Rejuran polynucleotide injections: what they do and risks

Rejuran injections: what are they, and can they really “repair” your skin?

You have seen Rejuran in Korean beauty reviews, heard the phrase “salmon DNA” and wonder whether it is another filler that will change your facial features. Rejuran is a brand of injectable polynucleotide (PN) products made by South Korean company PharmaResearch. They are mainly positioned for skin quality and the appearance of fine wrinkles, not for pronounced cheekbone or lip volume. This is a medical injection procedure with possible pain, visible marks and complications—not a serum you simply spread on the skin.

If subtle textural change is your aim, Rejuran may be worth discussing with a doctor. However, “regeneration” does not mean that cellular rejuvenation or disappearance of scars has been conclusively demonstrated. Evidence on PN injections is promising but comes from relatively small, heterogeneous studies, not always involving the particular Rejuran version being offered. The important decision is which formulation you are being offered, what result is plausible and whether that modest potential benefit justifies injection risks.

What is Rejuran made from, and is it the same as PDRN cream?

Polynucleotides are chains of nucleic-acid fragments, the molecules that make up genetic material. PharmaResearch describes its processing and purification of material derived from salmonid fish tissues as DOT technology. The manufacturer describes the standard Rejuran medical device as intended for temporary improvement in the appearance of facial wrinkles. How PN might affect water retention and tissue processes is being researched, but that proposed mechanism is not proof that an injection can “reprogram skin” or reverse ageing.

Similar terms appear on cosmetics: PN, PDRN and “salmon DNA”. They refer to related but not identical substances and products. A PDRN cream or serum is not the same medical device as sterile Rejuran injected through a needle. Conversely, findings involving one polynucleotide preparation cannot automatically be applied to every Rejuran version: composition, formulation, injection area and official instructions all matter.

Descriptions such as “natural”, “biocompatible” and “salmon-derived” do not replace batch verification or contraindication checks. Tell your clinician about any severe food allergies, including fish allergy. Such an allergy alone does not predict whether you will react to the particular purified formulation, but it calls for careful review of its ingredients, including any anaesthetic. Do not experiment with injections if an allergic reaction is suspected.

Healer, i, S and HB Plus: why the full name matters

Rejuran is not one identical syringe for every part of the face. The manufacturer distinguishes several products with different positioning. Those distinctions are manufacturer descriptions and product instructions, not evidence that one variant works best for every patient. Asking for the “strongest Rejuran” without defining the treatment goal or the authorised area is not a sound way to choose.

PharmaResearch says lidocaine in HB Plus is intended to reduce injection pain compared with Healer, but its advertised numerical claim is not an individual guarantee. Hyaluronic acid in this particular version does not turn the whole range into conventional volumising HA fillers. Advertisements sometimes mix the names “Rejuran Skin Booster”, “Rejuran Healer” and “polynucleotides”; ask to see the packaging and the instructions that apply where you are receiving treatment.

What might it change—and what is not worth accepting injections for?

Small studies of PN injections report changes in some measures of texture, elasticity, hydration and fine wrinkles. A 2025 systematic review identified nine studies involving 219 people; the evidence was graded low or moderate in quality and varied considerably in products and techniques. This is evidence for the PN category, not decisive proof for all Rejuran versions. More reviews appeared in 2026, but long-term safety and relative effectiveness versus established approaches remain uncertain in the studies assessed to date. The review also included work beyond facial rejuvenation, including hair-loss research: 219 participants does not mean 219 people studied specifically for facial Rejuran injections.

A separate systematic review published in July 2026 included seven randomized trials involving 183 participants: four examined aesthetic skin rejuvenation, one examined prevention of postoperative scarring, and two examined wound healing. Its search covered studies through January 2026, and it assessed different PN and PDRN products. Those findings cannot automatically be applied to Rejuran Healer, i, S or HB Plus; samples this small also cannot establish how often rare complications occur.

Before the first injection, distinguish “my skin texture might improve a little” from “I will have a different facial outline”. Rejuran should not be promised as a way to lift heavy tissues, correct marked volume loss, treat skin disease or erase deep scars. It should not be substituted for treatment of rosacea, eczema or other diagnoses merely because possible PN effects are discussed: a medical skin disorder requires its own treatment plan, and an aesthetic injection may be inappropriate.

Ask what the trial compared: was Rejuran tested against placebo, another PN product or a specific HA formulation? Did outcomes represent a difference a person could actually see, or only a device measurement? Were participants similar to you in age, skin phototype and concern? If these questions cannot be answered, a claim that Rejuran will “definitely rebuild your skin” is not justified.

Will it hurt, and what will be visible afterwards?

Rejuran is administered by medical injection. A trained clinician chooses the technique according to the particular product instructions—not a social-media demonstration. Health history and previous treatments are reviewed, expectations discussed, packaging checked and consent obtained. You may feel needle pricks, pressure and stinging. PN preparations can be viscous, so discomfort is a real possibility. Local anaesthesia may help but has its own contraindications and does not guarantee zero pain.

