Polynucleotide Injection (Salmon DNA): Downtime
Some of the products described on this page have not been approved as pharmaceuticals in Japan. They are imported personally under the responsibility of the treating physician, and they are not guaranteed to have the same efficacy and safety as domestically approved medications. In some cases, no approved medication with the same active ingredient exists in Japan. If a health problem occurs, it will not be covered by Japan's Relief System for Sufferers from Adverse Drug Reactions. Safety information from other countries differs from product to product. Before undergoing treatment, be sure to receive a thorough explanation from your doctor.
- Downtime at a glance
- Recovery timeline: treatment day to final result
- Common symptoms
- When can I do what? (Daily-life restrictions)
- Pain and anesthesia
- Tips for a smoother recovery
- Risks and side effects (the honest version)
- Spacing and combining with other procedures
- Who it may suit / who should be cautious
- Frequently asked questions
Downtime at a glance
Redness at the needle marks and small bumps typically last from the day of treatment to a few days; if bruising appears, allow 1–2 weeks. This treatment is easy to conceal with a mask or makeup.
Typical downtime is 3 days to 1 week (about 1–2 weeks if bruising appears; varies from person to person), and most people feel comfortable being seen in public after In most cases, both desk work and customer-facing work are said to be possible from the same day to the next day. If the small bumps or redness right after the injections concern you, returning from the next day may feel more comfortable. If noticeable bruising appears, whether it can be covered with makeup is a useful benchmark. Recovery speed varies from person to person.. How much swelling or bruising appears varies from person to person, depending on constitution and the extent of treatment.
Recovery timeline: treatment day to final result
Redness at the needle marks and small bumps lasting a few hours may appear at the injection sites. In thin-skinned areas such as around the eyes, mild swelling or the beginnings of bruising can also show. On the day itself, it is reassuring to avoid touching the area too much, skip strenuous exercise, alcohol, and long baths, and take it easy.
Most of the bumps become less noticeable around now, as the product settles into the skin. If bruising is going to appear, it may become more distinct at this stage. Redness and bruises can often be covered fairly well with makeup.
Redness and swelling have usually settled considerably by this point. If you had bruising, its color may start to change. Many people are said to no longer feel self-conscious in public around this time, though this varies from person to person.
Needle marks and swelling have mostly resolved for many people by this stage. Bruising has usually faded to the point where concealer can cover it. Some people begin to notice changes in skin hydration and firmness, though how it feels varies from person to person.
Downtime has generally settled by now, and bruising has usually faded. If you are planning another session, this is around the typical interval, though the final timing is up to your doctor.
This is said to be when gradual changes in skin texture, firmness, and the quality of the under-eye area become easier to notice. Results vary greatly from person to person, and the usual approach is to build up gradually over multiple sessions.
This is generally considered a treatment done as a series of sessions every 2–4 weeks to condition the skin. It is not designed to produce a dramatic change in a single session; it is positioned as an ongoing course aimed at maintenance and care. Ask your doctor whether to continue and for how many sessions.
Bars show approximate swelling levels (individual results vary).
Common symptoms
| Symptom | Likelihood | When it appears | How long it lasts | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Needle marks and pinpoint redness | High | Immediately after | Same day to about 2 days | These are marks left by the injection needle. They often become less noticeable within a few hours to the next day, though how they appear varies from person to person. |
| Small bumps (wheals) | High | Immediately after | A few hours to about 2 days (depends on the area and amount injected) | The skin can temporarily puff up until the product settles in. It generally flattens out gradually. |
| Bruising | Medium | Immediately to the next day | About 1–2 weeks | Bruising tends to appear more easily in thin-skinned areas such as under the eyes, changing from bluish purple to yellow before fading. Whether it appears, and how much, varies from person to person. |
| Swelling and puffiness | Medium | Immediately to the next day | About 2–4 days | This is said to be somewhat more likely when a wide area is treated, or around the eyes. |
| Redness and warmth | Medium | Immediately after | Same day to about 2 days | This is considered a temporary reaction to the injections, and it usually settles over time. |
| Tenderness and a prickling feeling | Medium | Same day | About 2–3 days | Mild pain when the area is touched, or a feeling of tightness. It is said to rarely interfere with daily life. |
| Itching and dryness | Low | Next day to a few days | A few days | This can occur as the skin settles. Avoid scratching, keep the skin moisturized, and consult your doctor if it is severe. |
When can I do what? (Daily-life restrictions)
| Activity | Typically OK from | Key point |
|---|---|---|
| Makeup | From the next day (point makeup on the same day may be possible if you avoid the needle-mark areas) | On the day of treatment, go easy on foundation applied directly over the injection sites. Redness and bruising are fairly easy to cover with concealer. Follow your doctor's instructions on what is actually allowed. |
| Face washing | From the evening of treatment day (gently) | Wash gently with lukewarm water, without rubbing. Pat dry rather than rubbing hard with a towel. |
| Shower and bathing | Showers from the same day; soaking in the tub from the same day to the next day onward | On the day of treatment, boosted circulation can make bruising and swelling more likely, so avoiding long soaks and very hot water is the safer choice. |
| Alcohol | From the next day onward (avoid on the day of treatment) | Alcohol promotes blood flow and is said to make swelling and bruising worse, so avoid it on the day of treatment. |
| Exercise | From the next day onward (waiting 2–3 days before strenuous exercise is the safer choice) | Strenuous exercise on the day of treatment can cause swelling and bruising. Light activity is generally said to be fine. |
| Sauna and hot-stone baths | From about 2–3 days after, as a guideline | Heavy sweating and high heat may prolong swelling and bruising, so holding off until things settle is the safer choice. |
| Sleeping face-down and firm massage | From several days after, as a guideline | Pressing firmly on the area right after the injections can affect the result, so avoid it from the day of treatment for the next several days. Check with your doctor about when to resume. |
| Contact lenses and eyelash extensions | If the eye area was treated, skip contact lenses on the day of treatment and resume the next day; for lash extensions, avoid steam and rubbing on the day of treatment | If injections were done around the eyes, take care to protect the area from rubbing and swelling. Check with your doctor if you are unsure. |
| Sun exposure and strong UV | Take care for the first several days | Until it settles, the skin is said to be more sensitive to irritation. Protecting it with sunscreen is a reassuring precaution. |
Pain and anesthesia
The typical pain level is Mild. Topical anesthesia (numbing cream) is said to be used in most cases. Depending on the area and extent of treatment, cooling may also be used. Your doctor will decide whether anesthesia is needed and which type. Because a fine needle is inserted into the shallow layers of the skin multiple times, you may feel prickling or stinging sensations. Thin-skinned areas such as under the eyes and the forehead are said to be more sensitive. Numbing cream can ease most of the discomfort, and strong pain rarely lingers after the procedure, though pain perception varies from person to person.
