What the treatment involves
Unlike dermal fillers, which are designed to add volume or change contours, skin boosters are generally formulated to spread within the skin. They are given as a series of small injections across the treatment area, using a fine needle or a blunt-tipped cannula, with the aim of improving hydration and the look of skin texture rather than changing the shape of your features.
Products differ in their ingredients, how they are used and how often they are given, so your practitioner will explain which product they propose, why, and what the alternatives are — including skincare, other treatments, or not having treatment.
Who may be suitable
- Adults aged 18 or over who would like to discuss concerns about skin hydration, texture or dullness in areas such as the face, neck or hands.
- People who are in good general health and have realistic expectations about the gradual, subtle nature of any change.
- Suitability is always confirmed in person after an assessment of your skin and a review of your medical history.
When it may not be suitable
- Skin booster treatment is not offered to anyone under 18.
- It may not be appropriate during pregnancy or breastfeeding, if there is active infection, inflammation or a cold sore in the area, with a history of reactions to injectable products, or with certain medical conditions or medications. Your practitioner will discuss this with you.
Potential benefits
- May improve skin hydration and the appearance of skin texture and fine lines in some people, without changing the shape of your features.
- Hyaluronic acid-based products are temporary and are gradually broken down by the body.
- Treatment can be planned around your skin's needs and reviewed over time, so you can decide whether to continue.
What to expect
Your consultation covers your goals, medical history, a skin assessment and a discussion of options, risks, alternatives and costs. You will have time to consider the information before deciding.
If you go ahead, the skin is cleansed and the product is placed through a number of small injections across the area. A numbing cream may be offered, and some products contain a local anaesthetic to improve comfort.
You will be given written aftercare information and details of how to contact the clinic.
Recovery and aftercare
- Small raised bumps at the injection points, redness, swelling, tenderness and bruising are common and usually settle over the following days.
- Your practitioner will advise on what to avoid in the first day or so — for example make-up, strenuous exercise, heat and pressing on the area — and on sun protection while the skin settles.
- Contact the clinic promptly if you notice increasing pain, skin colour changes, lumps that are worsening, or any change in your vision, as these require urgent assessment.
Your practitioner will give you aftercare advice specific to your treatment, which may differ from the general guidance above.
Results and longevity
Skin boosters are designed to change skin quality gradually rather than shape. Any change usually develops over the weeks after treatment, and some people notice little difference.
How long any effect lasts varies between products and individuals, and is affected by factors such as age, sun exposure, smoking and skincare. Your practitioner will explain what to expect for the product proposed — no specific duration can be guaranteed.
Individual results vary.
Risks and side effects
- Common: redness, swelling, tenderness, bruising and small bumps at injection points, usually short-lived.
- Less common: lumps or nodules that persist, uneven texture, infection, a flare of cold sores in people prone to them, or an allergic or inflammatory reaction, which can occasionally appear weeks after treatment.
- Rare but serious: product entering or compressing a blood vessel (vascular occlusion), which can damage the skin and, very rarely, affect vision. Although skin boosters are placed superficially, this risk cannot be excluded, which is why assessment and a clear plan for managing complications matter.
- Your practitioner will discuss the risks that apply to you and the specific product and area before you consent.
If you experience severe or worsening pain, skin colour changes, changes in your vision or difficulty breathing after any treatment, seek urgent medical help (call 999) and contact the clinic.
Pricing
From £210- Plenhyage polynucleotides — Eyes£210
- Plenhyage polynucleotides — Face, neck or hands£240
- Sunekos — Eyes£230
Course of 3£552Save 20%
- Sunekos — Face, neck, décolletage or hands£260
Course of 3£624Save 20%
Your practitioner will recommend which product, if any, suits your skin.
The cost of treatment depends on your assessment and the plan agreed. Your practitioner will explain all costs before you decide whether to go ahead. See our full price list.
Common questions
Are skin boosters the same as dermal fillers?
Both may contain hyaluronic acid, but skin boosters are generally formulated to spread within the skin to support hydration and skin quality, whereas dermal fillers are designed to add volume or definition in a specific area. Your practitioner will explain which, if either, suits your concerns.
Will I need more than one appointment?
Some products are designed to be used as a course. Your practitioner will explain the plan recommended for the product they propose, and the total cost, before you decide. You are free to stop at any point.
Will I have visible marks afterwards?
Small bumps and some redness at the injection points are common straight after treatment and usually settle over the following days. Bruising is possible. It is worth allowing for this if you have an event coming up.
This information is general and is not a substitute for a consultation. Suitability for treatment is decided by the practitioner after an individual assessment, and individual results vary.
