The Salmon Sperm Facial, Decoded: What Polynucleotides Actually Are, and Why Patients Are Asking About Them

Featuring insights from Emily Canavarros, Sisu Clinic

If you've spent any time on social media or in a beauty headline this year, you've probably encountered the "salmon sperm facial."
Popularised by Kim Kardashian on her reality show, and openly discussed by Jennifer Aniston in a 2023 WSJ Magazine interview, the treatment, properly known as polynucleotides, has become one of the most-asked-about regenerative procedures in modern aesthetics. And there's a real shift behind the noise. Freyja Medical

Emily Canavarros, one of our Sisu doctor-injectors in the US, captured it well in a recent note to patients. Over the past year she's noticed a significant increase in patient interest in treatments focused on skin quality rather than dramatic facial transformation. Patients 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.

That's a consistent pattern we see in our UK clinics too.

What polynucleotides actually do

The headline is the name. The science is the substance.

Polynucleotides are purified DNA fragments, typically derived from salmon, that work by supporting tissue repair and skin regeneration, hydration and fibroblast activity within the skin. Fibroblasts are the cells that produce collagen and elastin, and their activity slows with age. Polynucleotides essentially help those cells get back to doing their job.

The result over time is improved collagen production, better elasticity and improved skin texture and quality. As Emily says, patients are drawn to the idea of improving the skin itself rather than building a treatment plan solely revolving around filler.

Why the trend is bigger than one celebrity facial

Emily has also observed something important about where the industry is. She's noticed increasing fatigue around the "overfilled" aesthetic that was very popular years ago. Regenerative treatments shift away from that narrative and fit a newer aesthetic trend focused on prevention, skin health and understated rejuvenation.

That fatigue is real, and we see it in UK consultations too. The patients walking into our clinics now are far more likely to ask about skin quality, hydration, glow and prevention than they are to ask for dramatic change. The salmon sperm facial trend has been the door through which a lot of those patients discovered regenerative aesthetics as a category.

What to know before booking

A few honest things worth understanding:

• Polynucleotides are regenerative, not a filler. They don't add immediate volume.
• Results build gradually over weeks, with continued improvement over months.
• They complement other regenerative treatments, particularly Profhilo and Sculptra, beautifully.
• A doctor consultation is the right place to decide if polynucleotides are the right fit for your skin, or if another regenerative treatment would suit you better.

Book a consultation at your nearest Sisu Clinic UK location to discuss regenerative skin treatments with one of our doctor-injectors. You can also try treatments virtually before booking using Sisu Vision AI, free on our website.