Polynucleotides in Reigate, Surrey
Every treatment carried out by Dr Haroon Ashraf, a GMC-registered doctor who injects full time.
Book a ConsultationWho polynucleotides suit, and who they don't
Polynucleotides are the newest of the injectable skin treatments we offer, and the one we lean towards for sun-damaged skin and acne scarring. They are purified fragments of DNA in a gel, derived from salmon, injected into the skin, where they act on the fibroblasts — the cells that make collagen and elastin — and calm inflammation in the tissue. Nothing is added in the way filler adds volume; the skin itself is prompted to repair.
That makes them an answer for skin quality — thin, crepey, tired, sun-damaged or scarred skin — and the wrong answer for a hollow. Under the eyes, where the two are so often confused, that distinction matters more than anywhere on the face.
Polynucleotides tend to suit you if- The skin under your eyes is thin and crepey, with fine lines and a tired look, and the problem is the skin rather than a hollow
- Dark circles where thin skin, rather than pigment or shadow, is part of the cause
- Sun-damaged skin, or acne scarring, where the texture of the skin itself is the problem
- Dull, dehydrated skin on the face that has lost its quality
- You have been told you need tear trough filler and either do not want it or are not suitable for it
- You want to rebuild skin quality before, after or instead of other treatments
- The problem under your eyes is a hollow — polynucleotides will not fill it, and tear trough or cheek filler is the conversation to have
- You have a fish allergy — the product is derived from salmon DNA and we do not treat anyone with a known fish allergy
- You are pregnant or breastfeeding
- You have an active skin infection, cold sore or inflamed acne in the area
- You are under 18 — we do not treat under-18s under any circumstances
Polynucleotides are one of the treatments we are most likely to recommend instead of what someone came in asking for. That works in both directions: sometimes the honest answer is filler, and we will say so.
How Dr Haroon Ashraf approaches polynucleotides
Assessment
The assessment is about one question: is this a skin problem or a volume problem? Under the eyes we look at the thickness and quality of the skin, at whether the darkness is pigment, shadow or thin skin showing what is beneath it, and at whether there is a true hollow. A hollow needs support, which means tear trough or cheek filler. Thin, crepey, sun-damaged skin needs rebuilding, which means polynucleotides. Many people have some of both. Where they do, we usually address the hollow first and consider the quality of the skin after that.
On the face, the same logic applies. We look at texture, hydration, sun damage, scarring and the way the skin recoils, and we separate that from the structure beneath it. Where the problem is sun damage or acne scarring, polynucleotides are usually where we start.
Product and Technique
We use highly purified polynucleotides, a medical-grade product derived from salmon DNA and processed so that the protein that could cause a reaction is removed. It is placed into the skin as a series of very small, superficial injections across the treated area rather than a few deep ones, so the whole area is treated evenly. Under the eyes that means a fine needle and a light hand.
Polynucleotides are not hyaluronic acid and they add no volume. The product is broken down by the body over the following weeks, and what remains is the change it has prompted in your own skin.
Comfort
Numbing cream goes on first. The under-eye is a sensitive area, and most people describe a sting rather than pain; the eyes take three to five minutes, the full face five to ten.
Small bumps at the injection points are normal; they can last from a few hours to, sometimes, a day or two, and are significantly less visible after the first 24 hours. Bruising is more likely under the eyes than elsewhere because the skin is so thin, and we plan around it.
What the appointment looks like
Before You Arrive
You will be sent a medical questionnaire and consent form to complete beforehand. It asks specifically about fish allergy, because the product is derived from salmon, and we will not treat anyone with a known allergy to fish. Come without eye make-up if you can.
Ideally, avoid alcohol for 24 hours before your appointment. If you take any blood-thinning medication, let Dr Ashraf know — continue taking it as prescribed; it simply means bruising is a little more likely and we plan around it.
On the Day
Plan for around 30 to 45 minutes. Consultation and skin assessment come first, then numbing cream, then the injections, which take three to five minutes for the eyes and five to ten for the face. You can go straight back to your day.
We photograph before and after at every appointment. Those photographs are yours, they form part of your clinical record, and they are only ever used elsewhere with your separate written permission.
Afterwards
Expect small bumps for a few hours to, sometimes, a day or two, significantly less visible after the first 24 hours; some redness; and possibly a bruise, particularly under the eyes. No make-up on the area for the rest of the day, and no strenuous exercise, saunas or heat for 48 hours. Results build: the first change is usually at around four weeks, each session in the course adds to it, and the full effect is around three months after the last one.
