Which Skin Treatment Is Right for You? The Honest Guide to Every Skin-Improving Treatment at Sebastian-Rose Cardiff
- 7 days ago
- 16 min read
You've done your research. You've fallen down the TikTok rabbit hole at midnight. You've heard about Profhilo from your friend, read about polynucleotides in a magazine, seen Sculptra mentioned in a celebrity interview and been completely overwhelmed by the time you get to NCTF. And now you have absolutely no idea what you actually need for your skin.
You are not alone. This is genuinely one of the most common things we hear at Sebastian-Rose Medical Aesthetics Cardiff — and it is not your fault. The aesthetics industry has exploded with options over the last few years, and the marketing around each treatment is so enthusiastic that everything sounds like it does everything.
It doesn't.
Each treatment works differently, at a different depth, addressing different concerns, through different mechanisms. Choosing the wrong one wastes your money and your time. Choosing the right one — or the right combination — can genuinely transform your skin.
This is the guide we wish everyone read before their first consultation. We are going to explain every major skin treatment available at Sebastian-Rose, what it actually does, who it's actually for, and how to decide where to start. We'll also explain something that nobody in the aesthetics industry talks about nearly enough — why no injectable treatment in the world will perform at its best on a foundation of poor skincare.
Let's start from the beginning.
First — What Do You Actually Want to Change About Your Skin?
Before we can talk about which treatment is right for you, you need to be honest with yourself — and honest with your practitioner — about what specifically bothers you.
"I just want better skin" is a starting point, but it's not enough to build a treatment plan on.
Here are the key questions to ask yourself:
Is your skin dull and lacking radiance — does it look tired, flat or grey regardless of how much sleep you get?
Is your skin dehydrated — does it feel tight, look crepey or show fine lines that temporarily disappear when you stretch the skin?
Has your skin lost its firmness — does it feel less bouncy, less taut, less resilient than it used to?
Do you have specific fine lines or wrinkles you want to address?
Do you have texture concerns — pores, acne scarring, uneven surface?
Have you noticed a loss of facial volume — hollowing cheeks, flatter temples, a jawline that has softened?
Is your skin quality the primary concern, or is structure and volume equally important?
Your answers to these questions determine everything — because different treatments address fundamentally different things. A treatment that is perfect for skin hydration and luminosity does nothing for volume loss. A treatment that beautifully restores facial structure will not significantly improve skin texture. This is why a proper clinical consultation is essential before any treatment — and why at Sebastian-Rose, every consultation is free and starts with exactly these questions.
Understanding the Layers — Why Treatment Depth Matters
To understand why different treatments are needed for different concerns, it helps to understand the basic structure of the skin and face. Think of it as four layers working together:
The surface — skin texture, pores, pigmentation, surface fine lines. This is what you see in the mirror and what topical skincare works on.
The dermis — the layer just beneath the surface where collagen, elastin and hyaluronic acid live. This is where most injectable skin quality treatments work.
The subcutaneous fat — deeper still, where fat compartments give the face its shape, contour and youthful fullness. This is where volume treatments work.
The structural framework — bone and muscle, the deepest foundations of facial anatomy.
Most of what people describe as "skin problems" is actually happening at the dermal level — and that is where the majority of treatments we're going to discuss today operate. But some concerns — particularly volume loss and facial sagging — require treatment at a deeper level. Understanding this distinction is the first step to choosing correctly.
The Treatments — What Each One Actually Does
Profhilo — The Bio-Remodeller
Best for: Skin quality, hydration, firmness, mild laxity, dull or dehydrated skin
Profhilo by IBSA Derma is the gold standard bio-remodelling injectable — and winner of Injectable Product of the Year at the Aesthetics Awards 2026. It contains the highest concentration of pure hyaluronic acid of any injectable on the market, and rather than staying in one place as a filler does, it spreads through the skin stimulating four types of collagen and elastin simultaneously.
This is not simply a hydration treatment. It is a genuine bio-remodelling of the dermis — the skin rebuilds its own collagen architecture over the weeks following treatment. The result is skin that feels and looks younger because it actually is, biologically speaking, functioning more like younger skin.
Profhilo works at the mid-dermis. It improves skin quality across the whole face, neck, décolletage and hands. It does not add volume or change facial structure. It is the treatment for clients who want their skin to look healthier, more radiant and more resilient — the "I don't know what you've done but you look so well" result.
Course: 2 sessions, one month apart. Maintenance every 6 months. Price at Sebastian-Rose: £480 for initial course of 2.
