerated procedure and a topical numbing agent can be used.
How long does it last?
It takes up to 2-3 weeks to see improved hydration after 1 session. Best results are seen around 4 weeks after the last session. After the initial 3 sessions, the results last around 6-9 months.
How much does it cost?
All skin boosters are priced at £175 per 1ml syringe. It is recommended to have 3 sessions approximately 1 month apart.
Profhilo has a slightly different protocol; each session uses a 2ml syringe to cover the whole of the mid-low face. This is priced at £275 for each session.
How much is needed?
Typically a 1ml syringe of skinbooster will cover one zone of the face e.g cheeks or eyes.
Are there any side effects or downtime from skin boosters?
Downtime is usually minimal. Immediately after treatment there may be mild redness & bumps. The skin should return to normal after 5-20 mins. There is a very small risk of mild swelling and bruising after treatment and this should subside in a few days but last no longer than 2 weeks in those with more sensitive skin. Serious side effects are rare as skin boosters are a very safe treatment. It is advised to avoid exercise & makeup for around 12 hours and extreme heat (e.g. sauna) for around 24 hours.
Are there any contra-indications to skinboosters ?
Some contra-indications include pregnancy, exposed/infected skin, autoimmune disease & use of isotretinoin.
