Polynucleotides in Stuttgart

Polynucleotides are long, highly purified chains of nucleotides, the natural building blocks of DNA and RNA. In aesthetic medicine, they are injected into the skin as biostimulators, where they can support the body's own repair processes and promote the activity of fibroblasts. These cells are involved, among other things, in the formation of collagen and elastin.

The aim is not to change shape or volume but to gradually improve the moisture content, structure, elasticity and resilience of the skin. The result therefore develops more slowly than after classic wrinkle injections and usually looks very natural.

Salmon and trout DNA is rich in long DNA chains that are suitable for biotechnological processing into polynucleotide preparations. For medical use, the starting material is purified in several steps and processed into a defined, injectable gel.

In a high-quality preparation, undesirable components and animal proteins are removed during purification. It is therefore not untreated fish material but highly purified DNA fractions. Nevertheless, in the case of a known fish allergy, treatment is not recommended for safety reasons.

The term polynucleotides, PN for short, serves as an umbrella term for longer DNA-based molecular chains used as biostimulators in regenerative aesthetics. PDRN stands for polydeoxyribonucleotides and refers to a special form or preparation of such DNA fragments. In everyday practice, the two terms are often used side by side, although they are not scientifically identical.

Skin booster, on the other hand, primarily describes the treatment goal, namely more moisture, freshness and a finer skin structure. A skin booster can contain hyaluronic acid, polynucleotides or a combination of different active ingredients. The specific ingredient should therefore be clarified before every treatment.

Polynucleotide treatment is an option for adult women and men who want to improve their skin quality without visibly changing their facial features. There is no fixed ideal age, as the decisive factors are the condition of the skin, the treatment goal and possible contraindications.

With younger skin, the focus is often on hydration, radiance and an irregular skin texture. With more mature skin, it is usually about fine lines, declining elasticity and an incipient loss of density. Whether the treatment makes sense in an individual case can only be reliably assessed after a medical examination.

Polynucleotides can be used above all on the face, the sensitive eye area, the neck and décolleté and the hands. They are particularly suitable for regions where the skin looks thin, dry, finely crinkled or visibly tired.

Not every preparation and not every concentration of active ingredient is equally suitable for every area. Product choice, quantity, injection depth and treatment technique are therefore adapted to the respective region and individual tissue condition.

The treatment can be useful for sallow or dehydrated skin, fine lines, an uneven skin structure and an incipient loss of firmness and elasticity. The aim is more even, more resilient and better hydrated skin that looks fresher and more rested overall.

Deep wrinkles, pronounced excess skin and significant volume deficits, on the other hand, cannot be corrected with polynucleotides alone. In such cases, other or complementary procedures may be more suitable, which is assessed in the consultation based on the actual findings.

With superficial acne scars, an irregular skin texture and pores that appear enlarged, polynucleotides can support regenerative treatment. Through the gradual improvement of hydration, elasticity and skin structure, the complexion can appear finer and more even.

However, deep acne scars are not simply filled in or completely removed in this way. Depending on the type of scar, a combination with medical microneedling or another targeted scar procedure may make more sense. In the case of active, inflammatory acne, the skin condition should first be assessed and treated by a doctor.

The thin skin around the eyes is one of the most frequently treated regions, because polynucleotides can improve fine crinkly lines, dryness and declining skin quality there without specifically building volume. The eye area can thus look smoother, fresher and less tired.

However, dark circles have different causes. If they are mainly due to pigment, clearly visible blood vessels, a pronounced tear trough or under-eye bags, polynucleotide treatment alone is often not sufficient. Before the treatment, it should therefore be examined precisely which finding is actually responsible for the dark or tired impression.

Polynucleotides are not classic volume fillers. Hyaluronic acid is used to shape contours, compensate for volume loss or lift certain wrinkles immediately, which is why the result is usually visible right away. Polynucleotides, by contrast, primarily target the regeneration and quality of the skin.

Which method is better suited therefore depends on the desired result. If volume is lacking, hyaluronic acid may be more suitable; for fine, dry or poorly regenerating skin, polynucleotide treatment is more likely. In selected cases, the two procedures complement each other, provided that product choice and timing are planned by a doctor.

Before the treatment, skin condition, wishes, pre-existing conditions and possible contraindications are carefully discussed. The treatment area is then cleansed and disinfected. On request, an anesthetic cream can be applied beforehand.

The active ingredient, which is in gel form, is injected specifically into the middle layer of the skin using a very fine needle. Depending on the number and size of the treated regions, the actual appointment usually takes about 30 minutes. The treatment is carried out on an outpatient basis in the practice; a stay in a clinic is not necessary.

