Polynucleotides in Liverpool
Polynucleotides have limits. You deserve to know them before you pay.
Crepey skin, a hollow under the eyes and a red, raised scar need different decisions. Dr MJ explains where she finds polynucleotides useful, where the results are modest and when she would consider another treatment.
with Dr MJ
She explained everything so well and really took her time with me.
Lip filler care with Dr MJ
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Filler care with Dr MJ
A realistic starting point
What can polynucleotides actually change?
For thin, crepey under-eye skin, MJ sees subtle improvements in skin quality, fine lines and tissue thickness. Some of her patients love the difference. Others are unimpressed. She does not regard it as a dramatic under-eye transformation, and the benefits she sees are temporary.
If your main concern is a deep hollow or significant eye bags, polynucleotides are not the treatment MJ would choose to correct that problem.
Her experience with selected recent scars is different. She has seen more noticeable changes in redness and prominence, sometimes using polynucleotides alongside laser treatment. That is a reason to assess the scar carefully, not a promise to erase it.
“They are a tool, and they need to be used wisely.”
The concern comes first
Start with what you want to change
At your consultation, MJ examines the area, the tissue quality and the particular feature that bothers you. The aim is to choose a treatment for that concern. You do not need to arrive knowing which injectable to book.
01Thin, crepey skin or fine surface lines under the eyes
What needs assessing
Skin thickness, texture and how pronounced the crepiness is.
Where polynucleotides fit
An option when a subtle skin-quality change would be worthwhile. MJ’s results are modest and need maintenance.
Alternatives and the trade-off
For mild crepiness, MJ may consider microneedling. For more pronounced texture changes, she may consider Aerolase laser resurfacing. Suitability and recovery depend on the treatment; neither should be chosen as a way to fill a hollow.
02A hollow or trough casting a shadow
What needs assessing
Whether the indentation is the main concern, rather than the skin’s surface.
Where polynucleotides fit
MJ does not choose PN to correct a significant structural hollow.
Alternatives and the trade-off
Tear trough filler may address the contour in a suitable patient. Filler has its own risks and is not right for every under-eye area. Improving skin texture and restoring volume are different goals.
03Significant bags beneath the eyes
What needs assessing
Whether the problem can realistically be managed without surgery.
Where polynucleotides fit
MJ does not recommend PN as a correction for significant bags.
Alternatives and the trade-off
A surgical assessment may be more appropriate when non-surgical treatment cannot address the problem. Surgery is a different commitment and is not something everyone needs or wants.
04Dark circles
What needs assessing
Pigment, visible blood vessels, shadows from the shape of the area or a mixture.
Where polynucleotides fit
PN should not be sold as a universal dark-circle treatment. A skin-quality change may leave the main cause of the darkness unchanged.
Alternatives and the trade-off
The cause determines the options. Treating a shadow is a different decision from treating pigmentation. Start with an assessment rather than a promise to brighten every dark circle.
05Lines that appear or deepen with smiling or other expressions
What needs assessing
The contribution of muscle movement, skin texture and lines present at rest.
Where polynucleotides fit
PN is a skin-quality treatment, not a treatment that relaxes the muscles creating expression lines.
Alternatives and the trade-off
An anti-wrinkle consultation can assess movement-related lines separately. Different lines and different parts of the eye area need different decisions; no treatment removes every wrinkle.
06A recent surgical or traumatic scar that is red or raised
What needs assessing
The scar’s age, redness, thickness and stage of maturation.
Where polynucleotides fit
This is where MJ reports stronger results in selected cases, aiming for a less red, flatter and less prominent scar.
Alternatives and the trade-off
She may combine PN with laser, or consider microneedling or other scar treatments. The plan depends on the scar. A combination result cannot be attributed to PN alone.
07Older acne scars or a different type of scar
What needs assessing
The scar pattern and whether it is raised, depressed or discoloured.
Where polynucleotides fit
Results in recent red scars should not be assumed to apply to every acne scar.
Alternatives and the trade-off
A separate acne-scarring assessment can compare the relevant options. MJ’s starting point is that every scar is different.
Choosing not to have treatment is also an option. A modest improvement may be worth it to you. It may not justify the injections, recovery and repeat visits.
Selected scars
Why MJ is more enthusiastic about selected scars
MJ describes good results with some recent surgical and traumatic scars that are still red or raised as they mature. Her aim is to make the scar less obvious: paler, flatter and less prominent. She has also seen improvements in selected facial scars and scars from previous self-harm.
She sometimes uses polynucleotides with laser. Other scars may call for microneedling or a different approach. The scar’s condition matters more than giving every scar the same injection course.
There is clinical research in scar treatment, including PN used alongside laser after surgery. It does not establish that every product works for every surgical scar, burn scar or acne scar. MJ’s positive experience with selected cases is her clinical judgement, not a universal result guarantee. Read the postoperative scar study.
Evidence & expectations
How strong is the evidence for under-eye treatment?
There are randomised trials, but the evidence is limited. In a small split-face study of 27 people, PN performed better on some measured skin characteristics than non-crosslinked hyaluronic acid. Overall aesthetic improvement scores did not significantly differ. That was not a comparison with volumising tear trough filler. Read the study.
MJ’s practical advice is to expect a subtle change, not a dramatic correction. A treatment can be worth having for an individual patient without living up to every claim made about it.
The practical commitment
The course, the upkeep and the real commitment
MJ normally recommends three sessions, roughly three weeks apart, followed by maintenance around every four months for patients continuing treatment.
Think beyond the first appointment. You are considering a series of injections, recovery after each visit and further appointments if you want to maintain the benefit. Her under-eye results are transient. Maintenance does not turn them into a permanent correction.