Profhilo Structura — The Foundation Restorer
Best for: Facial volume loss, hollow cheeks, flat mid-face, sagging, post-weight loss facial changes
Profhilo Structura is the newest and most talked-about member of the Profhilo family — and also won Injectable Product of the Year at the Aesthetics Awards 2026. It works at a completely different depth from classic Profhilo — targeting the superficial fat pads that give the face its lift, contour and youthful shape.
As we age, these fat compartments deflate and shift — causing hollowing of the cheeks and temples, a flat mid-face, a softening jawline and a generally aged appearance. Profhilo Structura addresses this by regenerating the fat pad layer, subtly lifting and repositioning the facial tissues without adding unnatural volume.
It is also one of the best treatments for clients who have experienced facial volume loss following weight loss medications such as Wegovy or Mounjaro — addressing the so-called "Ozempic face" effect naturally and progressively. We have written a dedicated blog post on this topic.
Course: 2 sessions, 4–6 weeks apart. Maintenance every 4–6 months.
Teosyal Redensity I — The Skin Nutrient Infusion
Best for: Skin nutrition, oxidative stress, dullness, dehydration, fine lines, sun-damaged skin
Teosyal Redensity I by Teoxane Switzerland goes beyond standard skin boosters by delivering 14 bioactive nutrients alongside hyaluronic acid — including 8 essential amino acids, 3 antioxidants, 2 minerals and vitamin B6. This is not just hydration. It is a comprehensive nutrient infusion that specifically targets oxidative stress — one of the primary biological drivers of skin deterioration.
If Profhilo is the structural renovation of the dermis, Teosyal Redensity I is the nutritional programme that keeps the skin functioning at its best. It is particularly well suited to clients whose skin has been damaged by sun exposure, environmental pollution or the cumulative effects of stress — and to clients who want to address the underlying biochemical causes of skin ageing rather than simply hydrating the surface.
Many clients at Sebastian-Rose use both Profhilo and Teosyal Redensity I as part of a comprehensive skin programme — Profhilo for structural bio-remodelling, Redensity I for ongoing skin nutrition and antioxidant protection.
Course: 3 sessions, 3 weeks apart. Maintenance every 6–9 months.
Best for: Deep volume loss, nasolabial folds, marionette lines, jaw definition, long-lasting results, collagen rebuilding
Sculptra by Galderma is a collagen biostimulator — not a skin booster and not a hyaluronic acid filler. It uses poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA) to trigger the skin's own fibroblast cells to produce new collagen in the deep dermis. Results develop gradually over months and last 2–3 years.
Sculptra addresses concerns at a deeper level than skin boosters — specifically the loss of the underlying collagen framework that gives the face its structural integrity. It is the treatment for clients who want to address significant volume loss, deep lines and facial sagging that goes beyond what skin boosters can address.
It is often used at Sebastian-Rose as a complement to skin quality treatments — Sculptra rebuilding the structural collagen framework while Profhilo or Redensity I improve the quality of the skin above it.
Course: 3 sessions, 4–6 weeks apart. Price: from £350 per vial.
Polynucleotides — The Cellular Regenerator
Best for: Deep skin repair, dark circles, under-eye concerns, skin regeneration, hair loss, scarring
Polynucleotides (PDRN) are injectable biological molecules derived from highly purified DNA fragments that work by signalling skin cells to repair, regenerate and rejuvenate at a cellular level — deeper and more comprehensively than any hyaluronic acid-based treatment.
Where skin boosters improve how the skin looks and feels, polynucleotides improve how skin cells actually function — switching on repair mechanisms, improving cellular communication and triggering genuine biological regeneration. They are particularly effective for the under-eye area, for skin that has been chronically damaged or depleted, and for clients who want the most fundamental level of cellular skin renewal.
Polynucleotides are one of the fastest-growing treatment categories in 2026 — driven by the shift toward regenerative, biology-aligned aesthetics. At Sebastian-Rose we use a curated range of premium, CE-marked polynucleotide products chosen for their clinical quality, purity and results — because not all polynucleotides are equal, and the brand and formulation matters enormously.
Our polynucleotide range includes
Rejuran from South Korea — one of the original and most clinically established polynucleotide brands globally, with decades of evidence behind it.
Plinest by Mastelli from Italy — a premium European formulation with a strong clinical evidence base widely used across aesthetic medicine.
Newest by Mastelli - a hybrid polynucleotide that also contains uncorsslinked hyaluronic acid for extra hydration.
Plenhyage — another high-quality Italian polynucleotide offering, particularly valued for its depth of regeneration.
