Nucleofill Polynucleotides

What is Nucleofill Polynucleotides?

Nucleofill Polynucleotides are a regenerative injectable treatment offered by Natural Aesthetics in Cape Town. These specially formulated polynucleotide injections are used by our medical doctors to treat the delicate skin around the eyes, as well as support full-face bio-regeneration. Unlike traditional cosmetic procedures, Nucleofill focuses on improving skin quality by using polynucleotides, naturally occurring molecules that help hydrate, repair, and support the skin’s natural regenerative processes.

Nucleofill-Polynucleotides-Injections-Cape Town

How Does Nucleofill Polynucleotides Work?

Nucleofill injections work by delivering a high concentration of polynucleotides directly into the skin. Polynucleotides are naturally derived molecules used in regenerative aesthetic treatments to support the skin’s natural renewal processes and improve overall skin quality.

Cellular Regeneration: Polynucleotides stimulate fibroblasts within the skin, supporting the production of Type I collagen and elastin.

Antioxidant Action: They help neutralise free radicals, support the skin’s defence against environmental stressors, and reduce inflammation.

Deep Hydration: Nucleofill binds water molecules at a microscopic level to optimise cellular moisture. This improves skin elasticity and resilience from within, resulting in a naturally revitalised appearance without adding physical volume or puffiness.

Why Choose Nucleofill Polynucleotides Over Other Treatments?

Purified Polynucleotides (PN): Nucleofill consists of highly purified polynucleotide chains with no added hyaluronic acid, peptides, or vitamin cocktails. This fully biodegradable treatment is a popular option for individuals seeking natural regenerative skin rejuvenation without the use of traditional dermal fillers or PLLA biostimulators.

Under-Eye Fillers: Under-eye fillers are mainly indicated for patients with volume loss or hollowness beneath the eyes and are not specifically designed to improve skin quality. Nucleofill features a formulation specifically developed for the delicate under-eye area, helping to improve the appearance of crepey skin, fine lines, puffiness, and dark circles, without adding volume or creating an overfilled appearance.

Dermal Fillers: While dermal fillers are primarily designed to restore volume and enhance facial contours, Nucleofill focuses on improving overall skin quality. It works to support hydration, texture, and elasticity rather than addressing volume loss alone.

Skinboosters: While Skinboosters improve hydration, plumpness, and skin radiance, they draw and retain moisture due to their hyaluronic acid content. This is beneficial for some, but not for everyone. Nucleofill is a good option for those prone to under-eye puffiness or fluid retention, as it works without adding physical volume or attracting excess moisture.

Biostimulators: Advanced biostimulators, such as Sculptra®, use a material called poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA), which causes the skin to tighten and become denser (thicker) over time. Because the skin around the eyes is extremely thin (approximately 0.5 mm), these collagen stimulators are not suitable for treating the skin around the eyes. This is where Polynucleotides play a powerful role in aesthetic medicine, providing a safe and highly effective option for delicate eye rejuvenation.

Discover Nucleofill Polynucleotides

Nucleofill determines three distinct effects across the different layers of the skin membrane:

  • Dermal–Epidermal Layer: Targets the top layer of the skin (the epidermis) and the middle structural layer (the dermis) to stimulate fibroblasts. This promotes the production of high-quality Type I collagen and elastin, helping to smooth fine lines and improve skin quality.

  • Dermis (Vascular Level): Stimulates microcirculation by supporting the growth of tiny new blood vessels. This improves circulation and fluid drainage while reducing tissue congestion, which is why it is commonly used to address concerns such as dark circles and under-eye bags.

  • Subcutaneous Tissue (Deep Level): Reinforces the foundational matrix, or “scaffold”, that supports the skin. This helps improve tissue structure and firmness, contributing to a natural lifting effect without the use of synthetic fillers.

