Expert Insights: Radiesse vs Sculptra vs Profhilo

If you’ve ever caught a glimpse of your reflection and felt like your skin looks a little bit less firm, a bit more tired than it once did, you’re not alone and you are certainly not without options. At our St. Albans Skin Clinic, we help wonderful, vibrant people every day who feel that their appearance no longer reflects them.

Today's skin tightening and regenerative treatments offer a science-backed way to help you feel fresher, confident, and more like you again without looking like someone else or with the same downtime as surgical treatment.

Some of the most talked about injectable treatments are Radiesse, Sculptra, and Profhilo-you may have come across one or more of these treatments in your research. Each treatment is designed to support the skin from within; not make you look different. But whilst they all offer skin regeneration and rejuvenation, the way they work-and who they’re best suited to-varies.

In this treatment guide, our medical-aesthetic experts are going to explore the differences between Sculptra, Radiesse, and Profhilo so that you can feel empowered whilst making improvements to your skin. Whether your main priority is improving elasticity, restoring lost facial volume, or simply achieving that elusive ‘you look well’ glow, there’s a treatment that fits your needs

Let’s take a closer look at these celebrated treatments and discover which one aligns with your goals.

Understand The Treatments

Choosing the right aesthetic treatment starts with understanding how the injectable works beneath the skin-from the ingredients to the results they offer.

Our Nurse, Jane, suggests: “Think of it this way: Profhilo is like a long drink of fortified water for your skin; Sculptra quietly rewinds the clock from within; and Radiesse provides both immediate structure to your skin and long-term collagen support. Each has its place in our skincare arsenal-it's just a matter of finding out what your skin is asking for.”

Profhilo: The Glow Giver

One of the first mistakes people make is thinking that Profhilo is a dermal filler. It’s not. The Profhilo treatment does not aim to add structure or sculpt the skin. Rather, it delivers one of the highest concentrations of pure hyaluronic acid available on the market. Once delivered it is designed to smoothly spread throughout the skin tissue-not sit in place. Profhilo is technically a skin ‘bio-remodeller’, this means that it stimulates collagen and elastin whilst deeply hydrating from within the skin-it's often called the injectable moisturiser for this exact reason. Not only does it boost hydration, but it also helps firmness and radiance over time.

It’s a beautiful choice if you’re noticing early signs of skin ageing such as dull skin, loss of firmness, fine lines, and crepiness. Perfect for skin that really needs hydration, skin plumpness, and glow in equal measure.

Best for: Skin that’s dehydrated, feels and looks tired, and/or lacks firmness.

Profhilo results: Subtle, radiant, and natural-with a boost to your skins firmness, glow, and texture. Can be used for the face, neck, and body areas.

Treatment plan: A full Profhilo treatment is typically 2 sessions spaced about 4 weeks apart. Results lasting approximately 6 months.

Sculptra: The Silent Rebuilder

Sculptra works gradually but powerfully. Instead of plumping the skin directly with hydration, it stimulates your body to produce collagen and elastin in abundance. A slow but transformative process, Sculptra gradually improves your skin structure from the inside out to improve loss of volume, skin crepiness, wrinkles and hollows.

It’s made with the bio-compatible poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA), which naturally stimulates your fibroblasts into action in an area of your skin called the ‘extracellular matrix’ (ECM). Your ECM is made up of things like hyaluronic acid, collagen, and elastin. Think of it like the stuffing and springs inside a mattress; it helps provide the supportive structure that keeps your skin smooth, firm, strong, flexible, and hydrated.

As we become older, these springs and stuffing break down and we don’t produce enough to counteract the effects of this loss. This is when the skin starts to become thinner, sag, wrinkle, and become crepy.

Boosting your ECM with Sculptra means that you are helping your skin make more of these important, supportive elements of your skin.

Best for: Rebuilding skin’s firmness, strength, flexibility, and smoothness over time. Particularly well suited for those who have noticed softening, crepiness, or hollowing in the mid-face, temple area, and/or jawline. It can also be used on other areas of the body-popular areas at our St. Albans skin clinic, aside from the face, are the upper arms and neck.

Sculptra results: A subtle, natural-looking skin lift, improved skin quality, and rebuilding structure gradually. If you value discreet, progressive improvements that look just like you (because it is all you), Sculptra may be a good match.

Treatment plan: This usually depends on the age of your skin-a general rule is that you’ll require a vial of Sculptra for every decade of life so, for example, someone who is 40 is likely to need 4 vials. This would be something that’s assessed and discussed with you during your consultation, but typically Sculptra is 2 to 3 sessions, spaced 4 to 6 weeks apart. Results often lasting approximately 2 years. 

Radiesse: Sculpting with Substance

If you’re looking for some immediate redefinition and long-term skin rejuvenation, Radiesse delivers both. It’s plant-based formulation provides a gel carrier for calcium hydroxylapatite (CaHA) microspheres-the same substance naturally found within our bones. This combination of ingredients means that Radiesse is a ‘bio stimulatory filler’; it provides immediate improvements, much like traditional dermal fillers, but also has a positive long-term impact on new collagen and elastin production-in a similar way to Sculptra-that happens in the months following treatment.

At our Hertfordshire skin clinic, our clients often opt for Radiesse to help recontour a jawline that has lost some definition and sharpness, restoring structure around the temples and cheeks, and rejuvenating hands.

Best for: Subtly sculpting and lifting with immediate results and the added benefit of long-term collagen renewal. The face and hands are the areas we most frequently treatment with Radiesse.

Radiesse results: Immediate visible improvements. Increasing skin firmness and elasticity over time.

Treatment plan: Usually just one session, with results often lasting approximately 18 months.