Polynucleotide treatment is a course of injections of purified DNA fragments, placed into the skin to stimulate its own repair rather than to add volume. At Halcyon Medispa in Marylebone it is used to improve skin quality around the under eye, on the face and on the neck. A session takes 30 to 45 minutes under topical numbing cream, is given by one of the clinic's aesthetic physicians or by Dr Osman Bashir Tahir, the medical director, and one area starts at £300. Most patients are planned a course rather than a single visit.
This guide explains what polynucleotides are, what happens in the skin after they are injected, how they differ from filler and from a hyaluronic acid skin booster, what a session involves, when results appear and who the treatment does not suit. It is general information rather than personal medical advice, and suitability is confirmed at consultation. The full treatment detail, including the areas treated and the current fees, sits on our polynucleotide treatment in London page.
What are polynucleotides?
Polynucleotides are highly purified chains of DNA fragments. Chains of this kind occur naturally in human cells, where they take part in cell signalling and repair. In aesthetic medicine they are prepared to a medical grade and injected into the skin, where the intention is to support the skin's own regenerative process rather than to fill a line or a hollow.
Several forms exist and they are not interchangeable. The ones used at Halcyon Medispa are these.
- Polynucleotides (PN). Purified DNA fragments used to stimulate collagen and to improve skin hydration, texture and radiance.
- Polydeoxyribonucleotide (PDRN or PRN). A regenerative form chosen for its healing and anti-inflammatory properties, used on damaged or ageing skin.
- Hybrid polynucleotide and hyaluronic acid. A blended formula that hydrates while it repairs and firms.
- Polynucleotide and amino acid complex. Used where the aim is elasticity, skin thickness and strength.
- Under-eye polynucleotides. A lower-density preparation for the delicate skin beneath the eye, used for dark circles, puffiness and fine lines.
- Polynucleotide repair gels. Denser gels used in scar revision and on stretch marks.
How does polynucleotide treatment work in the skin?
The product is injected into the dermis, the layer beneath the surface of the skin, in a series of small deposits across the treatment area. From there the mechanism is a biological one rather than a mechanical one, and it is worth keeping the stages apart because they appear on different timescales.
| Stage | What is happening | When |
|---|---|---|
| Delivery | Polynucleotides are placed into the dermis of the treated area under topical numbing cream. | During the session, 30 to 45 minutes |
| Hydration | The deposits hold water in the tissue, which is why skin often feels softer and plumper early on. | First days |
| Cell repair signalling | The deeper layers of the skin are activated and the natural healing response begins. | First weeks |
| Collagen and elasticity | New collagen supports firmness, texture and elasticity, which is the change patients tend to notice. | From around three weeks, building across the course |
This is also why a single session is rarely the plan. The response is cumulative, so the clinic recommends a course and reviews the skin as it builds.
How is it different from filler and from Profhilo?
This is the question asked most often at consultation, and the distinction decides which treatment is recommended.
| Treatment | What it is for | How it behaves |
|---|---|---|
| Polynucleotides | Skin quality: hydration, texture, elasticity, the under-eye area | Stimulates the skin's own repair, so the change builds over a course |
| Profhilo | Hydration and firmness across the face, neck, décolletage or hands | A hyaluronic acid bio-remodelling treatment that hydrates and firms |
| Dermal filler | Replacing lost volume or changing a contour, such as a tear trough or a cheek | Adds volume where it is placed, with an immediate structural change |
Put simply, filler changes shape, Profhilo and polynucleotides change skin. Where the under eye looks tired because the skin is thin and crepey rather than because volume is missing, polynucleotides are usually the more appropriate starting point, and that assessment is made in person. They can also be combined with other treatments, including dermal fillers, RF microneedling and skin tightening with Ultracel Q+ HIFU, when it is safe to do so.
Which areas are treated, and what does it cost?
