Polynucleotides Under Eyes: Who They Suit and What to Expect

Can polynucleotides help under your eyes?

They can help one specific problem: skin under the eyes that has become thin, crinkly and creased. Polynucleotides are purified DNA fragments, usually from salmon or trout. Once injected into the skin, they are thought to support hydration and the cells that make collagen. They do not add volume or lift.

That matters, because ‘tired eyes’ has several causes. Most people have a mix. Working out which one is driving your concern is the first job of any under-eye assessment.

If your concern sits mostly in the top row, polynucleotide treatment is worth discussing. If it sits lower down, another approach may serve you better.

Polynucleotides or tear trough filler: which suits you?

Tear trough filler and polynucleotides solve different problems. A hyaluronic acid filler is a gel placed to replace lost volume in a hollow. Polynucleotides are spread through the skin itself to improve its quality. Neither replaces the other.

One small randomised trial looked at this directly. Twenty-seven people had polynucleotide injections on one side of the eye area and a non-cross-linked hyaluronic acid product on the other, three times at two-week intervals. Overall improvement scores were similar on both sides. Skin roughness and pore volume improved more on the polynucleotide side. No serious adverse events were reported.

In practice, the choice comes down to anatomy:

• Mainly crepey skin, little hollowing: polynucleotides are a reasonable first step.
• A clear hollow with good skin quality: dermal fillers may be discussed instead.
• Both: some people improve the skin first, then reassess whether any volume is still needed.
• A fish allergy: polynucleotides are not suitable. A PRP facial, made from your own blood, is one alternative to ask about.

An under-eye polynucleotide course, step by step

At ZARA, a course is usually two or three sessions spaced about two to four weeks apart. Crepey under-eye skin sometimes needs the longer end of that range. Published studies have used similar schedules, though they differ: three sessions two weeks apart in one trial, two or three sessions three weeks apart in another, and three sessions four weeks apart in a third. There is no single agreed protocol yet.

A typical first visit runs like this:

1. A consultation and medical history, including allergies and any blood-thinning medicines.
2. A close look at the under-eye area to separate skin quality from hollowing, bags and pigment.
3. Agreement on whether to treat, and an outline of the likely course and total cost.
4. Cleansing, and numbing cream where appropriate.
5. Small injections across the under-eye skin with a fine needle or cannula.
6. Aftercare advice before you leave.

You will see small raised bumps along the injection points straight afterwards. That is expected and is the product sitting in the skin.

Under-eye results: a realistic timeline

Under the eyes, change is slow and quiet. In a 2026 study of 42 people treated for under-eye lines and crow’s feet, patient-rated scores had improved at one, three and six months after treatment. The largest improvement, and the highest satisfaction, was at three months after two sessions. The study had no control group, so some of the change may reflect expectation, and results vary from person to person.

The effect is not permanent, and many people return for a maintenance session every six to twelve months. We do not have our own under-eye photos on the site, but you are welcome to ask about likely outcomes for your skin at consultation.

Are under-eye polynucleotides safe, and what are the side effects?

Bruising is the side effect most specific to this area. The skin under the eyes is thin, so a bruise is more likely than on the cheeks and can take a week or more to fade. Small bumps along the injection points usually settle within 24 to 48 hours.

Longer-term data around the eyes are limited. One 2026 review of clinic records followed 23 people for about two years after a three-session course. It recorded one case of temporary swelling and one of small bumps that lasted about a day, and no delayed problems. That is reassuring, but it is a small group from one clinic.

Booking and pricing at ZARA

At ZARA, polynucleotides are priced at consultation. The cost depends on the areas treated and the number of sessions your skin needs, and you will be given the total for the course before you commit.

Timing helps you avoid surprises. Leave at least two weeks between a session and an important event, because under-eye bruising can linger. For the full effect of a course, start two to three months ahead.

Whatever clinic you choose, the NHS suggests asking about the practitioner’s training, the most common complications and what happens if something goes wrong. A good consultation should cover all of that without you having to push.

If you would like your under-eyes assessed, you can book at our clinic on Edgware Road, W2, a short Bakerloo line ride from Maida Vale. Read more on our polynucleotides page or request an appointment.