It is one of the most common questions we hear at Éclat et Harmonie Studio Clinic: "Do I need skin boosters or fillers?" The answer depends entirely on what your skin needs, and the two treatments address very different concerns. Understanding the distinction will help you arrive at your consultation with a clearer idea of what might work for you.
The Key Difference: Skin Quality vs Volume
The simplest way to think about it is this:
Skin boosters improve the quality of your skin. They hydrate from within, stimulate collagen production, and improve texture, tone, and elasticity. They do not add visible volume or reshape facial contours.
Dermal fillers add volume and structure. They restore lost fullness, enhance contours, and smooth deep lines or folds. They do not fundamentally change the quality or texture of your skin.
Both treatments involve injections of hyaluronic acid, but the formulations are very different. Skin booster products are lightweight and spreadable, designed to integrate throughout the skin tissue. Filler products are denser and more cohesive, designed to stay in place and provide structural support.
What Skin Boosters Do
Skin boosters are injectable hydration treatments that work beneath the surface of the skin. The most well-known products include Profhilo, Seventy Hyal, and Sunekos, each with a slightly different formulation and mechanism of action.
Profhilo is a bio-remodelling treatment that disperses across the skin to stimulate collagen and elastin. It is particularly effective for skin that has become lax, dull, or crepey. The treatment involves five injection points on each side of the face, and a course of two sessions (four weeks apart) is typically recommended.
Seventy Hyal provides deep hydration and is well suited to clients looking for improved glow and moisture without the bio-remodelling effect.
Sunekos combines hyaluronic acid with amino acids to stimulate the production of your own collagen and elastin. It is a good option for clients with fine lines and early skin thinning.
The common thread is that skin boosters work by improving what your skin is already doing. They support its natural processes rather than adding something foreign on top.
Best for: dull or dehydrated skin, fine lines, loss of firmness, crepey texture on the face or neck, clients who want better skin quality rather than volume.
What Dermal Fillers Do
Fillers are about architecture. They replace volume that has been lost through ageing, enhance features that you want more definition in, or smooth deep lines and folds. The most common treatment areas include lips, cheeks, jawline, chin, nasolabial folds, and tear troughs.
Because filler products are designed to hold their shape, they can be placed strategically to lift, contour, and sculpt. The results are visible immediately, although they settle and refine over two to four weeks.
Best for: lost cheek volume, thin or asymmetric lips, undefined jawline, deep nasolabial folds, hollow tear troughs, clients who want visible structural change.
Can You Have Both?
Yes, and in many cases, the two treatments complement each other beautifully.
Consider a client in her mid-forties with hollow cheeks and dull, dehydrated skin. Filler can restore the cheek volume, lifting the mid-face and reducing nasolabial folds. But the skin itself may still look tired, with visible pores and a lacklustre texture. A course of Profhilo can address that, improving hydration, elasticity, and glow from the inside out.
The combination of structural support (fillers) and skin quality improvement (boosters) often produces a more natural, complete result than either treatment alone.
When both are planned, we typically recommend completing the filler treatment first, allowing it to settle for two to four weeks, and then beginning the skin booster course. Your practitioner will advise on the best sequencing for your specific needs.
How to Decide: Questions to Ask Yourself
Before your consultation, it can be helpful to think about what is actually bothering you about your skin:
If your concern is mainly about how your skin looks and feels (dull, dry, thin, lacking glow, rough texture), skin boosters are likely the better starting point.
If your concern is about shape and volume (flat cheeks, thin lips, deep folds, weak jawline), dermal fillers are more appropriate.
If you are not sure, that is exactly what the consultation is for. Our Lead Consultant will assess your skin quality, facial volume, and overall proportions, then recommend a treatment plan based on what will make the most meaningful difference.
There is no one-size-fits-all answer, and a responsible clinic will never push you toward a treatment you do not need.
Start with a Consultation
At Éclat et Harmonie Studio Clinic, we take the time to understand your skin before recommending any treatment. Our private studio in Kentish Town, NW5, is a calm, unhurried space where you are the only client during your appointment.
Whether you end up choosing skin boosters, fillers, a combination of both, or deciding that now is not the right time, you will leave your consultation with a clear, honest understanding of your options.
Book a consultation to find out which treatment is right for you.