Most patients find the treatment easy to tolerate. What is usually felt are brief pricks, a slight feeling of pressure or a temporary burning sensation, although sensitive regions such as the eye area may react somewhat more sensitively.

Very fine needles and an anesthetic cream applied on request can usually reduce the unpleasant sensation significantly. Personal pain perception nevertheless varies and is taken into account when planning the treatment.

For a visible and stable improvement in skin quality, two to three sessions two to four weeks apart are usually advisable. The effect arises not only from the injected preparation but above all from the regeneration processes subsequently stimulated, which need time between appointments.

The exact number depends on the initial findings, the skin region, the preparation used and the desired result. After completion of the treatment series, it is assessed whether and when a top-up makes sense.

Improved hydration and a fresher complexion can appear in the first few weeks after starting treatment. Changes in skin structure, firmness and elasticity develop more slowly and often only become clearer over the course of the complete treatment series.

As the body's own remodeling processes are stimulated, there is no fixed day on which the final result suddenly becomes visible. The skin improves gradually, which makes the effect appear particularly natural.

The result usually lasts several months, but it cannot be pinned down to a fixed period for every person. Skin age, initial condition, treated region, lifestyle and the number of sessions performed influence how long the improvement remains visible.

Polynucleotides are broken down by the body, while the stimulated regeneration processes can continue to have an effect for a while. For long-term maintenance, an initial treatment series with later, individually planned top-ups has proven effective.

Clinical studies and scientific reviews describe improvements in skin hydration, elasticity, surface structure and fine lines, including in the eye area. The tolerability profile known to date is favorable, provided suitable preparations are injected professionally.

Nevertheless, the body of studies is less extensive and less consistent than for some procedures that have been established for many years. Treatment protocols, preparations and measurement methods differ, which is why no effect can be guaranteed. Reputable advice should take these limitations into account and realistically assess the expected result.

In most cases, there is no significant downtime, so everyday and professional activities are possible again immediately. However, small wheals, redness, slight swelling or bruises may be visible at the injection sites.

These side effects usually subside within a few hours to days. If you have an important professional or private appointment planned, you should allow a little extra time as a precaution, especially after treatment of the sensitive eye area.

The treated area should not be rubbed or massaged in the first 24 hours. It is best to avoid make-up on the day of treatment until the fine injection sites have closed. Sports should be paused for a few days so that swelling and bruising are not unnecessarily intensified.

Intense sun, solariums and saunas should be avoided for about one to two weeks. Consistent sun protection supports the skin during regeneration. Depending on the treated area and individual reaction, further recommendations may be given in the personal aftercare instructions.

Typical temporary reactions include redness, swelling, small wheals, minimal bruising and a slight feeling of pressure or increased sensitivity to touch. These usually resolve on their own within a few hours to days.

Rarely, stronger inflammatory reactions, infections or allergic intolerances are possible. Sterile working methods, a high-quality preparation and treatment by a specialist reduce avoidable risks. In the case of increasing pain, pronounced redness, unusual skin discoloration or persistent swelling, the treating practice should be contacted promptly.

Treatment is not recommended in the case of a known fish allergy, during pregnancy and breastfeeding, or in the case of acute infections or inflammatory skin conditions in the intended treatment area. Poorly controlled conditions can also temporarily rule out treatment.

Anyone taking blood-thinning medication should mention this in the consultation, as the risk of bruising may increase. Medications must never be stopped on your own. Pre-existing conditions, allergies and all regularly taken preparations are checked by the doctor before the treatment.

In principle, polynucleotides can be combined with hyaluronic acid, botulinum toxin, medical microneedling, PRP or other regenerative procedures, because these treatments serve different purposes. While polynucleotides mainly support skin quality, other methods can more specifically treat, for example, volume, expression lines, scars or more pronounced tissue laxity.

Not every combination should take place on the same day. The order and timing depend on the skin condition, treatment region and procedure used and are therefore determined in an individual overall concept.

In Dr. Zimmermann's practice, polynucleotide treatment starts at around €450 per session for two milliliters. As two to three sessions are usually recommended for an optimal result, the total price depends on the personal treatment plan and the intended areas.

The treatment serves aesthetic skin improvement and is therefore generally not covered by statutory or private health insurance. After the personal consultation, patients receive a transparent cost overview before any treatment is planned.

The treatment is carried out on an outpatient basis in the private practice of Dr. med. Christoph Zimmermann at Regerstraße 1, 70195 Stuttgart. The barrier-free practice rooms are located on the second floor of the Orthopädische Klinik Stuttgart-Botnang.

An inpatient stay is not required for this minimally invasive treatment. On weekdays, the building's own underground car park and other free parking options in the surrounding area are available to patients.