All three are injected into the skin and all three get called skin boosters, but they work in different ways. Dr Sin Yong explains the differences at IN Eternity Clinic on Orchard Road.
WhatsApp to Enquire →Key facts ↓Rejuran contains polynucleotides (PN), DNA fragments that support repair in thin, sensitised or scarred skin. Profhilo is a high-concentration hyaluronic acid (HA) that spreads under the skin to improve hydration and early laxity. Juvelook is poly-D,L-lactic acid (PDLLA), a collagen stimulator for texture and subtle firmness. Which suits you depends on what your skin lacks.
Rejuran (polynucleotides). Polynucleotides are chains of purified DNA fragments, in Rejuran’s case derived from salmon. Placed in small amounts in the dermis, they are thought to support the skin’s own repair: encouraging fibroblast activity, improving the local environment for healing and calming low-grade inflammation. The effect is on skin quality rather than volume, and it builds over a course.
Profhilo (hyaluronic acid). Profhilo contains a high concentration of hyaluronic acid in two molecular sizes, stabilised by heat rather than by a chemical cross-linker. Because it is not cross-linked into a firm gel, it spreads through the tissue from a few injection points on each side of the face. It binds water, improves hydration and, as studied, supports the firmness of skin with early laxity.
Juvelook (PDLLA). Poly-D,L-lactic acid is a biodegradable polymer, a relative of the poly-L-lactic acid in Sculptra but with a different structure and particle profile. The microspheres, mixed with hyaluronic acid, prompt a gradual collagen response around them. The aim is improved texture, pore appearance and a subtle firmness, developing over weeks to months.
| Rejuran | Profhilo | Juvelook | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Active | Polynucleotides (PN) | Hyaluronic acid (HA) | PDLLA with HA |
| Main action | Supports repair | Hydration and early laxity | Collagen stimulation |
| Injection pattern | Many small droplets | A few points per side | Droplets or fine threads of product |
| Visible after | Small bumps, a day or two | Small lumps, hours | Mild swelling, days |
| Suits | Thin, sensitised, scarred skin | Dehydrated, crepey skin | Texture, pores, mild thinning |
Brand versions differ (for example eye-specific or thicker formulations), and the details are discussed at assessment. Related products exist in each class, such as other polynucleotide brands or other hyaluronic acid skin boosters, and the same principles apply to them.
“Rejuran, Profhilo and Juvelook all get called skin boosters, but they do different jobs. I choose by what your skin lacks, not by what is popular.”
Rejuran is often considered for skin that is thin, easily irritated or slow to recover: after repeated procedures, after acne, or in people whose skin reacts to most actives. It is also used for fine crepey lines and, in an eye-specific formulation, for the thin skin under the eyes. Shallow acne scarring and enlarged pores may be part of the plan, usually alongside other treatments.
The injection pattern is the trade-off. Many small droplets are placed across the face, which leaves a pattern of small raised bumps for a day or two and some pinpoint bruising in some people. Numbing cream is applied first. It is less suitable for anyone with a fish or salmon allergy, which is checked beforehand.
Profhilo suits skin that looks dehydrated, dull and slightly loose: early softening along the lower face, crepiness on the neck, or skin that has lost its spring. Its fluid nature means it is placed through a small number of points and spreads, so the injection experience is brief, and the small lumps at each point usually flatten within hours.
Because it is hyaluronic acid, it is gradually broken down by the body, and hyaluronidase can break it down if ever needed. It does not lift sagging tissue or restore lost structure, and it is not a substitute for a filler where shape has changed. A course is typically two sessions about a month apart, with maintenance discussed at review.
PDLLA is considered for skin whose texture and firmness have thinned: shallow acne scars, enlarged pores, fine crepey change and a general loss of density. Because its effect comes from collagen built over time, it suits people who are comfortable with a gradual change rather than an immediate one.