Tips for a smoother recovery
- On the day of treatment, avoid alcohol, strenuous exercise, long baths, and saunas so you do not overstimulate circulation.
- After the injections, do not rub or press hard on the treated area (especially around the eyes).
- On the first day, if swelling or bruising bothers you, gentle cooling within the limits your doctor advises is said to help keep it down.
- Get plenty of sleep and fluids, and go easy on salt and alcohol to prevent puffiness.
- If you bruise easily, do not stop blood-thinning over-the-counter medications or supplements on your own judgment — review them with your doctor in advance.
- If you have an important event coming up, book with enough leeway (1–2 weeks) for bruising to fade.
Risks and side effects (the honest version)
- Temporary reactions such as bruising, swelling, redness, and a feeling of small lumps can occur; how they appear and how quickly they settle varies from person to person.
- Small firm lumps (induration) may temporarily remain at the injection sites. Most are said to settle over time, but see a doctor if they persist.
- In rare cases, allergic reactions or infection and inflammation at the injection sites can occur. Seek medical attention promptly if redness, pain, or warmth intensifies.
- Because the treatment uses an ingredient derived from salmon, be sure to tell your doctor in advance if you have a fish allergy.
- How much change you notice varies greatly from person to person, and the changes are considered gradual. It is not a treatment that transforms the skin in a single session, and results are not guaranteed.
- Serious complications such as accidental injection into a blood vessel are rare but not zero. It is important to have the treatment performed by an experienced physician.
- If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, or have a medical condition or take medication, your suitability may change — always consult a doctor in advance.
Spacing and combining with other procedures
If you have a big event such as a wedding or photo shoot, it is reassuring to have the treatment at least 1–2 weeks beforehand (ideally with the final session more than 2 weeks before) to allow bruising to fade. A series of sessions every 2–4 weeks is said to be common, followed by maintenance every few months depending on the skin's condition. Your doctor will determine the best interval.
| Combined procedure | Timing | Wait time | Reason |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hyaluronic Acid Filler | Same day OK | Same day onward | Because their goals differ (skin-quality care versus creating volume), they are sometimes combined, but if the injection areas overlap, or depending on how swelling and bruising develop, your doctor will decide whether to do them on the same day or on separate days. |
| Botox Injection | Same day OK | Same day onward | Because they act on different layers and serve different goals, they are sometimes combined. Your doctor will adjust the order and timing based on the injection areas and any swelling. |
| Skin Booster (Water Glow Injection) / Other Skin Boosters | Wait required | About 2 weeks | Having injections of the same type close together is said to make skin stress and swelling more likely to overlap, so leave an interval or follow your doctor's instructions. |
| HIFU / Radiofrequency (RF) Skin Tightening | Wait required | About 2 weeks | Heat-based treatments can put stress on skin that has just been injected, so the common approach is either to wait until the injection-related swelling settles, or to have the heat treatment first and inject afterward. Your doctor will decide on the order. |
| Microneedling (Dermapen) / Chemical Peel / Laser | Wait required | About 2 weeks | Scheduling close to treatments that irritate the skin's surface is said to make redness and inflammation more likely to overlap, so leaving an interval is the safer choice. Your doctor will decide on the order and number of days based on your skin's condition. |
Who it may suit / who should be cautious
May suit you
- Those looking to care for skin quality itself — firmness, fine lines, and texture under the eyes or on the cheeks
- Those who would rather condition the skin naturally than add volume
- Those who want care while keeping downtime relatively short
- Those concerned about dryness or dullness who can commit to a gradual, multi-session approach
Consider carefully
- Those with an allergy to salmon or seafood
- Those who are pregnant or breastfeeding
- Those with an infection, significant inflammation, or herpes in the planned treatment area
- Those seeking a dramatic or immediate change from a single session (this treatment assumes multiple sessions)
- Those with an imminent event (a ceremony or photo shoot within the next few days) where bruising cannot be shown