Understanding-plinest-polynucleotides

Understanding Polynucleotides

There's a growing category of injectable treatments in that work differently to everything that came before them. Not fillers, which add volume. Not Botox, which . Not even skin boosters, which saturate the skin with . do something more — they work at a cellular level to stimulate the skin's own regenerative processes, improving quality, resilience, and health from within.


It's this that has made polynucleotides one of the most talked-about developments in aesthetic medicine over the past few years — and one of the generating the most consistent results in clinic.

What Are Polynucleotides?

— often referred to as PDRN (polydeoxyribonucleotide) or PN — are long chains of nucleotides, the blocks that make up DNA and RNA. In and regenerative medicine, they are from salmon or trout sperm DNA, which has a molecular structure remarkably similar to human DNA — making it highly and by human tissue.


The purification process is . The DNA is extracted, purified, and processed to remove any or that could trigger an immune response, leaving behind only the polynucleotide chains themselves in a sterile, injectable form.


At Karwal Aesthetics, we use Plinest — one of the most established and clinically studied polynucleotide preparations available, produced in Italy and widely used across Europe and Asia for both medical and applications.

How Do Polynucleotides Work?

This is where polynucleotides become genuinely interesting — because their mechanism of action is distinct from almost every other injectable available.


Polynucleotides work primarily by binding to adenosine receptors — receptors found on the surface of many cell types, including fibroblasts (the cells responsible for producing collagen and elastin), endothelial cells (which line blood vessels), and immune cells. When polynucleotides bind to these receptors, they a of that drive tissue and repair.


One of the most significant effects of polynucleotides is the direct stimulation of activity. Fibroblasts are the of skin — they produce collagen, elastin, and hyaluronic acid, the three components most responsible for keeping skin firm, elastic, and hydrated. As we age, fibroblast progressively, and their output of these structural proteins . reactivate fibroblasts, them to production of new and elastin — the structural of the skin from the ground up.


Polynucleotides also serve as a substrate for DNA — providing cells with the raw they need to repair DNA and proliferate. In skin that has been exposed to chronic UV radiation, pollution, or other stressors, this DNA repair is particularly . Cells that have been functioning below their potential due to accumulated DNA damage are given what they need to normal .


receptor activation has a anti-inflammatory effect, reducing the production of cytokines and a more favourable environment for tissue . This is one of the are particularly effective in skin that has been chronically inflamed — whether from acne, rosacea, UV damage, or environmental stress — and why they produce improvements not just in texture and firmness but in overall skin health and resilience.


the formation of new blood vessels in the treated tissue — a process called angiogenesis. Improved blood supply means better delivery of oxygen and nutrients to the cells, and more of waste products. The result is tissue that functions more at a cellular level, producing better quality and from daily environmental damage more efficiently.


Unlike hyaluronic acid, which attracts and holds water by physical means, the skin's ability to retain moisture by supporting the cells responsible for producing the skin's natural moisturising factors. The hydration improvement from polynucleotides is therefore not dependent on the continued of an — it reflects a genuine improvement in the skin's own .

What Can Polynucleotides Treat?

The mechanisms described above translate into a wide range of clinical applications. Polynucleotides are versatile, across multiple areas of the face and body, and suitable for a broad range of patients.


This is the most common application and the one most seek treatment for. the overall quality of the skin — its firmness, elasticity, texture, and radiance — by stimulating the underlying that maintain it. The is not a surface effect but a one, as new collagen and are produced and the skin's is progressively .


typically describe their skin as looking healthier, more alive, and more resilient — rather than simply fuller or . It's a quality of improvement that's difficult to replicate with topical products alone, because it begins at the level rather than the surface.


As collagen and improves, fine lines and early wrinkles become less visible. The improvement is gradual and cumulative rather than immediate — reflecting the biological timeline of synthesis rather than an 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 damage. volumising fillers are often too heavy for this delicate zone, and even HA fillers precise to avoid .


Polynucleotides are ideally suited to the periorbital area. By improving skin quality 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 in this sensitive zone. At Karwal Aesthetics, Plinest Eye — a specifically for the periorbital region — is used for this .


These are areas that are neglected and where the skin is often too for more aggressive treatments. improve firmness, reduce crepiness, and address the horizontal lines and changes that in the neck with age — producing meaningful improvements in an area that many patients have previously been told there is little that can be done for.


The backs of the hands are one of the most visible of age, yet one of the most under-treated areas in . Polynucleotides improve 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 applications of polynucleotides is in hair loss and scalp health. Injected into the scalp, polynucleotides the environment — blood supply, inflammation, and the for hair growth. They are particularly useful in telogen ( by stress or illness) and early androgenetic alopecia, where follicles are underperforming rather than permanently lost.


