Why Patients Are Asking About "Salmon Sperm Facials": A Sisu Injector on the Regenerative Skin Trend

By Emily Canavarros, Sisu Clinic Upper East Side

Over the past year, I've noticed a significant increase in patient interest in treatments focused on skin quality rather than dramatic facial transformation. Increasingly, patients in New York are asking for treatments that help them look refreshed, hydrated and naturally healthy instead of obviously "done." Terms like "glass skin," "dewy" and "fresh" come up constantly during consultations, especially among younger patients.

In my experience, this shift is one reason polynucleotides have become so popular recently. Patients are increasingly interested in regenerative treatments that improve the skin over time rather than simply adding volume. Many are drawn to the idea of stimulating healthier-looking skin and achieving subtle results that are difficult to identify as cosmetic work.

What polynucleotides actually do

Polynucleotides work by using purified DNA fragments that help support tissue repair and skin regeneration, hydration, and fibroblast activity within the skin. This can support collagen production, improve elasticity and enhance overall skin texture and quality over time. Because of this regenerative mechanism, patients are often drawn to the idea of improving the skin itself rather than building a treatment plan solely revolving around filler.

In the US, polynucleotides are also known as Rejuran, and at Sisu Clinic we deliver this through microneedling. The microneedling channels allow the formulation to reach the layers of skin where fibroblasts respond, and patients get the brightness, hydration and quality-of-skin improvement that the regenerative category is known for.

It's a treatment I find genuinely exciting to talk about with patients, because it sits at the centre of where modern aesthetics is heading.

The shift away from the "overfilled" look

I've also noticed increasing fatigue around the "overfilled" aesthetic that was very popular years ago. Regenerative treatments like polynucleotides shift away from this narrative and fit well into the newer aesthetic trend focused on prevention, skin health and understated rejuvenation.

I think this growing interest in polynucleotides comes from patients becoming more educated about treatments that support long-term skin health rather than simply creating temporary volume. The conversations I'm having in consultation are very different from the ones I was having even two or three years ago. Patients are asking the right questions, doing real research, and walking in with a much clearer sense of what kind of result they actually want.

Why celebrities matter to the conversation

Patients frequently reference celebrities with luminous, glowing skin after major events like the Met Gala. Whether or not those celebrities have had polynucleotide treatments specifically, the current beauty standard has shifted toward looking naturally radiant rather than heavily enhanced.

Kim Kardashian famously discussed trying a salmon sperm facial on her reality show, sparking widespread interest in the treatment, and Jennifer Aniston has spoken about her own experience with the salmon sperm facial in a WSJ Magazine interview. The "salmon sperm facial" trend has made people more aware of regenerative aesthetics and sparked curiosity about treatments designed to improve overall skin quality. Freyja Medical

But the more interesting story behind the celebrity headlines is the bigger shift: a generation of patients walking into clinics asking for skin quality, not volume.

That's the work I love doing.

At-a-glance: Regenerative skin treatments at Sisu Clinic

Polynucleotides (Rejuran) via microneedling: Regenerative formulation that supports fibroblast activity, collagen production and skin quality. Delivered through microneedling at Sisu USA.

Sculptra: Restores facial volume and improves skin quality through gradual collagen rebuilding. 30 to 40 minutes. Results from 4 to 5 weeks, lasting up to 2 years. From $1,000.

Book a consultation with Emily or one of our Sisu doctor-injectors at our Upper East Side, SoHo, Flatiron, Houston or Florida clinics. Thousands of patients across Ireland, the UK and the US trust us with their faces, and you can try treatments virtually before booking using Sisu Vision AI, free on our website.