Clinical Comparison · Facial Aesthetics
Botox vs Profhilo: What's the difference, and which one do you need?
A clear, clinically-grounded comparison of the two most-asked-about injectable treatments at our clinic — what each one actually does, how they differ, and when both belong in the same plan.
Botox vs Profhilo at a glance
The clinical comparison, side by side.
| Botox | Profhilo | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Botulinum toxin type A — neuromodulator | Hyaluronic acid bioremodeller |
| Mechanism | Relaxes muscle by blocking nerve signal | Hydrates skin and stimulates collagen + elastin |
| Treats | Dynamic wrinkles (movement-related) | Skin quality, mild laxity, dullness, fine crepiness |
| Common areas | Forehead, frown lines, crow's feet, jaw, neck bands | Lower face, jawline, neck, décolleté, hands |
| Onset | 3–7 days, full effect at 14 days | Visible improvement at 30–60 days after 2nd session |
| Sessions | Single session, every 3–4 months | Two sessions four weeks apart, then every 6 months |
| Duration | 3–4 months | 6–8 months |
| Adds volume | No | No — bioremodelling, not filler |
| Typical UK cost | From £199 per area | From £299 per session |
| Best for | Movement lines, jaw slimming, hyperhidrosis | Overall skin quality, natural rejuvenation |
What is Botox?
Botox is the brand name for one form of botulinum toxin type A — a purified protein injected in tiny doses to temporarily relax specific muscles. It is the most common cosmetic procedure performed worldwide.1 Other licensed brands of the same molecule include Bocouture, Dysport, Azzalure, and Xeomin.
Botulinum toxin works by blocking the release of acetylcholine — the chemical messenger that tells muscles to contract. When injected into a small, targeted muscle, it stops that muscle from contracting strongly. The skin above the muscle stops being repeatedly creased, and existing dynamic wrinkles soften.
The effect develops over 3–7 days and reaches full result around day 14. It typically lasts 3–4 months, after which new nerve endings regrow and muscle function returns. Botox does not affect skin quality, hydration, or collagen production. It only reduces movement.
What is Profhilo?
Profhilo is an injectable hyaluronic acid treatment classified as a bioremodeller. It is not a filler. It does not add volume, contour cheekbones, or augment lips. Instead, it hydrates the skin from within and stimulates the skin's own production of collagen and elastin.2
Profhilo contains one of the highest concentrations of hyaluronic acid (HA) on the market — 64 mg per 2 ml — combining both high-molecular-weight and low-molecular-weight HA in stable hybrid complexes produced via a patented thermal process called NAHYCO® technology.3 No chemical cross-linkers are used.
Once injected (typically using the Bio Aesthetic Points or BAP technique — five points on each side of the face), Profhilo spreads gradually through the dermis. Over the next 30–60 days the skin becomes more hydrated, firmer, and smoother. Patients describe the result as a glow rather than a change in shape.
The standard protocol is two sessions four weeks apart, with maintenance every 6–12 months. A worldwide post-marketing safety review of more than 40,000 patients treated with Profhilo confirmed a strong safety profile.3
Why patients ask about both
Botox and Profhilo are often confused because they're both injectables. But they sit at completely different ends of the regenerative spectrum: Botox blocks function (muscle); Profhilo stimulates function (collagen, elastin). Many patients eventually use both — Botox for the upper face where movement creates lines, Profhilo for the rest of the face and neck where skin quality is the concern.
If you're trying to decide between Profhilo and other skin-quality treatments, our Profhilo vs Skin Boosters comparison may also help.
The Five Key Differences
Where Botox and Profhilo actually differ
Boiled down to the five differences that matter clinically.
What they actually do
Botox blocks nerve signals and relaxes muscle. Profhilo hydrates the skin and stimulates collagen + elastin production. They affect entirely different biological systems.