Vitaran — a South Korean CE-marked polynucleotide derived from highly purified salmon trout DNA, available in formulations specifically designed for the face, body and the delicate under-eye area. And
Lumi Eyes — a polynucleotide treatment specifically formulated and clinically proven for the periorbital region, addressing dark circles, fine lines and skin laxity around the eyes where many other treatments cannot safely reach.
Your practitioner will assess which polynucleotide product and formulation is most appropriate for your specific skin concerns, treatment area and goals at your consultation. The right product in the right area, placed correctly by an experienced medical professional, makes all the difference.
Course: 3–4 sessions, 2–4 weeks apart. Maintenance every 3–6 months.
Exosomes — The Next Generation
Best for: Advanced skin regeneration, post-procedure recovery, cellular repair, hair restoration
Exosomes are extracellular vesicles — essentially the messaging system between cells — that carry growth factors, proteins and genetic information that signal tissue repair and regeneration. With over 300 growth factors, exosomes operate at a level of biological sophistication that goes beyond any other injectable treatment currently available.
They are not yet as widely used as polynucleotides or skin boosters, but they represent the frontier of regenerative aesthetics. At Sebastian-Rose, we use exosome therapy as part of advanced regenerative treatment plans — often in combination with microneedling for enhanced absorption and results, or for clients who want the most cutting-edge approach to skin regeneration available.
Course and maintenance: tailored individually at consultation.
NCTF 135HA — The Multi-Ingredient Revitaliser
Best for: Comprehensive skin nutrition, brightness, early signs of ageing, preventative treatment
NCTF (New Cellular Treatment Factor) by Fillmed contains over 50 active ingredients — vitamins, amino acids, minerals, coenzymes, nucleic acids and hyaluronic acid — delivered into the skin via microinjections or microneedling. It is one of the most comprehensive multi-ingredient skin nutrition treatments available.
NCTF targets the skin's cellular environment comprehensively — feeding the skin with everything it needs to function optimally rather than targeting specific mechanisms. It is excellent for clients in their 20s and 30s seeking preventative treatment, and for those wanting an intensive course of skin nutrition to restore radiance and vitality.
At Sebastian-Rose, NCTF is often used in combination with microneedling as a Mesotherapy treatment — the microneedling channels allowing deeper penetration of the NCTF complex for enhanced results.
Course: 4–6 sessions, 2 weeks apart for initial course. Maintenance every 3 months.
Sunekos — The Elastin Specialist
Best for: Skin laxity, loss of elasticity, crepey skin, under-eye, neck
Sunekos is a patented injectable that combines hyaluronic acid with a specific formula of amino acids designed to stimulate the extracellular matrix — the biological scaffold that gives skin its elasticity and bounce. Unlike most skin boosters that primarily stimulate collagen, Sunekos specifically targets elastin production — the component of skin structure that determines how well the skin springs back and maintains its tone.
This makes Sunekos particularly well suited to clients with skin laxity and crepiness — where the skin has lost its elasticity rather than simply its hydration. It is excellent for the under-eye area, the neck, the décolletage and areas of the face and body where the skin appears loose or crepey rather than simply dehydrated.
Course: 3 sessions, 3 weeks apart for initial course. Maintenance every 3–6 months.
Seventy Hyal 2000 — The Intense Hydrator
Best for: Immediate intense hydration, glow, skin density, younger clients, preventative treatment
Seventy Hyal 2000 is a newer generation skin booster using a very high molecular weight hyaluronic acid (2000kDa) that provides immediate, intense and long-lasting hydration. It is one of the most popular entry-level skin booster treatments — delivering a rapid and visible improvement in skin plumpness, density and glow that many clients notice almost immediately.
It is particularly well suited to clients who are new to injectable skin treatments, who want a swift improvement in skin radiance before an event, or who are at the preventative stage of their skin health journey. It is an excellent starting point that often leads clients to progress to more advanced treatments as they see the benefits of injectable skin health over time.
Course: 2–3 sessions, 4 weeks apart. Maintenance every 3–4 months.
Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) — The Regenerative Facial
Best for: Skin texture, tone, scarring, dark circles, hair loss, natural regeneration, combining with microneedling
PRP uses your own blood — drawn, centrifuged to concentrate the platelets, then re-injected or applied topically during microneedling — to deliver growth factors and healing signals directly into the skin. Because it uses your own biology, there is no risk of allergic reaction and the regenerative signals are completely natural to your body.
PRP is particularly effective for improving skin texture, tone and radiance, for reducing the appearance of dark circles, for stimulating hair regrowth on the scalp, and for accelerating healing and enhancing results when combined with microneedling. The "vampire facial" name understates it — PRP is a genuinely effective, clinically proven regenerative treatment with decades of evidence behind it.