Polynucleotides have a significant and role in supporting skin recovery after medical and procedures. Their properties, combined with their ability to stimulate tissue repair and local blood supply, make them a valuable addition to post-treatment — and improving the of the final outcome.

Polynucleotides vs. Other Skin Treatments

Understanding where polynucleotides sit in relation to other helps to clarify when they are the right choice — and when a different approach, or a combination, would better results.


add volume by introducing a gel the skin. They are excellent for restoring lost structure, hollowed areas, and redefining facial contours. They do not, however, the of the skin itself.


don't add volume. They the skin's intrinsic — its firmness, elasticity, and health — by stimulating regeneration. The two treatments fundamentally different problems and work very well together as elements of a comprehensive plan.


is a treatment based on a high concentration of hyaluronic acid. It skin and stimulates collagen production through bio-remodelling, and excellent results for overall skin quality and firmness — particularly for patients with mild to moderate laxity.


work through a different mechanism — DNA-level cellular rather than HA bio-remodelling — and have additional anti-inflammatory and angiogenic effects that does not. They are particularly well-suited to patients with inflammation, significant sun damage, or in delicate areas where HA products are less appropriate. In many cases, the two treatments each other effectively as part of a broader programme.


combines hyaluronic acid with a amino acid to and elastin through ECM regeneration. Like polynucleotides, it skin rather than adding volume, and it's particularly effective for fine lines, crepey skin, and delicate zones. At Karwal Aesthetics, Sunekos is our skin booster for most patients — delivering strong results across a wide range of skin . Polynucleotides are where their mechanism — particularly the anti-inflammatory, DNA repair, and angiogenic effects — offers additional benefit, or where a targeted formulation like Plinest Eye is the most appropriate choice for the area.

The Treatment: What to Expect

Every polynucleotide treatment at Karwal Aesthetics begins with a thorough 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 consultation ensures that if they are recommended, it's because they're genuinely the best option for your skin.


A standard course of polynucleotide three to four sessions, spaced two to four weeks apart. Each takes approximately 30 to 45 minutes. The is administered via multiple small across the treatment area, using very fine needles or a cannula on the zone being . Topical can be beforehand if preferred.


There is no meaningful downtime. Mild redness, small marks, and occasional pinpoint are normal in the 24 to 48 hours following treatment and quickly. Normal can be resumed immediately, though we advise exercise, alcohol, and heat exposure for 24 hours.


Results with polynucleotides develop gradually — the timeline of the processes being rather than an instant change. Most notice an in skin radiance and hydration within the first two to three weeks. More significant in texture, firmness, and fine lines become apparent over the following weeks and to develop for several months after the final as synthesis continues.


This gradual, improvement is one of the the results look so . The skin is changing because it is genuinely — not because something has been introduced to mask a problem.


Following a full course, results last six to twelve months. Maintenance sessions every six months are to the and supporting the processes that .

Who Is Polynucleotide Treatment Suited To?

are for a wide range of patients — from younger individuals to protect and maintain their skin to older patients addressing more concerns.


They are particularly to with skin that looks tired, dull, or depleted rather than specifically lined or — the kind of skin change that doesn't fully to fillers or skin . They are also an excellent option for with or skin, conditions, or UV damage, given their anti-inflammatory .


Treatment is not during pregnancy or breastfeeding, for with active or in the area, or for those with a known allergy to fish or fish . Any will be discussed thoroughly at consultation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are polynucleotides the same as PRP (platelet-rich plasma)? No. PRP is derived from your own blood and works primarily through the growth factors by . are a separate of treatment with a distinct — cellular stimulation — and are derived from marine rather than the own blood.


Is there any risk of reaction? Because polynucleotides are derived from salmon or trout DNA, patients with a known fish allergy should this at consultation. The purification process removes proteins that are typically responsible for allergic reactions, but the risk is not zero and should be assessed individually.


Can be with other treatments? Yes — and they frequently are. Polynucleotides work well fillers, skin boosters, Profhilo, and medical-grade skincare as part of a treatment plan. Dr Karwal will advise on the and for your specific .


How is it different from a skin booster? Skin boosters typically use hyaluronic acid to and skin . Polynucleotides work through a completely different mechanism — stimulating cellular regeneration and repair at a DNA level — and produce a different quality of that is complementary to, rather than interchangeable with, boosters.


Is the painful? Discomfort is minimal. The needles used are very fine and the are superficial. Most find the treatment very without anaesthetic, though cream is available if preferred.


If you'd like to find out whether polynucleotide is right for your skin,

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