Polynucleotide Treatment in Knightsbridge: The Complete Guide

What are polynucleotides and how do they work?

Polynucleotides are purified chains of nucleotides, the building blocks of DNA, extracted from salmon or trout and sterilised to medical grade. Placed in the dermis, they are thought to calm inflammation, support fibroblasts that make collagen and elastin, and hold water, which gradually improves skin hydration, texture and elasticity.

The idea behind polynucleotide treatment is simple: rather than filling a line or freezing a muscle, you give ageing or stressed skin better conditions to repair itself. The material comes from fish because salmonid DNA can be extracted in large quantities and purified to a very high standard. A 2024 review in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences describes polynucleotides as highly biocompatible, with a natural origin from chum salmon or trout gonads.

You will also hear the term PDRN (polydeoxyribonucleotide). The two are related but not identical. PDRN was first developed for wound healing and tissue repair. A 2017 pharmacology review in Frontiers in Pharmacology describes it as a mixture of deoxyribonucleotides with molecular weights of 50 to 1,500 kDa, whose most relevant mechanism is activation of the adenosine A2A receptor, a pathway linked to reduced inflammation, new blood vessel formation and tissue repair. PDRN also supplies nucleosides for the so-called salvage pathway, which cells use to recycle DNA building blocks.

Why does this matter for your skin? Collagen is lost steadily with age. A 2022 review of skin ageing in Biogerontology reports that skin collagen tends to fall by about 1% per year throughout adult life. Sunlight speeds up the process: in a study of 298 women published in Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, UV exposure appeared responsible for 80% of visible facial ageing signs. Polynucleotides cannot reverse either trend, but they aim to improve the quality of the skin you have, which is why they sit alongside, not instead of, daily sun protection.

Do polynucleotides work? What the clinical evidence shows

Published studies suggest polynucleotides can improve fine wrinkles, texture, hydration and elasticity. A 2025 systematic review of 9 studies and 219 patients found consistent benefits and no severe adverse events, but rated the evidence low to moderate quality, so results should be framed as promising rather than proven.

The most useful single overview is the systematic review by Lampridou and colleagues in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology. It pooled nine studies: four randomised controlled trials, four case studies and one prospective exploratory study, treating crow’s feet, acne scars, nasolabial folds, cheeks and pigmentation. Six studies looked at wrinkles and reported reductions; others reported better texture, hydration and firmness. Importantly, the authors did not overstate the findings. Methods varied too much for a meta-analysis, and they called for larger, better-designed trials.

Two things stand out. First, when polynucleotides are compared with other injectables, they tend to match them on overall appearance and do slightly better on measured skin quality, such as elasticity and hydration. Second, most studies are small, short and each usually tests a single product. The 2024 International Journal of Molecular Sciences review makes the same point: some studies show clear benefits, others show limited change, and long-term efficacy and safety still need longer follow-up.

Which areas can polynucleotides treat?

Polynucleotides are most often used on the under-eye area, crow’s feet, cheeks, neck, décolleté and the backs of the hands, where skin is thin, crepey or sun-damaged. They are also used as part of plans for acne scarring and post-inflammatory redness. They are less suited to deep folds or significant volume loss.

Because polynucleotides are placed superficially and spread through the dermis, they suit areas where the skin itself is the problem rather than the structure underneath. At Levirgo, the polynucleotide treatment menu covers the eye area, full face, neck, décolleté and hands, and the right protocol depends on how thin, lax or sun-affected each area is.

The under-eye deserves a special mention. A 2026 review in the Journal of Clinical Medicine comparing hyaluronic acid fillers with polynucleotides concluded that the two are complementary, not competing: filler remains the tool for structural hollowing, while polynucleotides are better suited to fine lines, texture and thin, delicate or swelling-prone skin. If your dark circles are caused by pigment or a bony hollow, polynucleotides will help less. Our guide to eye, under-eye and eyelid treatments explains the alternatives.

Who is a good candidate for polynucleotides, and who should avoid them?

Good candidates are adults with thin, crepey, dehydrated or sun-damaged skin who want gradual, natural-looking improvement. Treatment should be avoided or delayed in pregnancy and breastfeeding, with a known fish allergy, an active skin infection or cold sore in the area, and some autoimmune or bleeding conditions.

