Skin Boosters, Explained
Dr Nikhil Sharma explains the difference between boosters, polynucleotides and peels, which concern each one suits, how a course works and what it costs.
What Do Skin Boosters and Polynucleotides Do, and What Do They Cost in Hamilton?
Skin boosters and polynucleotides are injected in tiny amounts to improve how the skin itself looks and feels (hydration, texture, fine crepey lines) without adding volume or changing your features. They're normally given as a course of two or three sessions a few weeks apart, with results building gradually. At Hamilton Smile Studios, a polynucleotide skin session costs £200. BabyGlow is £300 a session (£600 for a course of three), and the under-eye treatment is £145 (£300 for three).
Skin Quality, Not Shape
Most facial aesthetic treatments change shape or movement. Filler adds volume to lips or cheeks; anti-wrinkle injections relax the muscles that crease the forehead. Skin treatments do something different. They aim to make the skin itself look healthier: better hydrated, smoother in texture, less crepey, more even.
Nobody should look at you afterwards and see a different face. The usual comment is that you look rested. That makes these treatments a good fit for people who want to look after their skin without changing their features, and a poor fit for anyone hoping for a lift or extra volume.
Polynucleotide Treatments
Polynucleotides are highly purified strands of DNA, most often sourced from salmon or trout, injected in small amounts just under the skin. The idea is to support the skin's own repair processes, so it looks thicker, smoother and better hydrated over time. They're often chosen for thin, crepey skin around the eyes and on the neck, where traditional filler can look heavy or puffy.
They're newer than fillers and anti-wrinkle injections, and the evidence is still developing. Dr Sharma will be straightforward about that, and won't promise you a particular result. Because the source is fish, tell us about any fish allergy before treatment. Polynucleotide skin treatment is £200 a session. 1
Not Sure Which Treatment Fits?
Book a skin consultation with Dr Nikhil Sharma in Hamilton.
BabyGlow
BabyGlow is a skin booster: a fine, hydrating gel placed as many tiny droplets spread across an area, rather than in one spot. Because it's spread so thinly, it doesn't change contours. Instead it improves moisture and glow across the skin, which suits dull, dry or tired-looking skin, a lift before a wedding or holiday, or regular maintenance.
It's usually given as a course. One session is £300 and a course of three is £600. 1 If what you want is volume, for example in hollow cheeks, that's a different treatment that can be planned alongside.
Under-Eye Treatment
The skin under the eyes is the thinnest on the face, and it's where tiredness shows first. Our under eye and dark circles treatment uses skin-quality injectables to improve crepey texture and the shadowed look that thin skin gives. It's £145 a session or £300 for a course of three. 1
It's worth knowing what it won't do. A true hollow, where the under-eye groove has deepened, is a volume problem and may suit tear trough filler instead (£300). Dark circles caused by genetics, allergies or poor sleep may improve only partly. Dr Sharma will look at what's causing yours and tell you honestly which route, if any, is likely to help.
Chemical Peels: The Needle-Free Option
A peel is applied to the skin rather than injected. It lifts dull surface cells away, which brightens the skin and can help uneven tone and rough texture. Our Radiance chemical peel is £130. 1 It suits anyone who wants a fresher surface without injections, and it can sit alongside boosters in a longer skin plan.
Expect pinkness and light flaking for a few days with a lighter peel. Your skin will be more sensitive to the sun afterwards, so daily SPF matters, and we'd usually avoid peeling just before a summer holiday. A peel works on the surface only. It won't soften lines from muscle movement or replace lost volume.
Matching Treatment to Concern
| What bothers you | Often considered | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Dull, dehydrated skin | BabyGlow | £300, or £600 for three |
| Crepey texture, fine lines, thin skin | Polynucleotides | £200 |
| Shadowy, crepey under-eye skin | Under eye and dark circles | £145, or £300 for three |
| Rough surface, uneven tone | Radiance chemical peel | £130 |
| Hollows under the eyes | Tear trough filler | £300 |
| Frown lines, crow's feet | Anti-wrinkle injections | From £200 for two areas |
Treat this as a rough map. 1 Concerns overlap, and the right plan, sometimes a combination, is decided after Dr Sharma has seen your skin in person. The consultation is free, booked with a £50 deposit refunded within seven days of attending. If you need to cancel or rearrange, let us know at least 48 hours ahead. The deposit is only kept if you miss the appointment without telling us. All aesthetics fees are listed on the facial aesthetics page.
How a Course Works
Most people have two or three sessions, a few weeks apart. Unlike filler, there's no visible change in shape on the day. The skin's hydration and texture improve slowly over the weeks after each session, and the benefit builds over the whole course. That's why BabyGlow and under-eye treatment are offered as three-session courses, which also cost less than paying session by session.
Judge the result at the end, not after the first visit. At your review, Dr Sharma will compare photos with you and suggest whether occasional maintenance sessions would help keep the improvement. Skin responds differently from person to person, and results vary. 2
Downtime and Risks
Small raised bumps and redness at the injection points are normal and usually fade within a day or two. Bruising can happen, particularly under the eyes, so leave a few days before an event. A numbing cream goes on first. For 24 hours, skip strenuous exercise, saunas and alcohol, and avoid rubbing the area unless we ask you to.
Less common problems include infection, an allergic reaction (including to fish-derived polynucleotides), or swelling and bruising that take longer to settle. Dr Sharma will go through the risks of your particular treatment beforehand. If anything worries you afterwards, call the practice on 01698 767220.
Who Can Be Treated
Anyone 18 or older whose general health is good. Treatment is postponed if you're pregnant or breastfeeding, over active skin infections or cold sores, or where a medical condition or medicine makes it unwise. Your history is taken in person before anything is planned. A few of these products are prescription-only, and they can only be prescribed after that in-person assessment.
If lines from expression or lost volume are the main concern, Dr Sharma will talk you through anti-wrinkle injections or filler instead, and our lip filler guide covers the lips. The practice is in Hamilton town centre at 20–22 Brandon Street, and you can book online or call 01698 767220.
Questions
This guide is general information, not a diagnosis. A dentist needs to examine you to say what is right for your teeth.