Regenerative Injectable

Polynucleotides

Polynucleotides in Marylebone, London — purified salmon DNA fragments that bind water and stimulate collagen and elastin, used for skin quality across the under-eye, face, and neck, and for early-stage hair regeneration.

Book Consultation

Polynucleotide injectable treatment at UNTIL Marylebone

The short answer

What this treatment is

Polynucleotides are purified short fragments of salmon DNA — a bioactive substance that binds water in tissue, stimulates fibroblasts to produce new collagen and elastin, and has documented anti-inflammatory effects. They are not a filler (no volume) and not a bioremodeller of the Profhilo class (different mechanism); they sit in a third regenerative category, particularly useful for skin where structural filler is the wrong tool — under-eye texture, periorbital crepiness, fine perioral lines — and for early-stage androgenetic hair loss as a non-surgical alternative or adjunct to PRP. The standard protocol is three sessions roughly three weeks apart for the initial course, followed by maintenance.

Areas treated

What's included

Regenerative — stimulates your own collagen, elastin, and hyaluronic acid production
Strong evidence for under-eye texture, fine lines, and skin quality
Hair-growth indication: early-stage androgenetic alopecia in men and women
Different mechanism from filler and from Profhilo — frequently combined with both
Standard protocol: 3 sessions 3 weeks apart, then maintenance
Suitable across all Fitzpatrick phototypes

Boundaries of practice

What's not treated

Good practice means saying no when indicated:

Pregnancy or breastfeeding
Active skin infection or autoimmune flare at the injection site
Known hypersensitivity to fish or seafood (theoretical risk; assess at consultation)
Active scalp inflammation (folliculitis, severe seborrhoeic dermatitis) for hair indication
Recent (within 2 weeks) aggressive energy-based treatment at the same site
Bleeding disorders or current anticoagulant therapy without specialist clearance

Patient journey

What to expect

Consultation & preparation

Avoid ibuprofen, aspirin, vitamin E, fish oil, and alcohol for 24 to 48 hours before treatment to minimise bruising. Come makeup-free; if treating the scalp for hair, wash hair the morning of treatment. Discontinue topical retinoids on treated skin areas 48 hours beforehand.

During treatment

What are polynucleotides?

Polynucleotides are short, purified fragments of salmon DNA dispersed in a sterile gel. Salmon DNA shares enough sequence similarity with human DNA to be biologically active when injected into human tissue, but is heavily purified and tested to remove allergens. Once injected, the DNA fragments bind water (a hydration effect similar to HA), trigger fibroblast activation, and exert a documented anti-inflammatory effect on the surrounding tissue.

How are polynucleotides different from filler or Profhilo?

Filler adds volume by sitting in a specific tissue plane. Profhilo stimulates collagen by spreading laterally and triggering bio-remodelling. Polynucleotides act more like a regenerative agent — they hydrate tissue and reduce local inflammation while stimulating new collagen synthesis. The mechanisms are complementary; many patients combine all three over a treatment cycle (filler for structure, Profhilo for skin quality on the face, polynucleotides for under-eye and other delicate areas).

Polynucleotides for skin — under-eye, face, neck

The under-eye is the most common indication: dark circles caused by skin quality (rather than volume loss) often respond better to polynucleotides than to tear-trough filler. Course of three sessions three weeks apart, results visible from session 2, peak at 8 to 12 weeks after session 3. The same protocol works for fine perioral lines, periorbital crepiness, and loss of glow on the lower face and neck.

Polynucleotides for hair — early-stage hair loss

For androgenetic alopecia (pattern hair loss) at early stages, polynucleotides injected into the scalp can stimulate dormant hair follicles, increase the proportion of hairs in the active growth phase, and improve hair shaft thickness. Standard protocol is three monthly sessions, then maintenance every 4 to 6 months. Best in early-stage loss; less effective once follicles are completely scarred. Can be combined with topical minoxidil and oral finasteride (men) for additive effect.

Aftercare

Avoid pressure, massage, and makeup at the injection points for 12 hours; for scalp treatment, no shampoo for 12 hours. Skip saunas, steam rooms, intense exercise, and alcohol for 24 hours. Visible improvement starts from the second session for skin, from month 3 for hair. Photos are taken at every visit to track progress objectively.

Pricing

Transparent, all-in pricing

Skin

Skin — Initial Course (3 sessions, 3 weeks apart)

£750

Skin — Booster Session

£275

Hair

Hair — Initial Course (3 sessions)

£1,000

Hair — Booster Session

£350

Hair — Smaller Initial Course (2 sessions) Suited to early-stage or maintenance starting protocols

£550

Hair — Smaller Booster

£320

Written and medically reviewed by Dr Oli Curwen , Aesthetic Doctor — MBBS BSc MRCS · MHRA — polynucleotide injectables are CE-marked Class III medical devices.

FAQ

Common
questions

How long until I see results from polynucleotides?

For skin indications, change starts to be visible from session 2 (around week 3) and peaks 8 to 12 weeks after session 3. For hair, change is slower because hair growth cycles are slow — visible improvement from month 3 to 4, peak from month 6 to 9. Photos are taken at baseline and at every appointment so progress is documented even when day-to-day change is hard to see in the mirror.

Do polynucleotides hurt?

For skin indications, discomfort is mild — a small pinch at each injection point, with topical numbing cream applied for 15 minutes beforehand. For scalp hair treatment, the scalp is more sensitive; a finer needle and slow injection technique reduce discomfort, and most patients describe it as 3 to 5 out of 10. The procedure takes 20 to 30 minutes per session.

How do polynucleotides differ from PRP?

Both are regenerative injectable treatments, but PRP (platelet-rich plasma) uses your own blood (drawn, spun, re-injected) and varies by individual; polynucleotides use a standardised, MHRA-compliant pharmaceutical product that delivers a consistent dose every session. PRP is biologically rich but variable; polynucleotides are biologically narrower but predictable. Many clinicians prefer polynucleotides for that consistency, particularly in hair indications.

Are there side effects?

The most common: small bruise at injection points (15% of treatments, resolves 3 to 5 days), mild local swelling for 24 hours, and brief tenderness at the scalp for hair treatment. Rare: localised redness or small lump at an injection point that resolves over 1 to 2 weeks. Polynucleotides have a strong safety profile because they are biologically similar to the body's own building blocks.

How often should I have maintenance?

For skin: a single booster session every 4 to 6 months keeps the regenerative effect topped up. For hair: a maintenance session every 4 to 6 months. Some patients combine polynucleotides with their existing skincare or hair-loss regimen (topical retinoids, oral finasteride, minoxidil) and find the maintenance interval lengthens further.

Can I combine polynucleotides with other treatments?

Yes. Polynucleotides are commonly combined with HA filler (different mechanism, complementary effect), Profhilo (also complementary), and anti-wrinkle injections (different target tissue entirely). Energy-based treatments (laser, microneedling) should be spaced 2 weeks either side. The most common combination at this clinic is polynucleotides under-eye plus tear-trough filler at a separate appointment.

Get Started

Ready to begin?
Book today.

Dr Oli Aesthetics • 1 Orchard Street, UNTIL Marylebone, London W1H 6HJ

Book

Appointments typically available within 1–2 weeks