Salmon DNA Injections London. What They Are And What They Do
Salmon DNA injections are the popular name for polynucleotides, purified DNA fragments derived from salmon or trout that are injected into the skin to improve hydration, quality and firmness. They work as bio-stimulators, signalling the skin's own repair cells rather than adding volume. They are well tolerated and increasingly used around the eyes, neck and face, with an evidence base that is promising but still developing.
Key points
Polynucleotides are purified DNA fragments, usually from salmon or trout, injected to stimulate the skin's own repair processes rather than to add volume.
They improve hydration, skin quality and firmness, and are widely used for the delicate under-eye area, neck and face.
The evidence base is growing but smaller than for established treatments, so honest expectations matter.
Treatment should be doctor-led, and a history of severe fish or seafood allergy is checked before treatment.
Considering salmon DNA injections? Message a GMC-registered doctor on WhatsApp or email team@thewellnesslondon.com.
What are salmon DNA injections
Salmon DNA injections are polynucleotides, long chains of purified DNA fragments sourced from salmon or trout and highly refined for medical use. The DNA is purified to remove proteins that could cause a reaction, and the resulting product is used as a bio-stimulator. It is injected into or just beneath the skin, where it acts as a signal to the cells responsible for repair and maintenance.
The mechanism is different from that of a filler. A filler adds volume by occupying space, whereas polynucleotides do not fill anything. They encourage the formation of new small blood vessels, support the extracellular matrix that gives skin its structure, help hydration, and reduce inflammation. The result is a change in skin quality rather than shape, which is why patients often describe the effect as looking rested and healthier rather than altered. That distinction is the single most useful thing to understand before booking.
What do polynucleotides treat
They are used where skin quality, thinness and hydration are the problem rather than lost volume. The most popular area is under the eyes, where the skin is thin and crepey and where fillers can look heavy or cause puffiness, and polynucleotides suit that zone because they improve the tissue itself. They are also used across the face for overall skin quality, on the neck and décolletage, and on the scalp to support hair, which we cover in a separate guide.
They are frequently chosen by people who want an improvement in how their skin behaves rather than a visible cosmetic change, and by those who prefer not to have volume added. Treatment is given as a course, typically a few sessions spaced a few weeks apart, with results building progressively as the skin responds, followed by maintenance. As our doctors put it, "polynucleotides change the quality of the canvas rather than redrawing the picture."
Want to know if your skin would benefit? Ask our doctors on WhatsApp.
What does the evidence show
The honest position is that polynucleotides are promising and increasingly used, with an evidence base that is growing but still smaller than that behind longer-established treatments. Published work supports the biological rationale, including effects on tissue repair and the skin environment, and clinical studies have reported improvements in skin quality and hydration. In hair, a 2025 prospective study of polynucleotide injections in androgenetic alopecia involving 28 patients across four sessions reported measurable improvement without serious side effects.
These are encouraging signals from relatively small studies rather than the large randomised trial base behind treatments such as PRP, which is supported by a 2025 meta-analysis of 43 randomised controlled trials and 1,877 participants. We think patients deserve that comparison stated plainly. Polynucleotides are a genuinely useful addition to regenerative treatment, particularly for skin quality and delicate areas, and they are not a proven substitute for treatments with a deeper evidence base where those are indicated.
Salmon DNA injections or PRP, which should you have
They do different jobs, so the better question is which suits your concern. Polynucleotides are a manufactured, CE-marked product with consistent dosing, particularly good for skin quality, hydration and thin, delicate areas such as under the eyes. PRP uses growth factors concentrated from your own blood, is fully autologous, and has the stronger evidence base overall, especially for hair.
In practice our doctors often combine them, because they act on different parts of the same problem. PRP delivers your own growth factors while polynucleotides improve the surrounding tissue environment, and the combination can produce a more complete result than either alone. Neither adds volume, so if the issue is genuine volume loss a different treatment is appropriate, and we will say so. The advantage of a clinic offering PRP, polynucleotides and other regenerative options is that the recommendation follows your skin rather than the single product on the menu.
Safety and who should not have them
Polynucleotides are generally well tolerated, and the products used are CE marked. Expected after-effects are mild and short-lived, typically small injection-point bumps, mild swelling, redness or occasional bruising, settling over a few days, and the under-eye area is more prone to visible bruising because the skin is thin.
Because the source material is fish derived, a history of severe fish or seafood allergy is an important thing to disclose and will be checked before treatment. As with any injectable, active infection at the site, certain medical conditions and pregnancy are reasons to defer or avoid treatment, and blood-thinning medication increases bruising. This is precisely why treatment should be doctor-led. A GMC-registered doctor takes the history, screens for these, and injects with the technique the area requires, which matters a great deal around the eyes.
Why doctor-led treatment matters at The London PRP Clinic by The Wellness
Every treatment at our clinic is performed by GMC-registered doctors, and we assess before we treat. That means understanding what is actually driving your concern, whether that is skin quality, volume loss, pigmentation or something else, because the wrong treatment applied skilfully still gives a poor result.
For hair and scalp cases we go further and arrange blood tests covering ferritin and iron stores, full thyroid function, vitamin D, B12, key hormones, HbA1c and zinc, run from the same clinic. Across our regenerative work we report an 87 percent patient success rate and more than 187 five-star reviews. We also tell patients plainly where evidence is strong and where it is emerging, which is the standard we apply to polynucleotides as much as anything else.
Have a question about suitability? Message us on WhatsApp.
What treatment costs in London
Doctor-led regenerative treatment in central London sits at the top of the UK market, with flagship Harley Street and Mayfair clinics charging at the higher end and typically pricing polynucleotide courses per session across a recommended plan. At The London PRP Clinic by The Wellness, care is doctor-led and priced below those flagship rates, with the figure for your plan confirmed when you enquire.
Because polynucleotides work as a course with maintenance, the sensible comparison is the cost of a full plan rather than a single session. Message us and a GMC-registered doctor will explain what your treatment would involve.
Take the first step today. Message us on WhatsApp, email team@thewellnesslondon.com, or call +44 20 3951 3429.
Frequently asked questions about salmon DNA injections
What are salmon DNA injections?
They are polynucleotides, purified DNA fragments derived from salmon or trout, injected to stimulate the skin's own repair processes, improving hydration, quality and firmness rather than adding volume.
Are salmon DNA injections a filler?
No. Fillers add volume by occupying space. Polynucleotides are bio-stimulators that improve the quality of the tissue itself, which is why they suit thin, crepey skin such as the under-eye area.
Do polynucleotides work?
The evidence is promising and growing, with studies reporting improvements in skin quality, though the trial base is smaller than for longer-established treatments. Results build over a course rather than appearing immediately.
How many sessions do I need?
Typically a course of a few sessions spaced a few weeks apart, followed by maintenance. Your doctor will set the schedule based on the area treated and your response.
Can I have them if I am allergic to fish?
Tell your doctor. Because the source material is fish derived, a history of severe fish or seafood allergy is checked before treatment and may mean the treatment is not suitable.
Where in London can I have salmon DNA injections?
The London PRP Clinic by The Wellness performs every treatment with GMC-registered doctors. Message us on WhatsApp or call +44 20 3951 3429.
This article is for information and does not replace personal medical advice. The evidence base for polynucleotides is still developing. All treatments at The London PRP Clinic by The Wellness are performed by GMC-registered doctors. Individual results vary. Reviewed by Doctors, The London PRP Clinic by The Wellness. Last updated July 2026.