Polynucleotides tend to suit people who notice that their skin, rather than their face shape, has changed: make-up sits in fine lines, the under-eye looks papery, the neck has a crepe texture, or the skin looks tired after summer. They also appeal to people who want a treatment that does not change their features. Men and women respond in similar ways, and many patients start in their mid-30s to 50s, although suitability depends on skin, not age.

• Likely to suit you: early crepiness under the eyes or on the neck, dehydrated or dull skin, fine static lines, sun-stressed décolleté, thin skin on the hands, or wanting to improve skin quality alongside other treatments.
• Less likely to help on its own: heavy jowls, marked neck laxity, deep nasolabial folds, significant volume loss or under-eye fat bags. These usually need HIFU, dermal filler or a surgical opinion.
• Unrealistic expectations: if you want an instant lift for an event next week, polynucleotides are the wrong choice, because change builds over weeks.

What happens during polynucleotide treatment, step by step

After a face-to-face assessment and photographs, numbing cream is applied, the skin is cleaned and polynucleotides are placed with a fine needle or cannula as small blebs or a light grid. A session usually takes 30 to 45 minutes including preparation, and most people return to normal activities the same day.

1. Consultation and skin assessment

   Your practitioner takes a medical history, checks for contraindications, examines skin thickness, laxity and sun damage, and explains whether polynucleotides are the right tool. Standardised photographs record your baseline.

2. Preparation

   Make-up is removed, topical anaesthetic cream is applied for around 20 minutes, and the skin is disinfected. The product is opened in front of you so you can see its label and batch number.

3. Injection

   Polynucleotides are placed in the superficial dermis, either as a series of tiny blebs with a fine needle or fanned with a blunt cannula to reduce bruising in delicate areas such as the under-eye and neck. Treatment itself usually takes 10 to 20 minutes.

4. Immediately after

   Small raised bumps are normal and usually settle within hours to a day. You receive written aftercare advice and a contact number in case you have questions.

5. Repeat sessions

   Most courses involve 2 to 3 sessions spaced 2 to 4 weeks apart. In published studies, protocols ranged from two sessions three weeks apart to three sessions two weeks apart.

6. Review

   Results are reviewed around 3 months after the course against your baseline photographs, and a maintenance plan is agreed if you are happy with the change.

Does it hurt? Most people describe a scratch and a brief stinging as the product goes in, which numbing cream reduces. Polynucleotide gels are more viscous than water, so some areas feel a pressure sensation. Discomfort usually ends when the injections stop.

When will I see results, and how long do polynucleotides last?

Skin may look more hydrated within 1 to 2 weeks, but the meaningful change builds as the skin responds, usually judged about 3 months after a course. In one periorbital study, improvement peaked at 3 months and eased slightly by 6 months, so most plans include maintenance every 6 to 12 months.

Polynucleotides are a slow-release treatment in the sense that their effect depends on your skin’s response. In the study by Ziade and colleagues, patients had two sessions three weeks apart. Scores for the lower eyelids and crow’s feet improved significantly by one month, were best at three months, and had drifted back a little by six months while remaining better than baseline. That pattern is why clinics plan maintenance rather than promising a permanent result.

How long results last depends on age, genetics, smoking, sun exposure and the area treated. The 2024 International Journal of Molecular Sciences review cites one study in which improvements from long-chain polynucleotides were maintained for up to 12 months, but it also stresses that long-term data are limited. In practice, most people who like their result book a single top-up session every 6 to 12 months and protect the investment with daily SPF 30 or higher.

Are polynucleotides safe? Side effects and risks

In published studies polynucleotides have a favourable safety profile: side effects are mostly redness, swelling, small bumps, tenderness and bruising that settle within days. A 2025 systematic review found no severe adverse events, but any injection carries a small risk of infection, prolonged swelling or allergic reaction.

Safety is one of the reasons polynucleotides became popular so quickly. The Lampridou review reported localised pain, oedema, itching, redness and bruising, which generally resolved within a week, and no severe adverse events. A 2026 expert paper in Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology noted no reported cases of granuloma or vascular occlusion in the polynucleotide literature to date. That compares well with volumising fillers, but it is not the same as zero risk, and a small evidence base means rare problems may not yet have been captured.