The particles cannot be dissolved with hyaluronidase, so dose and placement are kept conservative and the product is kept out of areas prone to visible lumps. Small nodules are a known risk with any collagen stimulator, which is another reason the technique matters. This guide explains PDLLA so you can compare it; at IN Eternity Clinic, Dr Sin Yong will tell you at assessment which option he recommends for your skin and why.
A simple way to think about it: if your skin is fragile, reactive or recovering, repair comes first, and polynucleotides are often the starting point. If it is dry, dull and losing spring, hydration with hyaluronic acid is the more direct fix. If texture, pores and thinning are the main complaint and you are prepared to wait, a collagen stimulator such as PDLLA may make sense.
Many faces have more than one of these problems, and a staged plan can use two products in sequence rather than together. None of the three changes shape, lifts significant sagging or treats pigmentation, which have their own tools. The decision is made at assessment, after looking at the skin in good light and asking what has already been tried.
The skin is cleansed and a numbing cream is applied for twenty to thirty minutes. Photographs are taken in standard positions. The injection pattern then depends on the product: many tiny droplets across the cheeks, forehead or under-eye area for polynucleotides; a small number of defined points on each side of the face for Profhilo; droplets or fine linear placement for PDLLA. The injecting itself usually takes fifteen to thirty minutes.
Afterwards the skin is cleaned and a soothing product applied. Most people return to work the same day, though the bumps after polynucleotides are visible for a day or two, so some prefer an evening or Saturday appointment. Makeup is usually avoided until the next day, as are saunas, heavy exercise and facial massage for a short period, unless massage is specifically advised for the product used.
Bruising is possible with any injection and is more likely if you take blood-thinning medicines or supplements such as fish oil; these are reviewed beforehand. Rarely, a lump persists or an infection develops, which is why a contact number is given and early review is encouraged if anything looks wrong.
They do different jobs. Rejuran, a polynucleotide injectable, supports repair in thin, sensitised or scarred skin. Profhilo, a high-concentration hyaluronic acid, improves hydration and the firmness of skin with early laxity. Some people benefit from both in sequence. Dr Sin Yong recommends one after examining your skin.
Both are collagen stimulators based on polylactic acid. Juvelook uses poly-D,L-lactic acid combined with hyaluronic acid and is mainly used for skin texture and quality. Sculptra uses poly-L-lactic acid and is mainly used for gradual volume support in deeper layers. Neither can be dissolved with hyaluronidase.
Profhilo usually leaves a few small lumps that flatten within hours. Rejuran leaves small bumps for a day or two and sometimes pinpoint bruises. Juvelook can cause mild swelling and tenderness for a few days. Responses vary, and makeup is usually possible the next day.
Most courses involve two to three sessions spaced several weeks apart, followed by a review with photographs taken in the same light. The number depends on your skin, the product chosen and the response to the first session, and maintenance is discussed only once the course has been assessed.
Cost depends on the product, the formulation, how many syringes your face and neck need, and how many sessions are planned. After assessment, Dr Sin Yong gives a written quote listing each part of the plan, so you can decide on the course before anything is booked.
Yes, often. Skin injectables are commonly sequenced with laser or energy treatments for pigment, texture or tightening. The order and spacing are planned so that each treatment can be assessed on its own, and so that a laser session does not fall on skin that is still settling from injections.
People who are pregnant or breastfeeding, those with active skin infection in the area, and people with allergies to any component, for example fish allergy with salmon-derived polynucleotides. Autoimmune conditions, a history of keloids or unusual scarring, and blood-thinning medicines are discussed first, because they may change the timing or the choice of product.
IN Eternity Clinic, 9 Scotts Road, #12-01 Pacific Plaza, Singapore 228210. By appointment with Medical Director Dr Sin Yong. Monday to Saturday, 11am to 8pm. WhatsApp or call +65 8815 3008.
These sources describe mechanisms and general evidence. They are not a promise of any individual result; suitability is decided at an in-person assessment.