Course: 3–4 sessions, 4 weeks apart. Maintenance every 6 months.
Microneedling — The Collagen Trigger
Best for: Skin texture, pores, acne scarring, fine lines, absorption of topical treatments
Microneedling uses a device with fine needles to create thousands of microscopic channels in the skin — triggering the body's wound healing response and stimulating collagen and elastin production. It also dramatically enhances the absorption of topical treatments applied during or immediately after — making it an excellent delivery mechanism for NCTF, exosomes or PRP.
Microneedling is one of the most versatile skin treatments available — effective for a wide range of concerns including texture, pores, scarring, mild laxity and overall skin quality. It is suitable for most skin types and Fitzpatrick tones and represents excellent value as a standalone treatment or as part of a combination protocol.
Course: 4–6 sessions, 2–4 weeks apart. Maintenance every 3–4 months.
Microtox — Skin Botox
Best for: Pores, skin texture, oiliness, superficial fine lines, glow, "glass skin" effect
Microtox — also known as Skin Botox or intradermal Botox — involves injecting tiny, diluted amounts of botulinum toxin into the superficial dermis (not the muscle) across the face. Unlike conventional Botox which relaxes muscles to smooth expression lines, Microtox targets the sebaceous glands and superficial muscle fibres within the skin itself.
The result is a reduction in pore size, decreased oiliness, smoother skin texture and a porcelain-like radiance often described as the "glass skin" effect. It is a particularly popular treatment among Korean aesthetics clients — where glass skin has been a beauty ideal long before it became a Western trend. At
Sebastian-Rose, Microtox sits within our Korean aesthetics programme and can be combined with other skin quality treatments for comprehensive results.
Course: Single session to start. Maintenance every 3–6 months.
Chemical Peels — The Surface Renewer
Best for: Pigmentation, uneven skin tone, surface texture, acne, brightening
Chemical peels use carefully formulated acids — including glycolic, salicylic, lactic, TCA and others — to exfoliate the skin at a controlled depth, accelerating cell turnover, improving pigmentation, smoothing texture and stimulating collagen production in the deeper layers.
Peels work at the surface and mid-dermis — making them the treatment of choice for concerns that live at the skin surface: pigmentation, uneven tone, acne, blocked pores and dull, thickened skin. They are frequently combined with injectable treatments at Sebastian-Rose — for example, a course of peels alongside Profhilo or Redensity I delivers surface and deep skin improvement simultaneously.
Course and strength: tailored to your skin and concerns at consultation. Peels range from superficial lunchtime peels to medium-depth treatments depending on the concern being addressed.
The Treatment You Are Almost Certainly Overlooking — Medical Grade Skincare
Here is the thing that almost nobody in the aesthetics industry tells you clearly enough: no injectable treatment, however good, performs at its best on a foundation of poor skincare.
This is not a commercial pitch. It is a clinical fact.
The injectable treatments we have described above work by triggering biological processes within the skin — stimulating collagen production, promoting cellular regeneration, restoring hyaluronic acid. These biological processes are supported or undermined by the daily condition of the skin. A skin that is chronically dehydrated, damaged by daily UV exposure, depleted by harsh products or clogged by the wrong ingredients will not respond to injectable treatment in the same way as skin that is well-maintained and properly supported.
Medical grade skincare is not the same as the skincare you buy in a pharmacy, a department store or online. The active ingredients in medical grade products — retinoids, vitamin C, growth factors, AHAs, niacinamide, peptides, SPF — are present at concentrations that are clinically proven to penetrate the dermis and create measurable change. They are the bridge between your treatments, maintaining and extending results in the weeks and months between clinic visits.
At Sebastian-Rose we stock and prescribe medical grade skincare from Theraderm and Obagi — two of the most clinically credible skincare brands available. These are not products we sell as an afterthought. You can view these on our Skin Shop (along with coming into our clinic!)
They are integral to every skin treatment plan we design.
We will be publishing a dedicated guide to choosing the right medical grade skincare for your skin — including how to navigate the overwhelming world of skincare on social media, what the influencers won't tell you, and why the product you saw on TikTok is almost certainly not what your skin actually needs.
[Coming soon — The Truth About Skincare and Social Media: A Medical Aesthetics Perspective]
In the meantime, the single most important thing you can do for your skin — regardless of which treatments you choose — is wear a high-factor, broad-spectrum SPF every single day. UV damage is the primary driver of premature skin ageing and it directly undermines the results of every skin treatment you invest in.
So — Which Treatment Should You Start With?
