Treatment comparison · regenerative skin · Battersea

Polynucleotides vs Profhilo. Which one your skin actually needs.

They are often mentioned in the same breath, but they do different jobs. Polynucleotides (Nucleofill) repair and regenerate skin quality, and shine on thin, crepey under-eye skin. Profhilo is a hyaluronic acid bio-remodeller that hydrates and firms looser skin across the face and neck. This page compares how each works, what it treats, the downtime and the cost, so you can choose with a clinician rather than a menu. Led by Arman Zaki in Battersea, South London, for all skin types.

Ask Arman which suits you Polynucleotides in detail

★ 5.0 Google · 53 reviews ·GMC-registered Physician Associate ·All skin types, Fitzpatrick I to VI ·Battersea SW11

The short answer

Which should I choose?

Choose polynucleotides if your main concern is skin quality: tired, crepey under-eyes, fine lines, dull or thin skin that needs repair. Choose Profhilo if your main concern is hydration and mild laxity across a wider area, like a face and neck that has lost bounce. Many people benefit from both, in sequence. There is no single winner, only the right match for your skin, and that is confirmed at a consultation with Arman Zaki. Results vary between individuals, and both are for adults aged 18 and over.

Side by side

Two regenerative treatments, compared.

Both are injectable, both work with your own biology rather than freezing muscle, and neither is a filler that adds volume. The difference is what they do once they are in the skin.

Polynucleotides compared with Profhilo
What to compare	Polynucleotides (Nucleofill)	Profhilo
How it works	A bio-stimulator. Purified polynucleotides (PDRN) prompt your fibroblasts to repair tissue and improve skin quality over time.	A bio-remodeller. Stabilised hyaluronic acid spreads under the skin, drawing in water and stimulating collagen and elastin.
Main ingredient	Polynucleotide chains (PDRN), highly purified.	Hyaluronic acid, thermally stabilised, no chemical cross-linker.
Best for	Crepey under-eyes, fine lines, thin or repair-needing skin, skin quality.	Overall hydration, mild laxity and loss of bounce across a wider area.
Common areas	Under-eyes, full face, also used for the scalp in hair support.	Face, neck, sometimes hands.
Typical course	A course, often two to three sessions a few weeks apart, then maintenance.	A two-session protocol, four weeks apart, then maintenance.
Downtime	Minimal. Small injection points, occasional short-lived swelling or bruising.	Minimal. Small raised blebs that settle within about a day, occasional bruising.
Price at Melatone	£200 single area, course of 3 from £540.	£450 for the two-session protocol.
Skin of Colour	Injectable, not light or acid based, so no melanin-related burn or PIH risk. Suitable across Fitzpatrick I to VI.	Same. An injectable bio-remodeller carries no wavelength or peel-depth risk for darker skin.

Guidance only, confirmed for your skin at consultation. Timelines, suitability and results are individual. Both treatments are prescription-assessed and delivered by a clinician.

How to choose

Match the treatment to the concern.

Lead with polynucleotides

Tired under-eyes.

Dark, crepey, hollow-looking under-eyes and thin skin respond well to the repair that PDRN drives. This is where polynucleotides are hard to beat.

Lead with Profhilo

A face and neck that has lost bounce.

Widespread dehydration and mild laxity across a larger area suit the spreading, hydrating action of a bio-remodeller.

Consider both

Repair and remodel.

Polynucleotides for the delicate areas that need repair, Profhilo for whole-face hydration and firmness. Sequenced, not on the same day.

Not sure your concern is on this list? A skin booster such as LUMI-PRO (£150 single, course of 3 from £399) or a course of evidence-based facial restoration may be the better route. That is exactly what a consultation is for.

Suitable for all skin types

No wavelength, no acid, no PIH gamble.

Melatone was built for melanin-rich skin, Fitzpatrick IV to VI, where a laser or an over-strong peel can leave lasting pigmentation. Both polynucleotides and Profhilo are injectables, so neither carries the light or acid risk that darker skin has to weigh. That makes them among the safest regenerative options for Skin of Colour, and it is why we discuss them so often. Our clinical position stays the same across every treatment: even, healthy skin, never lighter skin. We do not offer bleaching or skin-whitening. Read about our Skin of Colour clinic.

Clear pricing

What each costs at Melatone.

Polynucleotides (Nucleofill)

£200 single area
Course of 3 from £540 (£180 per session)

Any Nucleofill area: under-eyes, full face, or scalp for hair support.

See the polynucleotides page

Profhilo and skin boosters

Profhilo two-session protocol £450
LUMI-PRO skin booster £150 single, course of 3 from £399

Hydration and bio-remodelling for face and neck.

See skin boosters and Profhilo

Prices are current at the time of writing and confirmed at consultation. A £30 consultation is deducted from your first session.

Common questions

Polynucleotides vs Profhilo, answered.

What is the main difference between polynucleotides and Profhilo?

Polynucleotides (PDRN) are a bio-stimulator that repairs and regenerates skin quality, which is why they suit thin, crepey under-eye skin. Profhilo is a hyaluronic acid bio-remodeller that hydrates and firms across a wider area like the face and neck. One repairs, the other remodels and hydrates. Neither is a filler, and neither freezes muscle. Results vary between individuals.

Which is better for under-eyes?

Polynucleotides are usually the first choice for tired, crepey or dark under-eyes, because the delicate skin there benefits most from cellular repair. Profhilo is not typically placed in the tear trough. Arman Zaki confirms the right option for your under-eyes at a consultation.

Can I have both polynucleotides and Profhilo?

Yes, and many people do. A common approach is polynucleotides for the areas that need repair, such as under-eyes, and Profhilo for whole-face hydration and firmness. They are sequenced across separate appointments rather than given on the same day. We plan the order at consultation.

How much do they cost at Melatone?

Polynucleotides are £200 for a single area, with a course of 3 from £540. Profhilo is £450 for the two-session protocol. A LUMI-PRO skin booster is £150 for a single session, or a course of 3 from £399. A £30 consultation is deducted from your first session.

Are they safe for darker skin, Fitzpatrick IV to VI?

Yes. Both are injectables, not lasers or chemical peels, so neither carries the melanin-related burn or post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation risk that darker skin has to weigh with light or acid treatments. Melatone is a Skin of Colour founded clinic, so this is central to how we plan every treatment.

How long until I see results, and how long do they last?

Both work gradually as your skin responds, typically over a few weeks and across a course, rather than instantly. Longevity is individual and depends on your skin, your age and your maintenance. We give you an honest, personalised estimate at consultation rather than a fixed promise, because results vary.

Who delivers the treatment?

Arman Zaki, our founder and GMC-registered Physician Associate (Ref A8131967), delivers polynucleotides, skin boosters and Profhilo, and leads every treatment plan. Melatone is clinician-led, not technician-led, and every treatment is for adults aged 18 and over after a clinical assessment.

£30 honest consultation

Not sure which one?
Ask Arman. £30, deducted from your first session.

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Medical aesthetic treatments are for adults aged 18 and over, delivered after a clinical assessment of suitability. Results vary between individuals.

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