You will have written aftercare before you leave, and Dr Ashraf's direct contact details if anything concerns you.
Polynucleotide treatment cost in Reigate
A course of three sessions, spaced a few weeks apart, is the usual plan and what the course prices reflect. A single maintenance session once or twice a year keeps the result. Consultation is included, and there is no obligation to book a course on the day.
Where the eyes need both skin treatment and support, we will give you a single plan and a single price at the assessment, with the order of treatment explained. Full pricing for every treatment is on our pricing page.
Risks, and how we reduce them
Polynucleotide treatment is a medical procedure and it carries medical risk. Less of it than filler, but not none, and any clinic that tells you otherwise is not one to be treated at.
Small bumps at the injection points, lasting from a few hours to, sometimes, a day or two, and significantly less visible after the first 24 hours. Redness and mild tenderness. Bruising, particularly under the eyes, which can take a week to fade.
Swelling that lasts a few days. Small lumps that take longer to settle. More pronounced bruising. All settle on their own.
An allergic reaction. The product is highly purified, but it is derived from fish, and we screen for fish allergy and will not treat anyone who has one. Infection is rare but possible with any injectable. Both are recognised early and managed properly by a doctor who knows what he is looking at, which is the point of having one.
Which is exactly why who treats you matters. Dr Ashraf is a GMC-registered doctor who injects full time and is trained to recognise and manage the complications of injectable treatment. He also teaches: over 1,000 doctors, dentists and nurses have been trained by him in aesthetic injectable technique and in complication management.
Every treatment here is carried out by Dr Ashraf and not delegated, you have direct contact details rather than a reception voicemail for the period after treatment, and we decline treatments we do not think are in your interest. More about Dr Haroon Ashraf.
Polynucleotide FAQs
What are polynucleotides made of, and are they vegan?
They are purified fragments of DNA derived from salmon, processed to remove the proteins that could cause a reaction. They are not vegan, and they are not suitable for anyone with a fish allergy; we ask about both before treatment.
Polynucleotides or tear trough filler?
It depends on what is under your eyes. A true hollow needs volume, which is filler. Thin, crepey, dark, tired skin needs rebuilding, which is polynucleotides. Filler in thin, poor-quality skin tends to show; polynucleotides in a hollow do nothing for the hollow. Where there is both, we usually address the hollow first and then consider the quality of the skin afterwards. More on tear trough filler in Reigate.
Polynucleotides or Profhilo?
Both improve skin quality, by different routes. Profhilo hydrates and remodels through hyaluronic acid and suits skin that has lost firmness across the face, neck and hands. Polynucleotides work on the cells that make collagen and calm inflammation, and are where we lean for sun-damaged skin, acne scarring and thin, crepey skin. The assessment decides; sometimes the plan uses both. More on Profhilo in Reigate.
How many sessions do I need?
A course of three, spaced a few weeks apart, is the usual plan. Some people see enough from two; some skin needs four. After the course, a single maintenance session once or twice a year keeps the result.
When will I see results?
Gradually. The first change, usually in hydration and texture, shows at around four weeks. The change in skin thickness and firmness comes later, because it depends on your own collagen, and the full effect is around three months after the last session in the course.
Do they hurt?
Most people describe a sting rather than pain. Numbing cream goes on first, the injections are very superficial and very small, and the eyes take three to five minutes.
Is there any downtime?
Small bumps at the injection points that last from a few hours to, sometimes, a day or two, but are significantly less visible after the first 24 hours; some redness; and the possibility of a bruise, which under the eyes can take up to a week to fade. No make-up for the rest of the day, no heat or heavy exercise for 48 hours. If you have an event, leave a week.
Can I have polynucleotides with filler or other treatments?
Yes, and it is often the right plan. Around the eyes we usually address any hollow with filler first and turn to the quality of the skin afterwards; elsewhere the order depends on what the skin needs. The sequence and spacing are decided at your consultation.
Where are you based?
3 Holmesdale Road, Reigate, Surrey RH2 0BA. We see patients for polynucleotide treatment from across Surrey, including Redhill, Leatherhead, Dorking, Banstead and Horley.
Book polynucleotide treatment in Reigate
Consultations are with Dr Haroon Ashraf. There is no fee, and no obligation to book treatment on the day.
Book a Consultation3 Holmesdale Road, Reigate, Surrey RH2 0BA
07885 519 416 · info@mindfulaesthetics.co