Unique Characteristics & Ingredients

  • Product Profile: Nucleofill Soft Eyes is a specialised bio-stimulating gel (not a volumising gel) composed of low molecular weight polynucleotide chain fragments. Its high-density, low molecular weight structure allows for rapid tissue penetration and highly efficient cellular stimulation without weighing down the delicate periocular area.

  • Regenerative Power: Nucleofill is made of highly purified polynucleotides, which are fragments of DNA. When injected into the skin, these molecules provide a source of nucleotides that can support the skin’s natural repair and regeneration processes. Through a combination of cellular stimulation, antioxidant activity, and tissue biostimulation, Nucleofill helps promote collagen production, improve skin quality, and support overall tissue health.

  • Ingredients: Nucleofill contains no hyaluronic acid, no vitamins, no peptides, and no chemical cross-linking agents. The formulation consists primarily of three components: highly purified Sodium DNA (derived from salmon DNA at a concentration of 0.75% / 7.5 mg/ml), suspended in a physiological solution of water and sodium chloride, making it highly biocompatible with the body’s tissues.

Treatment Indications:

  • Under-eye dark circles
  • Tear trough dehydration
  • Fine lines and wrinkles, including crow’s feet
  • Crepey, thinning, or ageing skin around the eyes
  • Pre- and post-surgical eyelid rejuvenation
  • Full-face bioregeneration and skin rejuvenation

It can take up to 3-4 days for the product to fully settle. During this period, you might experience swelling, tenderness, redness, bruising, itching, or notice small lumps or bumps in the treated area. Initially, there may also be asymmetry due to uneven swelling or the way the product settles. Typically, these conditions self-correct as the swelling subsides and the product integrates with your tissue.

  • Immediately after: You will have small lumps and bumps in the area that was treated – no need to worry though – these settle after a few days – the speed to which they disappear is dependent on your skin quality. You may experience mild tenderness, redness and swelling at the injection sites, which are normal and will resolve quickly. While rare, bruising may occur, which can be covered with concealer. Paracetamol can be taken for any tenderness or discomfort.
  • Ice Brick: Use an ice brick and gently press over the treated area for 15 minutes every hour in case of swelling.
  • Pressure & Touching: Avoid touching or massaging the treated area unless specifically instructed to do so. Avoid vigorous massage of the treated area for 48 hours.
  • Sleeping Position: There is no recommendation for how you sleep – sleeping on your side or your face does not impact the effectiveness of your treatment.
  • Postpone Exercise: Avoid engaging in exercise for 24 hours after your treatment. Physical activity can increase swelling and redness, hindering the healing process.
  • Stay Local: Long-haul flights must be avoided for 1 week post filler due to edema or swelling.
  • Delay Treatments & Procedures: Wait for at least two weeks before resuming any dental procedures, including dental cleanings and teeth whitening. During this period, also avoid surgeries or inoculations. Additionally, for at least two weeks after treatment, refrain from any form of hair removal, such as waxing, threading, laser, or IPL, as well as any skin or facial treatments.
  • No Makeup: Avoid unsterile makeup or facial products for at least 24 hours after the treatment.
  • Alcohol and Blood Thinners: Avoid consuming alcohol and taking blood-thinning medications or supplements (e.g., aspirin, ibuprofen, fish oil) for 24 hours before and after the treatment to reduce the risk of bruising and swelling.

Treatment is performed by our experienced medical doctors at our established aesthetic practices across Cape Town, at our clinics in Green Point, Tyger Valley, and Somerset West.

Each treatment involves a series of microinjections of Nucleofill Polynucleotides into the skin. Depending on your treatment plan, we offer two Nucleofill treatment options: treatment for the delicate skin around the eyes or full-face bio-regeneration.

Nucleofill Pricing Guide

Administered by our qualified, trained, and experienced medical doctors with a special interest in aesthetic medicine, Nucleofill Polynucleotides are charged per treatment area, whether treating the delicate eye area or the full face.

