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8 months ago
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A TV cosmetic doctor has shared incredible before-and-after pictures showing how injections of salmon sperm rejuvenated her face.
Channel 4's Embarrassing Bodies presenter Dr Jane Leonard underwent the bizarre beauty treatment to combat dry skin and eczema around her eyes.
The 40-year-old, who runs a cosmetic clinic on London's prestigious Harley Street, told MailOnline she was 'delighted' with the results from just one treatment.
Dr Leonard said the swelling went down after 24 hours.
Sharing her own results, she said: 'I'm 40 and I work in this industry.
'I've had Botox done, I've had a bit of filler in my cheeks and lips, but I don't really have that much done.
'That said I want to keep myself looking as well as I can, without looking different.'
Dr Leonard pictured (left) before polynucleotide treatment. The 40-year-old says she got the treatment improve the appearance of eczema and dry skin around her eyes. Pictured (right) one month after getting polynucleotides injected under here eyes. Her skin appears to have less wrinkles
Dr Leonard, who also works as an NHS GP, added: 'I have quite dry skin around my eyes and I suffer with eczema quite badly.
'So using this in a delicate area of the eye, where Botox isn't appropriate, it's the perfect thing to help improve the quality of my skin in a classically difficult to treat area.'
Fish sperm injections is a bizarre new beauty trend, which can cost more than £400 a pop.
Advocates say it offers a 'natural' alternative to other traditional 'tweakments' such as Botox and filler. Some doctors claim it is safer than other cosmetic injectables, which have been linked to a catalogue of complications including blocked blood vessels, lumpy skin and infections.
It uses purified and sterilised DNA molecules extracted from salmon or trout sperm, known as polynucleotides.
Dr Jane Leonard, a GP and cosmetic doctor based in Marylebone, London , is no stranger to the wacky treatment which originated from South Korea and says it's safer than getting Botox and filler
The popular fishy injectable has been a staple skincare treatment in South Korea for more than a decade and now celebrities including Jennifer Aniston (pictured) are reaping its skin rejuvenating qualities
South Korea's aesthetics sector has been using the treatment for over a decade but its now gaining popularity among Western celebrities, including Jennifer Aniston, who told The Wall Street Journal she is reaping its skin rejuvenating qualities.
When polynucleotides, DNA molecules extracted from fish sperm, are injected into human skin, fibroblasts are activated.
Fibroblasts are stretchy molecules found in skin that help to maintain the structural framework of the tissue. As we age these fibroblasts decrease.
So, when the polynucleotides are injected under the eyes, in the cheekbones or in the neck, it theoretically 'rejuvenates' the skin.
Dr Leonard admits she doesn't know how scientists discovered such an unusual ingredient, but says it shows just how 'amazing' the cosmetic industry is that 'they actually find this stuff out'.
'Now it's so common people rarely even ask the question about what it is and how it works,' said Dr Leonard.
The beauty treatment uses purified and sterilised DNA molecules extracted from salmon or trout (pictured) sperm, known as polynucleotides, and some doctors claim it is safer than other cosmetic injectables
When polynucleotides, which are basically purified fish sperm, are injected into human skin the segments of DNA, activate fibroblasts
She even claims the injectable can 'do no harm', because they do not have the same side effects as Botox and filler.
'They stimulate the skin to do natural rejuvenation processes,' she said.
'There is nothing being added to the skin, like fillers, it's just a trigger to start the rejuvenating pathway by activated fibroblasts. It works in different ways.'
Dr Leonard, who also offers the treatment at her Marylebone clinic, said the pain feels 'similar to getting anti wrinkle injections'.
Although you can get numbing cream for the 10-minute procedure, Dr Leonard said she 'coped easily without'.
Depending on genetics, whether you smoke or have had a lot of sun exposure, you may need more treatments, but for Dr Leonard she says for her the rejuvenating effect of the treatment lasts about six months.
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