Halcyon Medispa treats the under eye, the face and the neck with biostimulatory polynucleotides, and publishes its fees in full. These are the current prices, with the aesthetic physician fee first and the fee with Dr Osman Bashir Tahir second.
| Area | Aesthetic physician | Dr Osman Bashir Tahir |
|---|---|---|
| Under eye | £300 | £375 |
| Face or neck | £300 | £375 |
| Two areas, from face, neck or under eye | £550 | £625 |
| Three areas, face, neck and under eye | £750 | £850 |
A consultation is required first and is redeemable against your treatment: £100 with an aesthetic physician and £200 with Dr Osman Bashir Tahir. Our full treatment price list is published for every treatment at the clinic.
What happens during a session?
- Consultation. Your skin, medical history and goals are assessed, and whether polynucleotides are the right choice, or whether another treatment is, is settled before anything is booked.
- Numbing. Topical numbing cream is applied to the treatment area for comfort.
- Treatment. The polynucleotides are injected into the dermis across the mapped area. The session takes 30 to 45 minutes depending on how many areas are treated.
- Aftercare and review. You leave the same day with aftercare advice, and the course is reviewed as the skin responds.
When do polynucleotide results show, and how long do they last?
Visible change is generally reported from around three weeks, as skin that is better hydrated and more elastic. Multiple sessions are recommended for the best result, and the result typically holds for three months to a year depending on your skin and how it is looked after afterwards. Individual results vary, and nobody can promise a duration in advance.
Aftercare: the first few days
- Stay out of bright sunlight for two days.
- Avoid exercise for one day.
- Protect the treated area with sunscreen.
- Keep your skincare gentle while the area settles.
Following the aftercare you are given matters for the outcome, and specific instructions are tailored to the area treated.
Is polynucleotide treatment safe, and who is it not for?
Polynucleotide treatment is considered safe when it is performed by experienced doctors or practitioners, with a low risk of serious complications, and it is suitable across a range of skin types. Temporary redness, slight swelling and mild discomfort at the injection sites are the usual short-term effects. Less commonly, skin irritation or a change in skin pigmentation can occur. Serious complications are rare and should be reported to the Halcyon Medispa team promptly.
The treatment is generally suited to healthy adults who want better skin hydration, elasticity and overall skin quality. It is not the right answer where the concern is lost volume or a change of contour, and it is not a substitute for a surgical opinion where there is significant skin excess. Anything that makes treatment unsuitable, including pregnancy, breastfeeding, active infection or a skin condition in the treatment area, or a relevant medical history, is identified at consultation.
Polynucleotide questions we are asked most
How many polynucleotide sessions will I need?
A course of multiple sessions is recommended rather than a single treatment, because the skin's response is cumulative. How many, and how far apart, is planned for your skin at consultation and reviewed as the course progresses.
Does polynucleotide treatment hurt?
Topical numbing cream is applied before treatment, so most patients find it comfortable. Mild discomfort at the injection sites afterwards is usual and short-lived.
Are polynucleotides good for under-eye dark circles?
A lower-density under-eye preparation is used for this area, where the aim is to improve the quality of thin, crepey skin and the appearance of dark circles, puffiness and fine lines. Where the hollow is caused by lost volume rather than skin quality, tear trough filler may be the more suitable route, and that distinction is made in person.
Can polynucleotides be combined with other treatments?
Yes, and they frequently are. Polynucleotides can complement dermal fillers, RF microneedling and skin tightening with Ultracel Q+ HIFU. What is safe to combine, and in what order, is agreed at consultation.
Is there any downtime?
Downtime is minimal. Plan to avoid bright sunlight for two days and exercise for one, and expect any redness or slight swelling at the injection points to settle quickly.
Where is polynucleotide treatment carried out?
At Halcyon Medispa, 2 Hinde Street, Marylebone, London W1U 2AZ, Monday to Saturday from 10am to 7pm. Treatment is given by an aesthetic physician or by Dr Osman Bashir Tahir, the clinic's medical director.
Reading on
- Polynucleotide treatment in London, the full treatment page with areas, fees and before and after photographs.
- What is NCTF 135 HA?, the other skin booster compared most often with polynucleotides.
- Ageing skin and dark circles, the concerns polynucleotides are most often used for.
- Treatment prices, published in full.
If you are weighing polynucleotides against a filler or a skin booster for your own skin, the assessment is where that is settled. Book a consultation at our Marylebone clinic or call 020 7486 3225.
