Understanding-plinest-polynucleotides
Understanding Polynucleotides
There's a growing category of injectable treatments in aesthetic medicine that work differently to everything that came before them. Not fillers, which add volume. Not Botox, which . Not even skin boosters, which the skin with hyaluronic acid. Polynucleotides do something more — they work at a cellular level to the skin's own processes, quality, resilience, and health from within.
It's this biological mechanism that has made polynucleotides one of the most talked-about developments in aesthetic medicine over the past few years — and one of the the most results in clinic.
What Are Polynucleotides?
Polynucleotides — often referred to as PDRN (polydeoxyribonucleotide) or PN — are long chains of nucleotides, the blocks that make up DNA and RNA. In aesthetic and medicine, they are derived from highly purified salmon or trout sperm DNA, which has a similar to — making it highly and well-tolerated by human tissue.
The is . The DNA is extracted, purified, and processed to remove any proteins or contaminants that could trigger an immune response, leaving behind only the chains themselves in a sterile, injectable form.
At Karwal Aesthetics, we use Plinest — one of the most and clinically preparations available, produced in Italy and widely used across Europe and Asia for both medical and cosmetic .
How Do Polynucleotides Work?
This is where polynucleotides become genuinely interesting — because their mechanism of action is from almost every other injectable treatment available.
work primarily by to adenosine receptors — receptors found on the of many cell types, including fibroblasts (the cells responsible for collagen and elastin), cells (which line blood vessels), and immune cells. When polynucleotides bind to these receptors, they a of cellular responses that collectively drive tissue regeneration and repair.
One of the most significant effects of polynucleotides is the direct stimulation of activity. Fibroblasts are the workhorses of skin — they produce collagen, elastin, and hyaluronic acid, the three most responsible for keeping skin firm, elastic, and hydrated. As we age, fibroblast activity declines progressively, and their output of these diminishes. Polynucleotides reactivate fibroblasts, prompting them to increase of new and elastin — rebuilding the structural of the skin from the ground up.
Polynucleotides also serve as a substrate for DNA — essentially providing cells with the raw they need to repair damaged DNA and proliferate. In skin that has been to UV radiation, pollution, or other environmental stressors, this DNA repair is particularly valuable. Cells that have been functioning below their potential due to accumulated DNA damage are given what they need to restore normal .
Adenosine receptor activation has a well-documented anti-inflammatory effect, reducing the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines and a more for tissue regeneration. This is one of the polynucleotides are particularly in skin that has been chronically inflamed — whether from acne, rosacea, UV damage, or stress — and why they produce improvements not just in texture and firmness but in overall skin health and resilience.
Polynucleotides stimulate the of new blood in the tissue — a called angiogenesis. blood supply means better of Oxygen Facial – Hydrating and nutrients to the cells, and more efficient of waste . The result is tissue that functions more at a level, better collagen and from daily damage more efficiently.
Unlike hyaluronic acid, which attracts and holds water by physical means, the skin's intrinsic ability to retain moisture by supporting the cells responsible for producing the skin's natural . The hydration improvement from polynucleotides is therefore not dependent on the continued presence of an injected — it reflects a in the skin's own functioning.
What Can Polynucleotides Treat?
The biological described above into a wide range of clinical . Polynucleotides are versatile, effective across areas of the face and body, and suitable for a broad range of .
This is the most common application and the one most patients seek treatment for. the overall of the skin — its firmness, elasticity, texture, and radiance — by stimulating the underlying that maintain it. The is not a effect but a structural one, as new collagen and elastin are produced and the skin's architecture is progressively .
describe their skin as looking healthier, more alive, and more resilient — rather than simply fuller or smoother. It's a quality of improvement that's difficult to with products alone, because it begins at the cellular level rather than the .
As and elastin production improves, fine lines and early wrinkles become progressively less visible. The improvement is gradual and rather than immediate — the biological timeline of collagen synthesis rather than an physical change — which is also why results look natural.
The skin around the eyes is the thinnest on the entire face, and the first to show the effects of ageing, fatigue, and environmental damage. volumising fillers are often too heavy for this delicate zone, and even lighter HA precise to avoid .
are ideally suited to the area. By skin rather than adding volume, they address the crepiness, fine lines, and loss of elasticity that make the eye area look tired and aged — without the risks associated with volumising products in this sensitive zone. At Karwal Aesthetics, Plinest Eye — a specifically for the region — is used for this indication.
These are areas that are frequently neglected and where the skin is often too delicate for more aggressive treatments. improve firmness, reduce crepiness, and address the horizontal lines and textural changes that in the neck with age — meaningful improvements in an area that many have previously been told there is little that can be done for.
The backs of the hands are one of the most of age, yet one of the most under-treated areas in aesthetic medicine. Polynucleotides the quality, hydration, and texture of the skin on the hands, reducing the thin, papery appearance that as collagen thins with age.
One of the and of polynucleotides is in hair loss and scalp health. Injected into the scalp, the follicular — improving blood supply, inflammation, and creating the for hair growth. They are particularly useful in telogen (diffuse triggered by stress or illness) and early androgenetic alopecia, where follicles are underperforming rather than lost.