Most risks come from technique and hygiene rather than the product. That is why the NHS advises choosing a practitioner with the right training, skills and insurance, booking a consultation with the person who will actually treat you, and asking what they would do if something went wrong.

How much does polynucleotide treatment cost in London?

In London a single polynucleotide session typically costs £250 to £400, an under-eye session around £250 to £350, and a course of three about £600 to £1,000. Price depends on the area, the amount of product and the practitioner. These are indicative ranges, confirmed after assessment.

Why do prices vary so much? A very cheap session may use less product, a more diluted preparation or a practitioner without medical training. A higher price does not guarantee a better result either. What you are really paying for is the assessment, the product, the time to place it carefully, photographic follow-up and aftercare if you need it. For a wider view of what skin treatments cost, see our guide on how much non-invasive facial rejuvenation costs in London.

Polynucleotides vs skin boosters, filler and PRP

Polynucleotides focus on skin repair and quality. Hyaluronic acid skin boosters focus on hydration and glow, fillers restore volume and structure, and PRP uses your own platelets to support repair. They overlap, and many plans combine two of them, chosen after an assessment of what is actually driving the change.

Choosing between these is less about which is “best” and more about matching the tool to the problem. If you want to understand how polynucleotides fit alongside hydrating boosters through the year, read our guide to polynucleotide skin boosters and seasonal skin routines. If sagging is your main worry, our article on polynucleotides for sagging skin compares them honestly with HIFU, radiofrequency and threads.

How to choose a polynucleotide clinic in London

Choose a clinic where a registered healthcare professional assesses you face to face and performs the injections, the product is traceable, and aftercare is clear. Check the practitioner on the GMC or NMC register or a PSA-accredited register such as the JCCP, because the CQC does not regulate cosmetic injections themselves.

Regulation of non-surgical aesthetics in England is still catching up. The Care Quality Commission states that it regulates cosmetic treatments involving surgical procedures, and that it does not regulate subcutaneous injections used to alter appearance, such as dermal fillers. A CQC registration therefore tells you about a clinic’s wider medical governance, but not whether a particular injector is qualified. In August 2025 the government announced a new local authority licensing scheme for treatments such as fillers and anti-wrinkle injections, following a consultation that drew almost 12,000 responses. Until that scheme is in force, you need to do your own checks.

1. Check the professional register. Doctors appear on the GMC register, nurses on the NMC register and dentists on the GDC register. The NHS also points to the JCCP and Save Face, registers accredited by the Professional Standards Authority.
2. Meet your injector first. The NHS advises booking a consultation with the person who will do the procedure and being given time to decide afterwards.
3. Ask about the product. Which polynucleotide will be used, why that one for your skin, whether it is CE or UKCA marked, and how it is stored.
4. Ask about dose and course. How much product per session, how many sessions, and what maintenance will cost.
5. Ask about complications. What side effects are common, what they would do if something went wrong and how to contact them out of hours.
6. Look for honest limits. A good practitioner will tell you what polynucleotides will not fix and when another treatment, or no treatment, is the better choice.

Polynucleotide treatment at Levirgo in Knightsbridge

Levirgo Aesthetics Clinic is at 6 Beauchamp Place, Knightsbridge, London SW3 1NG, a short walk from Harrods and a few minutes from Knightsbridge Underground station on the Piccadilly line. Treatment is doctor-led, starts with a skin assessment and uses medically approved polynucleotide products in a CQC-regulated setting.

Our approach is deliberately unhurried. We begin by separating the concerns polynucleotides can help with from those they cannot, then build a plan for your skin rather than a fixed package. Where polynucleotides are the right choice, we choose a product and technique for the area, use a cannula where it reduces bruising, photograph your baseline and review your result against it. Where another option would serve you better, such as a hydrating skin booster, HIFU or no treatment at all, we will say so.

• Doctor-led aesthetics, skin and private GP clinic with a CQC-regulated setting.
• Polynucleotide treatments for the eye area, full face, neck, décolleté and hands.
• Face-to-face assessment, medical history and standardised photographs before any treatment.
• Traceable, medically approved products opened in front of you.
• Written plan with itemised pricing, aftercare instructions and a review appointment.

Patients visit us from across west and central London, including Chelsea, Belgravia, South Kensington, Kensington and Mayfair. When you are ready, you can book a consultation online or send us a question first. You can also browse all our skin treatment articles.