What they treat
Botox treats dynamic wrinkles caused by repeated movement — frown lines, forehead lines, crow's feet. Profhilo treats skin quality issues — dullness, mild laxity, fine crepiness, lack of glow.
Where they work best
Botox is most often used on the upper face. Profhilo is most often used on the lower face, jawline, neck, décolleté, and hands — anywhere skin quality, not movement, is the concern.
Onset and duration
Botox starts working in 3–7 days and lasts 3–4 months. Profhilo develops gradually over 30–60 days after the second session and lasts 6–8 months. Profhilo is the slower, longer player; Botox is the faster, shorter one.
The natural-result question
Both produce natural results when delivered well. Profhilo arguably produces the most subtle outcome of any injectable — patients look fresher, but no specific feature has been altered. Botox can be subtle or stronger depending on dose.
Botox softens movement. Profhilo improves skin. Most patients want both.
Choosing Between Them
Which one is right for you?
A starting framework — final treatment plans are decided in clinical consultation.
Rabia Gilani
Rabia is a registered Pharmacist Prescriber with extensive training in facial aesthetics through MATA Harley Street and Facethetics. She has performed thousands of Botox and Profhilo treatments across GlowMedix Clinic's three London locations, with a clinical philosophy centred on natural-looking results and skin quality over volume.
Medical oversight is provided by Dr Syed H Hassan (MBBS, MRCGP), the clinic's Medical Director. Read more about the team.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Botox and Profhilo
Botox (botulinum toxin type A) relaxes specific facial muscles to reduce wrinkles caused by movement — frown lines, forehead lines, crow's feet. Profhilo is an injectable hyaluronic acid that hydrates the skin from within and stimulates the production of collagen and elastin. Botox softens movement; Profhilo improves skin quality.
No. Profhilo is a hyaluronic acid injectable but it is classified as a bioremodelling treatment, not a dermal filler. It does not augment lips or contour cheekbones — it improves skin quality. For more on this distinction, see our Profhilo vs Skin Boosters comparison.
Choose Botox if your concern is movement lines on the upper face. Choose Profhilo if your concern is overall skin quality. They treat different things — for many patients, the answer is both.
Botox typically lasts 3–4 months. Profhilo's effects develop over 30–60 days after the second session and last around 6–8 months. Profhilo's standard protocol is two sessions four weeks apart, then maintenance every 6 months.
Yes — they can be performed in the same appointment or staged across separate visits. The treatments do not interfere with each other and target different mechanisms.
Yes. A worldwide post-marketing safety review of more than 40,000 patients treated with Profhilo demonstrated a strong safety profile.3 Common side effects are limited to mild bruising or tenderness, typically resolving within 48 hours.
Profhilo is most commonly used on the lower face, jawline, neck, décolleté, and hands. The standard Bio Aesthetic Points (BAP) protocol uses 5 injection points on each side of the face.
Profhilo is typically priced higher per session than Botox. At GlowMedix Clinic, Botox starts from £199 per area and Profhilo starts from £299 per session.
References
Clinical references
- Sundaram H, Signorini M, Liew S, et al. Global Aesthetics Consensus: Botulinum Toxin Type A — Evidence-Based Review. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2016;137(3):518e-529e. PMC5242214
- Sparavigna A, Tenconi B, Giori AM, et al. Effects of Profhilo® Tissue Bioremodeling on Skin Texture and Perioral Wrinkles: A Randomized Controlled Triple-Blind Clinical Trial. Aesthetic Plast Surg. 2026. Springer
- Beatini A, Schiraldi C, Sparavigna A. Safety Assessment of High- and Low-Molecular-Weight Hyaluronans (Profhilo®) as Derived from Worldwide Postmarketing Data. Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol. 2020. PMC7327616
- Sundaram H, Liew S, Signorini M, et al. Global Aesthetics Consensus: Hyaluronic Acid Fillers and Botulinum Toxin Type A. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2016;137(5):1410-1423. PMC5242215