Small raised bumps at injection sites, redness, swelling, tenderness and bruising may follow. Studies of PN injections generally describe these local events as temporary, but they cannot predict an individual recovery time. The eye area is particularly prone to visible swelling: a variant marketed for eyes does not make this area risk-free. Ordinary activities may be possible before the face looks fully recovered for a close-up photograph or brightly lit meeting.

Until punctures have closed and irritation subsides, avoid rubbing, follow hygiene instructions and avoid overheating. Ask when you can resume workouts, sauna, swimming and makeup. Do not massage treated areas unless instructed: Sculptra’s massage protocol is not a substitute for Rejuran aftercare. If your job involves high-definition close-ups of your face, choose a date with a generous buffer or consider postponing the procedure.

Risks that should not be hidden behind “bioregeneration”

An absence of serious events in small PN studies does not establish that serious events are impossible. Any needle penetration can cause infection, bruising or local reactions. Accidental intravascular injection in facial procedures is a particular concern. General injection-safety guidance highlights the importance of vascular anatomy and prompt recognition of impaired blood supply. Risk depends on the actual product, site, technique and injector’s experience. Existing small Rejuran datasets do not reliably quantify the frequency of rare, serious complications; general filler risk statements should not be mistaken for proven Rejuran-specific rates.

Increasing or unusually intense pain, blanching or a mottled skin colour, changes in vision, sudden weakness or speech difficulty after injection require emergency medical assessment. Call emergency services for visual disturbance or possible stroke symptoms. Later, increasing hot swelling, pus, fever or severe tenderness warrants contacting your clinician the same day. Any lump that persists, grows or appears late should also be examined.

Do not arrange elective injections through active inflammation, herpes lesions or infection at the intended site. Pregnancy and breastfeeding are sound reasons to postpone elective Rejuran injections because product-specific safety data are inadequate. Disclose illnesses, immune-suppressing treatment, anticoagulants, bleeding tendencies, previous fillers and allergies, including lidocaine reactions. Never stop prescribed medicines on your own for a cosmetic procedure.

What is its regulatory status in Korea, Australia, the US and Armenia?

Regulatory status belongs to a specific medical device in a particular country. Australia’s official TGA register lists Rejuran, Rejuran i and Rejuran s from 5 July 2023 as Class III animal-derived medical devices (ARTG 412630, 412631 and 412632). This confirms their Australian register entries, not permission to use any version for every indication worldwide. Statements by the manufacturer about international markets do not replace a local registration document.

The US FDA maintains its own lists of approved fillers and indications. Korean branding or an Australian listing does not, by itself, show that injectable Rejuran is FDA approved. Similarly, a Rejuran skincare product sold in the US is not proof of authorisation for medical injection. For treatment in Armenia, ask the supplier and clinician for the exact product’s lawful-market documentation, instructions, batch and expiry information. The available evidence does not establish that any particular Yerevan practice offers it.

Rejuran versus HA filler, Profhilo or Sculptra: a brief decision guide

If you want added cheekbone volume or a deep fold filled, a PN preparation does not perform the same task as a volumising hyaluronic-acid filler. For improving skin quality, compare methods with related goals but do not assume they are equivalent. Profhilo has a different composition and labelled profile; Sculptra contains PLLA and produces gradual volume changes through a different mechanism, with different risks and timeframes. Even products called “polynucleotides” can differ from Rejuran; Plinest, for example, is not an identical copy.

There is no convincing independent ranking identifying one of these brands as best for every face. Consider the exact area, scale of change you want, tolerance for needles, prior reactions, quality of evidence and whether the issue can be addressed without a medical procedure. Sunscreen, gentle care and treatment of active skin disease are complete options in their own right, not merely preparation for mandatory injections.

Questions that help you decide without pressure

Ask exactly which Rejuran version is planned, what document permits its use locally, what should change in your own skin and how it would be assessed. Request an explanation of why this brand was chosen, its nearest alternative, the proposed number of sessions and the objective reasons to stop a course. Do not apply a standard social-media schedule to your own skin, even if an influencer names an exact number of visits.

Discuss pain relief, swelling around the eyes, visible downtime, the emergency response plan, sterile supplies and product provenance. Does the price include consultation, the exact preparation and volume, injection, review and help with complications? Compare transparent total costs rather than promotional “price per syringe” quotes from other countries. There is no verified nationwide Armenian tariff or proof of local availability here.

Finally, request comparable images with time since the course stated, without filters, different makeup or undisclosed parallel treatments. Even good photographs show how a few people responded, not what must happen to you. A reassuring consultation is one where the doctor calmly explains why changes might be small, what risks remain and why waiting may sometimes be wiser than immediately buying a course.