Recovery & Aftercare Guide

Polynucleotide treatment

Injectable treatment given as a short course to support skin quality and repair.

Important. Your individual instructions from your treating clinician take precedence over this general information. If anything here differs from what your clinician has told you, follow your clinician’s advice and contact the hospital if you are unsure.

Overview

Polynucleotide treatments are injectables used to support skin repair and quality rather than to add volume.

They are used for skin quality, fine lines and areas such as the under-eye region, as discussed at consultation.

A course of sessions is usual, commonly spaced 2 to 4 weeks apart, with effect developing over several weeks.

Before your procedure

Attend a consultation first.
Tell the team about all medicines, particularly anticoagulants and antiplatelets.
Tell the team if you are pregnant, breastfeeding or trying to conceive. Treatment is not offered.
Tell the team about any fish allergy, as some products are derived from fish DNA.
Avoid alcohol for 24 hours beforehand.
Come without make-up on the treatment area where possible.

What happens on the day

The area is assessed and injection points planned.
The skin is cleaned and small volumes are injected at multiple points.
Small bumps and mild redness are expected immediately afterwards.
The treatment is short and you can leave the same day.

Aftercare

Immediate appearance

Small bumps, redness and mild swelling are expected and usually settle within 24 to 48 hours.

Under-eye treatment

Swelling and bruising under the eyes can be more noticeable and may take up to a week to settle.

Touching the area

Do not rub or massage the treated area for 24 hours.

Make-up

Avoid make-up for 24 hours.

Exercise

Avoid strenuous exercise for 24 hours.

Heat

Avoid saunas, steam rooms and sunbeds for 48 hours.

Alcohol

Avoid alcohol for 24 hours.

Course

Attend all sessions in the agreed course. Effect builds across the course rather than after a single session.

Typical recovery timeline

Timings are typical and vary between individuals.
When	What to expect
First 48 hours	Bumps and redness settle. Under-eye swelling may persist longer.
Days 3 to 7	Any bruising fades.
Weeks 2 to 4	Next session in the course.
Weeks 4 to 12	Improvement in skin quality develops.
Months 6 to 12	Effect reviewed and further treatment considered.

Red flags — when to seek help

These lists are not exhaustive. Trust your judgement and seek advice if you are worried.

Emergency Call 999 or go to your nearest emergency department

Severe or increasing pain out of proportion to what you were told to expect
Skin that turns white, grey or dusky near an injection point
Sudden visual changes after treatment near the eyes
Severe swelling with difficulty breathing or swallowing

Contact us Contact the hospital, or call NHS 111 out of hours

Spreading redness, heat or pus at an injection point
Swelling that is worsening rather than settling after 48 hours
Lumps persisting beyond 2 weeks

Tower Bridge Hospital, 97–99 Whitechapel Road, London E1 1DT. Telephone 020 7916 0029. If in doubt and the situation is not life-threatening, call NHS 111.

Frequently asked questions

How many sessions are needed?

A course is usual, commonly spaced 2 to 4 weeks apart. The number is agreed at consultation.

Is this the same as filler?

No. It supports skin quality rather than adding volume or changing contour.

Why does the under-eye area swell more?

The skin there is thin and swells readily. It usually settles within a week.

Is there an allergy consideration?

Some polynucleotide products are derived from fish DNA. Tell the team if you have a fish allergy.

More information

Clinical reviewer: Dr Haydar Bolat, Clinical Director
Review date: 21 July 2026
Review by: 21 July 2027
Version: 1.0