Before starting, be clear about the change you hope to see and what would make the course worthwhile to you. If you are not noticing a worthwhile difference, discuss that before committing to more treatment.
This is MJ’s usual approach, not a guarantee that every skin concern or scar needs the same schedule. A scar plan, especially one involving laser, is assessed separately.
Plan for recovery
Does it hurt? What about swelling and downtime?
MJ’s usual swelling estimate. Recovery varies.
The injections sting. MJ describes the stinging during treatment as brief. Tell your clinician if pain worries you or you have found previous injections difficult.
In her practice, swelling usually settles in about three to five days. Bruising and bleeding can also occur. That is a recovery estimate, not a promise that every mark will have disappeared by day five.
Plan for some social downtime. If you have work, photographs or an important event coming up, discuss the timing before booking. Do not assume you will want to go straight from treatment to an occasion where you need to look your usual self.
Injection treatment carries risks. Follow your individual aftercare advice and contact the clinic if you are concerned about your recovery rather than assuming every reaction is routine.
What are polynucleotides, and which product does MJ use?
Polynucleotides are chains of DNA. Injectable products contain purified fragments and are used with the aim of improving skin quality. You may hear PN described as an injectable biostimulator or a skin regeneration treatment.
Descriptions often refer to fibroblasts, the cells involved in producing collagen and elastin, and to changes in hydration and elasticity. These explanations of how treatment may work are not a promise that wrinkles will disappear or that your under-eyes will look dramatically different.
MJ uses Plinest. She chose it after researching the manufacturer and its production approach, and finds it suitable to work with. She does not claim that choosing this brand makes every other PN product inferior. Manufacturer’s product information.
The popular “salmon DNA” label is not a precise ingredient list. Mastelli describes its PN as derived from freshwater trout. The exact formulation matters, so ask which product is proposed for your treatment. Manufacturer’s PN information.
Consider the whole plan
What does polynucleotide treatment cost?
Compare the whole plan: the initial course, the treatment area, what each session includes and the likely cost of maintenance. A low price for one visit does not tell you what continuing treatment will cost.
Polynucleotides
Three treatment sessions
Not redeemable against treatment
Is it worth the money?
For under-eye treatment, MJ’s view is that PN can make sense if you value a subtle improvement and are comfortable with the ongoing cost. Some of her patients choose it as one part of a wider treatment plan. That does not mean you need a collection of treatments.
If you are expecting a major change, or stretching your budget to pay for it, the modest result she typically sees deserves serious consideration before you commit. The useful question is whether the likely change addresses what bothers you enough to justify the complete cost.
Your consultation with Dr MJ
An advanced consultation with Dr MJ costs £75. This fee is not redeemable against treatment. It includes a full-face assessment and a personalised treatment plan. View consultation fees.
MJ discusses what you want to change, examines the area and explains the options. For under-eyes, that means considering the tissue quality and the difference between crepiness, a hollow and a bag. For scars, it means looking at the individual scar and whether a combination approach makes sense.
Bring details of previous treatment. You can use the consultation to understand the options before deciding whether to proceed.
Clinical judgement, first
Meet Dr MJ
Dr MJ Rowland-Warmann is Smileworks’ lead clinician and an aesthetic dentist. She holds an MSc in Aesthetic Medicine with distinction from Queen Mary University of London and founded the Smileworks Aesthetic Training HUB. Her work also includes aesthetic complications.
In her view, experience includes knowing when a popular treatment is being asked to do too much. Her recommendation starts with your concern, not the latest trend.
GDC registration: 178642 · Read Dr MJ’s profile.
Dr Charlotte Kelly is also listed among Smileworks’ polynucleotide injectors. Call if you need help choosing the right appointment. Meet Dr Charlotte.
Reviews of Dr MJ and Dr Charlotte
Patients describe their care with our clinicians. These reviews relate to other or unspecified aesthetic treatments.
“She explained everything so well and really took her time with me.”
“Thank you Dr Charlotte brilliant work! 👏👏”
“Incredibly professional and thorough in every step that she walks me through and ALWAYS makes sure I’m comfortable before she starts.”
Questions patients ask before choosing PN
Will it get rid of my wrinkles?
Do not buy a course expecting your wrinkles to disappear. MJ sees subtle changes in some fine lines and crepey skin. Lines caused mainly by muscle movement require a different assessment from roughness or thin skin. Read about an anti-wrinkle consultation.
Is it an alternative to tear trough filler or skin boosters?
It depends on the goal. Dermal fillers can add volume or shape. Tear trough filler may be relevant to a suitable hollow under-eye area. PN and skin boosters are discussed for skin quality, but their formulations differ. A category name cannot tell you which treatment suits your concern.
When will I see a difference?
Do not judge this as an instant transformation after one injection appointment. MJ recommends a course and describes under-eye changes as subtle. Discuss when to assess your result before starting. A fixed timetable does not guarantee a worthwhile change for everyone.
Can I have it on my cheeks, neck or chest?
Treatment of the face, neck or décolletage needs its own assessment and product choice. An under-eye plan should not simply be applied to another area. MJ’s guidance here focuses on the two uses she discusses most in practice: under-eye skin quality and selected scars.
Is it suitable if I have allergies?
Tell your clinician about allergies, including fish allergy, your medical history and previous reactions to treatment. Suitability depends on the specific product and your circumstances. Do not assume that purification makes an injectable suitable for everyone.
Your next step
Find out what makes sense for your skin
Tell us what bothers you, what you hope will change and what you want to understand before paying for treatment.
Smileworks Liverpool1a Kenyons Steps, One Park West
Liverpool L1 3DF
0151 236 5166 · tco@sexydentistry.com
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We’re located in One Park West. Check out the map, or just type “polynucleotides near me”.
Take a look inside
Explore the practice in photos
