At Cannelle Skin Clinic in Summertown, Oxford, patients with tired, shadowed under-eyes often ask how polynucleotides vs PRP compares. Both are injectable regenerative treatments that improve the quality of the delicate skin around the eyes, rather than adding volume the way a filler does. Here is how our practitioners explain the difference.
Polynucleotides are purified DNA fragments, most often from a salmon or trout source, injected just beneath the surface of the skin. They calm inflammation, draw in moisture, and prompt the skin to repair itself. Around the eyes, polynucleotides help thicken thin, crepey skin and soften the bluish shadow behind many dark circles.
PRP, or platelet-rich plasma, uses a small sample of your own blood. We spin it to concentrate the platelets and growth factors, then inject the plasma into the area being treated. For the under-eyes, PRP stimulates collagen and gradually improves skin tone and texture over a course of sessions.
Polynucleotides are often our first choice here, because the evidence for skin repair in this delicate region is strong and the product settles well. PRP suits patients who prefer a treatment made entirely from their own blood. Many people get the best result from a tailored course, and the two can be combined.
You may have read about Profhilo for skin quality, but we do not place it directly under the eyes; it is designed for larger areas such as the cheeks, jawline, and neck. Tear-trough fillers are different again, using hyaluronic acid to address hollowing rather than the skin-quality improvements that polynucleotides and PRP provide.
Neither treatment needs much recovery time. Small injection marks, mild swelling, or a little bruising can appear for a day or two. Results build gradually as the skin repairs, and many patients notice brighter, firmer under-eyes within a few weeks of completing a short course. Results may vary.
Not sure whether polynucleotides or PRP suits your under-eyes? Our practitioners at Cannelle Skin Clinic in Summertown, Oxford assess the area in person and build a tailored plan, which may combine both. Book a consultation through our website or message us on WhatsApp, and we will guide you from there.
Common questions our Oxford team hears.
Prices depend on the area treated and the number of sessions you need. We share current costs for both treatments on our prices page and confirm a personalised quote at your consultation.
A polynucleotides session usually takes around 30 minutes. PRP takes a little longer, around 45 to 60 minutes, because we draw and prepare a small sample of your blood first. Your first visit also includes a full skin consultation.
Most patients have little to no downtime and return to normal activities quickly. You may notice small injection marks, mild swelling, or tenderness for a day or two.
Both treatments work gradually as the skin repairs and rehydrates. Many patients notice changes within a few weeks, with fuller results after a short course. Results may vary.
Polynucleotides typically need two to three sessions a few weeks apart. PRP is usually given as a course of around three sessions. Your practitioner will confirm a plan for you.
Polynucleotides are often our preferred choice for the delicate under-eye area, where they help repair thin, shadowed skin. PRP can also work well, and a consultation confirms whether your concern is suitable.
Polynucleotides use purified DNA fragments to repair and hydrate the skin, while PRP uses growth factors from your own blood to stimulate collagen. Both improve skin quality rather than adding volume.
Yes. The two treatments work in complementary ways, and some plans use them alongside each other. Your practitioner will advise whether combining them suits your skin.
Neither treatment is suitable during pregnancy or breastfeeding, and some medical conditions or allergies may make them unsuitable. A consultation at our Oxford clinic confirms your suitability first.
You can book at Cannelle Skin Clinic in Summertown, Oxford through our website contact page or by messaging us on WhatsApp. Our team will arrange your consultation and answer any questions.
Our clinic is located in Summertown, Oxford, just north of the city centre in one of Oxford’s most sought-after neighbourhoods. Discreet and easy to reach, we offer a premium setting for bespoke skin, aesthetic and wellness care.
We welcome patients from across Oxford city and Oxfordshire, including Summertown, Headington, Kidlington, Abingdon, Bicester, Witney and the surrounding towns and villages. Whether you’re coming for routine skin-health treatments or specialist aesthetic consultations, our location is well connected and simple to access.
Our clinic, Cannelle Skin Clinic, is just minutes from Oxford city centre and easily reached by car, bus or rail. Oxford’s mainline stations Oxford Station and Oxford Parkway are a short taxi or bus ride away, and regular services link to London, Reading, Didcot, Banbury and beyond.
By car, we’re conveniently accessed via key local routes with nearby parking options; by public transport, frequent bus routes along Banbury Road drop you within a short stroll of the clinic.
Whether you’re travelling from within Oxfordshire, further afield in the UK or internationally, our clinic offers a calm, personalised and professional environment for your visit.