Polynucleotides have a significant and underappreciated role in supporting skin recovery after medical and aesthetic . Their properties, combined with their ability to stimulate tissue repair and improve local blood supply, make them a addition to post-treatment protocols — accelerating healing and the quality of the final .
Polynucleotides vs. Other Skin Treatments
where sit in relation to other injectable helps to clarify when they are the right choice — and when a different approach, or a combination, would deliver better results.
Fillers add volume by physically a gel beneath the skin. They are excellent for lost structure, hollowed areas, and facial contours. They do not, however, improve the of the skin itself.
Polynucleotides don't add volume. They improve the skin's intrinsic — its firmness, elasticity, and health — by stimulating biological regeneration. The two address fundamentally different problems and work very well together as of a treatment plan.
Profhilo is a treatment based on a high concentration of hyaluronic acid. It improves skin hydration and collagen production through bio-remodelling, and results for overall skin and — particularly for with mild to laxity.
Polynucleotides work through a different mechanism — DNA-level cellular stimulation rather than HA — and have anti-inflammatory and effects that does not. They are particularly well-suited to patients with chronic inflammation, significant sun damage, or concerns in delicate areas where HA products are less appropriate. In many cases, the two treatments each other as part of a .
Sunekos combines hyaluronic acid with a amino acid to stimulate collagen and elastin through ECM . Like polynucleotides, it improves skin quality rather than adding volume, and it's particularly effective for fine lines, crepey skin, and zones. At Karwal Aesthetics, Sunekos is our preferred skin booster for most patients — strong results across a wide range of skin concerns. Polynucleotides are recommended where their specific — particularly the anti-inflammatory, DNA repair, and effects — offers additional benefit, or where a like Plinest Eye is the most appropriate choice for the periorbital area.
The Treatment: What to Expect
Every polynucleotide treatment at Karwal begins with a thorough consultation with Dr Arun Karwal. This covers your skin concerns, medical history, any previous treatments, and what you're hoping to achieve. are not the right treatment for every concern, and the ensures that if they are recommended, it's because they're the best option for your skin.
A course of treatment typically involves three to four sessions, spaced two to four weeks apart. Each session takes approximately 30 to 45 minutes. The product is via multiple small across the treatment area, using very fine needles or a on the zone being treated. Topical can be applied beforehand if preferred.
There is no . Mild redness, small injection marks, and occasional pinpoint are normal in the 24 to 48 hours following and resolve quickly. Normal activities can be resumed immediately, though we advise avoiding intense exercise, alcohol, and heat for 24 hours.
Results with polynucleotides — reflecting the timeline of the being rather than an instant physical change. Most patients notice an improvement in skin radiance and within the first two to three weeks. More significant improvements in texture, firmness, and fine lines become apparent over the following weeks and to for several months after the final as collagen continues.
This gradual, progressive improvement is one of the reasons the results look so . The skin is changing because it is — not because something has been introduced to mask a problem.
Following a full treatment course, results last six to twelve months. sessions every six months are recommended to sustain the improvement and continue supporting the processes that polynucleotides stimulate.
Who Is Polynucleotide Treatment Suited To?
Polynucleotides are suitable for a wide range of patients — from younger to and maintain their skin to older patients addressing more established concerns.
They are particularly to patients with skin that looks tired, dull, or rather than specifically lined or volumised — the kind of skin change that doesn't respond fully to or skin boosters. They are also an excellent option for patients with sensitive or reactive skin, post-inflammatory conditions, or UV damage, given their .
Treatment is not recommended during pregnancy or breastfeeding, for with active or inflammation in the treatment area, or for those with a known to fish or fish products. Any relevant medical history will be discussed thoroughly at consultation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are the same as PRP (platelet-rich plasma)? No. PRP is derived from your own blood and works primarily through the growth factors by . Polynucleotides are a separate of treatment with a distinct mechanism — DNA-level — and are derived from marine rather than the patient's own blood.
Is there any risk of allergic ? Because polynucleotides are from salmon or trout DNA, patients with a known fish allergy should discuss this at consultation. The that are responsible for allergic reactions, but the risk is not zero and should be assessed individually.
Can be with other ? Yes — and they are. Polynucleotides work well fillers, skin boosters, Profhilo, and as part of a comprehensive treatment plan. Dr Karwal will advise on the combination and sequencing for your specific .
How is it different from a skin booster? Skin typically use hyaluronic acid to hydration and skin quality. Polynucleotides work through a completely different mechanism — regeneration and repair at a DNA level — and produce a different of improvement that is to, rather than with, .
Is the treatment painful? is minimal. The used are very fine and the injections are . Most find the very manageable without anaesthetic, though cream is available if preferred.
If you'd like to find out whether treatment is right for your skin,
Aesthetics for Men: 5 Treatments Worth Knowing About
TrapTox: What It Is and How It Works
Enquiries
Mayfair, London
2nd Floor, 15 Dover Street, W1S 4LP
Closed
10: :00
10: :00
10: :00
10: :00
Select Dates
Closed
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
0% finance is available on all from £500. Find out more by our Payment Plan page.
Please note: our clinic is on the second floor with stair access only.
Copyright © 2026 Karwal Aesthetics. All rights reserved.