What are polynucleotide injectables?

A polynucleotide product is a sterile gel containing long chains of nucleotides — the building blocks of DNA — that have been highly purified so that no genetic information from the source animal remains intact. The material acts as a biological scaffold and signalling agent in the skin rather than as a volumising gel.

In the UK, polynucleotide products are typically supplied as CE- or UKCA-marked medical devices rather than as licensed medicines. Brand names you may encounter include Plinest, Ameela, Nucleofill, Plenhyage and Rejuran, among others. Different brands vary in concentration, chain length and viscosity, which is one reason clinics use them in different ways.

They are most often used on the face, the under-eye area, the neck, the décolletage and the backs of the hands, and are usually given as a short course of sessions rather than a single treatment.

Treatment normally begins with a consultation and a medical history, including any fish or seafood allergy. Numbing cream is often applied. The product is then placed with a very fine needle or a blunt cannula, either as a series of small blebs across the treatment area or in a fanning pattern under the skin.

A session usually takes 20 to 45 minutes including numbing time. Most people can return to normal activity the same day, though small raised bumps, redness and occasional bruising are common for the first day or two. See aftercare and side effects for detail.

This guide is written for adults in the UK who are considering polynucleotide treatment and want a plain-English understanding before they speak to a practitioner. It is not written to sell a treatment, and it does not recommend any brand, clinic or individual.

It may also be useful if you have already been offered polynucleotides and want to know what questions to ask, or if you are trying to work out how they differ from the other injectables on a clinic’s price list.

• Basics — how polynucleotides work and their use under the eyes.
• Comparisons — how they differ from Profhilo, skin boosters and dermal filler.
• Costs and sessions — what treatment costs in the UK, how many sessions are typical, and aftercare.
• Safety — reported side effects and the UK safety and regulatory picture.
• For practitioners — who may administer them and training routes.

Are polynucleotides a filler?

No. Fillers are designed to add volume and lift. Polynucleotides are intended to change skin quality — hydration, firmness and texture — and add negligible volume.

Do they work immediately?

No. Any change builds gradually over the weeks following each session, and most people are assessed a month or more after completing a course.

Are they suitable for everyone?

No. Practitioners usually avoid treating people with a known fish or seafood allergy, active skin infection in the area, or who are pregnant or breastfeeding, and take extra care where there is an autoimmune condition or a history of keloid scarring.

How strong is the evidence?

Moderate at best. Most published studies are small, short and often manufacturer-linked. The treatment is widely used and generally well tolerated, but large independent trials are lacking.