AreaCost 
Nucleofill (Eye Area)R3,500 per treatment
Nucleofill (Full Face)R5,500 per treatment

EXPLORE BY TREATMENT AREA

Before & after

Meet our doctors

Natural-Aesthetics-Doctors-Cape-Town-Somerset-West

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Here are some of the most common questions we receive from patients across our clinics in Cape Town and Somerset West regarding Polynucleotides and Nucleofill treatments. If you have other questions or concerns about this treatment, please schedule a consultation with one of our doctors for personalised guidance.

Natural Aesthetics is a doctor-led aesthetic practice group with conveniently located clinics across Cape Town, in Green Point, Tyger Valley, and Somerset West.

Since 2015, we have helped thousands of patients achieve their skincare and aesthetic goals, we are proud to maintain Google Review ratings of between 4.8 and 4.9 stars across our clinics.

Polynucleotides are naturally occurring molecules made up of chains of nucleotides, the building blocks of DNA. In aesthetic medicine, highly purified polynucleotides are used to support the skin’s natural regenerative processes, improve hydration, and enhance overall skin quality. They are commonly used in advanced skin rejuvenation treatments to help improve the appearance of ageing, dull, dehydrated, or crepey skin.

Nucleofill is the manufacturer and brand of Polynucleotides we make use of at our practices. Thanks to its polynucleotide-based bio-stimulation technique, Nucleofill is specially designed for skin renewal and bio-restructuring. It is bio-revitalizing and can be integrated into a mesotherapy protocol.

The new bio-restructuring gel of the Nucleofill range based on highly purified low molecular weight polynucleotides of natural origin, specifically created to improve the periocular area.

The “Salmon Facial” is a popular nickname for Polynucleotide treatments such as Nucleofill. The treatment uses highly purified polynucleotides derived from salmon DNA, which are injected into the skin to support hydration, collagen production, and skin regeneration. While often referred to as the Salmon Facial, Nucleofill is a medical-grade injectable treatment performed by qualified medical doctors.

Nucleofill Polynucleotides are derived from highly purified DNA extracted from salmon. This is one of the reasons why treatments such as Nucleofill are sometimes referred to online as “Salmon Sperm Facials” or “Salmon DNA Treatments”. The final product undergoes extensive purification and processing before being used in aesthetic medicine and does not contain living cells or biological tissue.

Nucleofill Polynucleotides are not recommended during pregnancy or while breastfeeding. Although there is currently no evidence to suggest that the treatment is harmful, injectable aesthetic treatments are generally avoided during pregnancy and breastfeeding due to the lack of sufficient safety studies in these patient groups.

For this reason, we recommend scheduling a consultation with one of our doctors so that we can create a personalised treatment plan consisting of skin treatments and homecare products that are suitable during pregnancy or breastfeeding. We can also discuss and plan any aesthetic treatments you may wish to pursue once your pregnancy and breastfeeding journey has been completed.

Treatment is generally considered a safe and well-tolerated treatment when performed by an experienced, trained, and qualified medical professional. A consultation with one of our medical doctors will be performed before treatment to assess your suitability, discuss the potential risks and benefits, and answer any questions you may have.

Common side effects include temporary redness, mild swelling, tenderness, small bumps at the injection sites, and minor bruising. These effects are usually mild and typically resolve within a few days.

  • Nucleofill Polynucleotides require minimal downtime.
  • Immediately after treatment, small bumps may be visible at the injection sites. The most noticeable swelling from these tiny bumps typically subsides within 30 to 60 minutes, although some patients may experience very mild swelling, redness, tenderness, or bruising for 24 to 72 hours following treatment.
  • Most patients are able to return to their normal daily activities shortly after treatment.
  • We recommend avoiding strenuous exercise, excessive heat exposure, and saunas for the first 24 hours to help minimise swelling and optimise healing.

Yes. Nucleofill Polynucleotides are suitable for all skin types and skin tones when performed by an experienced, trained, and qualified medical professional.

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