If you have been following aesthetic medicine trends over the past few months, you have probably come across the word polynucleotides. It is not a passing fad: it reflects a deeper shift in the specialty, which stopped focusing solely on filling or paralysing and today aims to regenerate.
That shift is visible in the consulting room. More and more people come to our practice in Bogotá not asking for more volume or different features, but for something harder to name: skin that looks rested, that catches the light better, that does not feel dull at the end of the day. Regenerative treatments answer that concern from another angle: instead of modifying shape, they work on the quality of the tissue.
What exactly are they?
Polynucleotides (also called PDRN) are highly purified DNA fragments, generally of salmonid origin, biocompatible with human skin. Injected in microdoses, they act as a biological signal that stimulates fibroblasts —the cells that produce collagen and elastin—, improves deep hydration and supports tissue repair.
It is worth clarifying the point that causes the most confusion: they are not a filler. They are not designed to occupy space or to project an area, and for that reason they do not replace hyaluronic acid when the goal is to correct volume. Their role is different, and understanding that from the start prevents mistaken expectations.
A signal, not a replacement
The simplest way to explain it in consultation is this: the doctor does not add collagen from the outside, but invites the skin to produce it. Two practical consequences follow. First, that changes appear progressively and not overnight. Second, that the result depends largely on each patient's regenerative capacity, which varies with age, habits, accumulated sun exposure and general health.
What do they improve?
Unlike a filler, the result is not volume: it is skin quality. Finer texture, elasticity, luminosity and a noticeable improvement in delicate areas such as the eye contour, the neck and the hands. They are also used on the scalp as support within hair treatments.
- Eye contour: an area of very thin skin, where dehydration and loss of elasticity become visible early.
- Neck and décolleté: areas often left out of the care routine and that accumulate sun damage.
- Hands: where the skin tends to look thin and poorly hydrated.
- Full face: as part of an ageing management plan aimed at skin quality rather than at changing the features.
- Scalp: as support within a medical approach to hair loss, never as a stand-alone treatment.
Who are they for?
For those who notice tired, thin or dehydrated skin; for those beginning to see early laxity; and for those who want natural results without changing their features. They are usually indicated in protocols of 2 to 4 sessions, spaced several weeks apart, with periodic maintenance.
In well-selected patients, this profile fits especially well with people who prefer a discreet approach sustained over time, and with those who already look after their skin but feel that their cosmetic routine has reached its limit.
And who are they not for?
They are not the right tool when the goal is volume, projection or a structural change of the face: for that there are other alternatives within facial aesthetic medicine, and in some cases the answer lies in the field of plastic surgery. They are also not a good idea if there is an active infection or lesion in the area to be treated. Pregnancy and breastfeeding, a history of allergies, autoimmune diseases or any uncontrolled medical condition should always be mentioned during the assessment: that is where the doctor decides whether the treatment is appropriate, whether it should be postponed or whether there is a better option for that case.
How it is done in consultation
The procedure begins long before the needle. During the assessment, the skin, medical history, previous treatments and the person's real goals are reviewed; only then is it decided which areas to treat, at what depth and within which plan.
On the day of the session the area is cleaned and disinfected, and the doctor may indicate a topical anaesthetic depending on the area and each patient's sensitivity. The application is carried out through microinjections distributed across the area to be treated, with a technique that varies depending on whether the eye contour, the neck, the hands or the scalp is being worked on. Afterwards, aftercare instructions are given and the next session is scheduled within the agreed protocol.
What to expect
The first reasonable expectation is patience. Because the treatment works by stimulating a process of the body itself, changes are usually perceived gradually throughout the protocol, rather than as an immediate before and after. Many people first describe a sensation of more hydrated, more comfortable skin, and later notice differences in texture and luminosity.
After the application there may be redness or small marks at the puncture points, something to be expected with any injectable treatment. The intensity and duration of these signs vary from patient to patient and according to the area treated, and the doctor explains during the consultation what is normal and when it is advisable to get in touch.
Aftercare
- Keep the area clean and avoid touching it.
- Use sun protection consistently, a measure that always applies but becomes more important after a procedure.
- Resume make-up, intense exercise, sauna or exposure to high heat only when the doctor indicates it.
- Maintain a hydration and skincare routine at home, which supports the result of the treatment.
- Attend follow-up visits and complete the protocol: isolated sessions rarely deliver what is expected from a regenerative plan.
When it is not the best option
There are three situations worth recognising early. The first, when the expectation is an immediate, visible change for a specific date: that is not the territory of a treatment that works through stimulation. The second, when laxity is advanced and what is needed is a different approach, which the medical assessment should identify honestly. And the third, when the person cannot or does not want to sustain the full protocol or the maintenance; in that case, it is preferable to discuss other options among our treatments before starting.
What matters: medical hands
As with any injectable treatment, the key lies in the prior assessment: skin, medical history and goals define the protocol. In our practice we design a tailored regenerative plan, which may combine polynucleotides with biostimulators, skin boosters or platelet-rich plasma depending on each case.
Dr. Sandro Florez, physician and surgeon, sees patients in Bogotá at Calle 126 # 7-26, Torre 126 PH-1303. If you would like to know whether polynucleotides make sense for your skin, the first step is an assessment: you can book your appointment and clear up your questions before deciding.
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