Here is our honest guidance based on the most common scenarios we see at Sebastian-Rose:
"My skin is dull and I look tired but nothing has really changed structurally." Start with Profhilo or Teosyal Redensity I. Add a medical grade vitamin C and SPF to your skincare immediately. Reassess after your initial course.
"My skin has lost firmness and elasticity — it feels looser and more crepey." Profhilo combined with Sunekos is a powerful protocol for laxity. Consider Sculptra if the laxity is more advanced. Start a retinoid in your skincare.
"I've noticed my cheeks have hollowed and my face looks flat or deflated." Profhilo Structura or Sculptra — or a combination of both depending on the degree of volume loss. In many case, we will recommend Dermal filler instead fot the cheek area, especially the medial cheek (the apples of the cheek). This may also be appropriate if you have lost weight recently.
"I have acne scarring and uneven texture." Microneedling — combined with NCTF or PRP for enhanced results. Chemical peels between microneedling sessions. Medical grade skincare prescribed to your skin type.
"I have dark circles and under-eye concerns." Polynucleotides or Lumi Eyes specifically for the under-eye. Sunekos for the under-eye and surrounding skin quality. PRP as a natural alternative.
"I want to prevent ageing rather than correct it — I'm in my late 20s or 30s." NCTF, Seventy Hyal or Teosyal Redensity I are excellent preventative starting points. Microtox for glass skin and pore refinement. A comprehensive medical grade skincare routine as your daily foundation.
"I want to address everything — I've tried nothing before and want to know where to start." A free consultation at Sebastian-Rose where we assess your skin in person and design a staged plan that addresses your concerns in the right order, at the right depth, with the right products. That is genuinely
the only correct answer to this question.
The 2026 Approach — Treatment Stacking
The most significant shift in how leading clinics approach skin improvement in 2026 is treatment stacking — combining multiple treatments that work at different depths and through different mechanisms for results that no single treatment can achieve alone.
A typical stacked skin protocol at Sebastian-Rose might look like: Profhilo for dermal bio-remodelling. Teosyal Redensity I for skin nutrition and antioxidant protection. Microneedling with NCTF for surface texture and collagen. Sculptra or Profhilo Structura for structural support if needed. Medical grade skincare daily as the foundation throughout.
Each layer addresses what the others cannot. The whole is genuinely greater than the sum of its parts — and the results are the kind that lead people to ask what you're doing differently rather than whether you've had something done.
This is not about spending more. It is about spending intelligently — on the right treatments in the right order for the right concerns, rather than on repeated sessions of a single treatment that only addresses part of the picture.
How We Can Help You at Sebastian-Rose Cardiff
We know this is a lot of information. We also know that reading a blog post — however thorough — is not the same as having your skin properly assessed by an experienced clinician who can look at you in person and tell you honestly what your skin needs.
Here is how we make the process easier:
Skin Consultation — £50
Our skin consultations are in-depth, clinical assessments — not a quick chat before we upsell you something. Rachel will assess your skin in person using her decade of clinical expertise, discuss your full medical history and skin concerns, and design a genuinely personalised treatment plan built around your specific skin and goals.
The £50 consultation fee reflects the time, expertise and clinical depth involved — and is fully redeemable against your first treatment when you proceed. This is not a free ten-minute tick-box exercise. It is a proper clinical skin assessment that gives you the clarity to invest in the right treatments with complete confidence.
We will always tell you what your skin genuinely needs. We will never recommend a treatment that isn't right for you — even if it's the more expensive option.
What your consultation includes: in-depth skin analysis and assessment, full medical history and lifestyle review, personalised treatment plan with clear explanation of why each treatment is recommended, medical grade skincare recommendations tailored to your skin, clear and transparent pricing for everything discussed, and no pressure or hard sell — ever.
Staged Treatment Plans — We design treatments in the right order. Some treatments need to happen before others for best results. We explain exactly why and when each step fits into your plan.
Transparent Pricing — You will always know what your treatment plan costs before you commit to anything. No surprises, no pressure.
Medical Grade Skincare Prescriptions — We prescribe skincare to complement and extend your treatment results. This is included in your consultation.
Book Your Skin Consultation at Sebastian-Rose Cardiff
Choosing the right treatment for your skin is the most important decision in your aesthetic journey — and it should be made with proper clinical guidance, not an Instagram algorithm.
At Sebastian-Rose Medical Aesthetics Cardiff, we have the knowledge, the full treatment portfolio and the clinical experience to help you make that decision properly — and the honesty to tell you when you don't need what you think you need.
Your treatment plan is personalised.
Your results are real.
