PDRN, or polydeoxyribonucleotide, is a newer injectable treatment that helps the skin and scalp repair, regenerate, and improve quality. It is used for skin rejuvenation on the face and neck, and for hair restoration on the scalp. The active ingredient is purified DNA fragments. The origin of those fragments is open and worth explaining honestly. We do that on this page.Performed personally by Dr. Rajesh Vasu, plastic surgeon, at Apollo Hospitals, Financial District.
30 to 45 minutes
Topical numbing only
1 to 2 days
6 to 12 months with maintenance
PDRN stands for polydeoxyribonucleotide. In plain words, it is a treatment made of very small DNA fragments that signal your skin or scalp cells to repair, regenerate, and build new tissue. When injected into the skin, PDRN improves skin quality, hydration, and elasticity. When injected into the scalp, it supports follicle health and the surrounding tissue.
Yes, PDRN is derived from salmon. Specifically, from salmon sperm cells (which are very dense in pure DNA). The cells are processed in a pharmaceutical laboratory, the DNA is extracted and purified to medical grade, and any protein, lipid, or cellular component is removed. What remains is highly purified DNA fragments, which is what gets injected.
The reason salmon DNA is used is biological. Salmon DNA fragments have a sequence and structure similar enough to human DNA that our cells recognise them and respond to their signals. This is well-established in published medical research, and PDRN has been used clinically in Korea, Italy, and across Europe for over two decades.
The salmon origin is in plain sight on this page on purpose. Patients who discover it later, through searches or social media, sometimes feel misled by clinics that did not mention it upfront. We do not want that to be you.
PDRN is used in two main ways at Dr. Vasu’s practice. The same product, with different injection patterns and depths, used for two different concerns.
The decision about whether PDRN is the right answer for your skin or hair, and whether it should be used alone or combined with another treatment, is made at consultation after Dr. Vasu examines you.
PDRN is gentler than many aesthetic injectable treatments and suits a wide range of patients. But it is not the right answer for everyone. Honest candidate clarity below.
Patients often arrive having heard of both PDRN and PRP, and ask which is better. The honest answer is that they are different treatments that do related work, and the right one depends on what you want to achieve, your skin, your budget, and your preferences.
| PDRN | PRP | |
|---|---|---|
| Source | Purified salmon DNA fragments. Imported as a ready-to-use medical product. | Your own blood, drawn and prepared during the session. |
| Main mechanism | Tissue repair signals, new blood vessel formation, collagen stimulation. | Concentrated growth factors stimulate follicle and skin activity. |
| Best known for | Skin quality, hydration, under-eye thinning, sensitive skin, and as a gentler alternative for hair. | Hair restoration (larger evidence base), and skin rejuvenation as a secondary use. |
| Cost per session | Higher (imported product cost). | Lower (your own blood, no product cost). |
| Evidence base | Established in Korea, Italy, and the EU for decades. Growing in India. | Larger, older global evidence base. |
| Sessions | Usually 3 to 4, spaced 2 to 4 weeks apart. | Usually 3 to 6, spaced about a month apart. |
| Suits | Sensitive skin, patients wanting gentler treatments, and those looking for skin-quality-focused rejuvenation. Salmon origin may not suit vegetarians and requires caution in fish allergies. | Almost everyone, as it uses your own blood. Particularly suitable for hair restoration patients and those who prefer no foreign product. |
Dr. Vasu reviews your treatment plan, confirms areas to treat, and answers any last questions you have. Allergies and medical history reviewed once more.
The treatment area is cleansed thoroughly. Numbing cream is applied and left for 20 to 30 minutes for comfort.
PDRN is injected into the skin or scalp using very fine needles, placed in a grid pattern across the area being treated. Most patients describe it as mild pricking with the numbing applied.
A cooling and soothing mask or product is applied. Aftercare instructions given, and you are free to leave.
The treated area looks mildly red and may feel slightly swollen or sensitive. Tiny pinpoint marks where the needles entered fade within a day. Avoid makeup for 12 to 24 hours. Most patients are presentable for work or social events from day 2.
Skin starts looking smoother, more hydrated, and slightly plumper. For hair, less shedding is sometimes noticed in the first 2 weeks. The treated area feels healthy and calm.
Skin texture, glow, and quality continue improving as collagen and blood vessel activity respond to the PDRN signal. For hair, gentle thickening becomes visible. This is when most patients are happy they did it.
The result is at its best around month 3 to 6 after the final session in your starting course. A maintenance session at 6 to 12 months keeps the result. Without maintenance, the natural ageing or hair thinning gradually resumes from this improved baseline.
PDRN is not a one-session treatment. It works as a course of sessions to begin with, followed by maintenance to hold the result. A typical plan looks like this.
3 to 4 sessions for most patients. Spacing is 2 to 4 weeks apart for skin, sometimes monthly for hair.
At the end of the starting course, Dr. Vasu reviews your response and recommends maintenance schedule.
Typically one session every 6 to 12 months, with longer intervals once results have stabilised.
