Treatment Review: Polynucleotides | Tan&Co Clinic | London
Review: Kathryn Lewsey
UNTIL, 111 Charing Cross Road, London, WC2H 0DT
Polynucleotides are big news in the beauty world. This injectable skin treatment is now another option to botox, filler and Profihilo, but what makes them different to the other aesthetic choices out there?
I recently visited Teresa Tan at her Tan&Co clinic to get the full lowdown on polynucleotides and experience the treatment myself.
Teresa is an advanced nurse practitioner, who specialises in cardiology and aesthetic medicine.
Tan&Co is based at UNTIL Soho, a hub of premium treatment rooms that’s home to top health and wellness practitioners. I was warmly greeted at reception and sat in a sleek waiting room until Teresa came to collect me.
Taking me through to her treatment room, we sat down so she could tell me more about the process and what I could expect.
Polynucleotides are an injectable bio-stimulator that’s derived from fish DNA. These clever molecules work to mirror human DNA, helping to stimulate our own cells and replace the things we lose as we age. They increase the production of fibroblasts, which are the cells that are responsible for producing collagen and elastin – meaning your skin will be smoother and firmer.
I’d opted to have the polynucleotides injected into the skin under my eyes, an area that I always feel particularly conscious of. Polynucleotides are a non-surgical option to this delicate area of the skin and are said to make your under eyes look brighter and smoother – which is something I’m always looking to improve!
After the science chat, Teresa talked me through the process, explaining what would happen and what the downtime would be like (pretty minimal, which is always good!).
She told me that the injection may feel like a small sting that’s similar to botox, but that she’d put anesthetic cream on the area to help numb my skin and reduce the pain.
Feeling at ease, I laid out on the clinic bed as Teresa gently removed any make-up from around my eyes and gave the area a thorough clean. She then carefully applied the numbing cream, which took around 20 minutes to kick in.
Teresa then got to work, carefully and expertly injecting the polynucleotides onto the skin under my left eye. I was given a stress ball to squeeze on as the needles went in – but it was a bearable quick sting each time and Teresa kept checking in throughout to see if I needed a break.
She then moved onto the right eye, performing the same smooth and professional process. Each eye only took a few minutes to do and it was a quick, smooth experience.
Teresa had warned me that after the injections, tiny bumps would form under my eyes. This was pretty instant and when she handed me a mirror, I could see the raises in my skin where the polynucleotides had entered my skin. Teresa said this would go down after 24 hours, once they’re absorbed and dispersed (and that’s why she had kindly recommended that I bring sunglasses with me for my journey home!).
It’s also likely that you’ll have a few tiny bruises on your skin post-treatment. I did notice a few, but they were super small and disappeared after the first day – plus they can easily be hidden with make-up.
The whole process lasted around 30 minutes and by the time I arrived home, most of the bumps under my skin had disappeared.
Over the next few days, I could notice a small difference in the skin under my eyes – they looked brighter and smoother, but very subtly. It’s recommended that you have two-to-three treatments – spaced out over two weeks – to really see the effects. In total, you usually see the full results after six weeks.
I couldn’t have asked for a better experience than I did with Teresa. Despite feeling nervous about the process, Teresa’s friendly manner and professionalism instantly made me feel at ease. Her calming demeanour and expert knowledge meant that the whole process was smooth and efficient.
I’m already seeing an improvement in my skin and I’m looking forward to seeing how things progress as the weeks go on.