Is a common question, and the honest answer is that it depends on your starting point and how your skin or scalp responds. Some patients see clear results with 3 sessions; others benefit from 4 or 5. Dr. Vasu confirms the right number based on response, not on a fixed package.
PDRN has an excellent safety profile because the salmon DNA is purified to remove protein and other allergens. Side effects are typically mild and settle within hours to days.
Allergic reactions are very rare due to the purification process, but anyone with a known fish or seafood allergy should mention this clearly at consultation. Dr. Vasu reviews your medical history before each session.
The treatment itself looks simple from the outside, just injections. What is not simple is the assessment behind it, the choice of brand and protocol, the injection depth and pattern, and the honest call about whether PDRN is the right answer for you or whether something else would serve you better.
PDRN performed in an accredited hospital setting, with proper protocols, sterile handling, and the multi-disciplinary backup that a hospital provides. Not a back-room aesthetic counter.
Performed personally by Dr. Vasu, who examines your skin or scalp, recommends PDRN only when it suits your case, and tells you honestly when another treatment (PRP, Morpheus8, HIFU, fillers, or surgery) would serve you better.
Dr. Rajesh Vasu has 30+ years of clinical experience and 5,000+ procedures performed. Member of ISAPS. Internationally fellowship trained in aesthetic surgery, with broad experience across both surgical and non-surgical aesthetic work.
PDRN treatment cost in Hyderabad depends mainly on three things: the brand and quality of PDRN used (imported Korean brands like Rejuran cost more than less established options), the area being treated (face, full face plus neck, scalp), and the number of sessions in your treatment plan.
Dr. Vasu gives you a clear written plan and the cost upfront, before anything begins. There are no hidden charges and no pressure to buy a package you do not need.
For NRI and international patients, PDRN in Hyderabad delivers internationally trained plastic surgical expertise at a meaningful fraction of the cost of the same treatment in the US, UK, or Gulf, while using the same Korean and EU manufactured products.
Real patients. Real repairs. All photographs published with written consent.
Patient 1 · Female, 34 3 months post
Patient 2 · Female, 34 3 months post
Patient 3 · Female, 34 3 months post
Individual results vary. Photographs are representative, not guaranteed outcomes. Consultation required to assess suitability.
Yes, the active ingredient comes from purified DNA fragments extracted from salmon sperm cells. The cells are processed in a pharmaceutical laboratory, and what remains for injection is highly purified DNA, with the protein and other cellular components removed. The reason salmon DNA is used is biological. Its sequence is similar enough to human DNA that our cells recognise its signals. We disclose this openly because we believe you deserve to know what is being used in your treatment.
For the right patient, PDRN is genuinely good. It improves skin quality, hydration, hair density, and helps thinning skin areas like the under-eye. It has been used safely for over two decades in Korea, Italy, and across Europe. For the wrong patient (very advanced laxity, very deep wrinkles, fully bald scalp, severe acne), PDRN will not deliver the result. An honest consultation tells you which category you fall into.
PDRN signals your skin cells to repair and regenerate. The visible effect is smoother texture, better hydration, gentle plumpness, improved tone, and brighter overall quality. Under-eye thinning often responds particularly well. For hair, PDRN signals the follicles and surrounding tissue to support hair growth and follicle health.
They are different treatments that do related work. PRP uses your own blood and is best known for hair restoration. PDRN uses purified salmon DNA fragments and is best known for skin quality and under-eye improvement. Cost and patient preference also matter. Some patients use both, at different sessions, for stronger combined effect. Dr. Vasu recommends what suits your specific case.
After a starting course of 3 to 4 sessions, results typically last 6 to 12 months. With maintenance sessions every 6 to 12 months, the result holds well. Without maintenance, the natural ageing process or hair thinning gradually resumes from the improved baseline.
Most patients have 1 to 2 days of mild redness and slight swelling. By day 2 or 3, most are presentable for work and social events with light makeup if needed. Avoid strenuous exercise, very hot showers, and direct sun for the first 24 to 48 hours.
Yes, PDRN is widely used in dermatology and aesthetic medicine in Korea, Europe, and increasingly in India. It is also offered by qualified plastic surgeons (like Dr. Vasu) who bring the same precision used in surgical work to non-surgical treatments. The qualification of the person delivering it matters more than the speciality label.
Yes, often particularly so. PDRN is gentler than many aesthetic treatments because the active ingredient is purified DNA fragments with no protein, no acid, no laser energy, and no peel chemistry. It is often chosen for patients who do not tolerate stronger treatments well.
They do different jobs. Retinol is a topical product that works on skin cell turnover, used at home daily, and the effect builds over months. PDRN is an injected treatment performed in clinic, that signals deeper skin repair. They can be used together for stronger combined results. Retinol is the at-home base. PDRN is the in-clinic boost.
Different categories. Collagen supplements (oral) are not directly comparable to PDRN (injected). Both can contribute to skin quality, but they work through different routes. PDRN works through signalling at the cellular level after injection. Oral collagen is debated in evidence terms. The honest answer is that PDRN has stronger clinical evidence for visible skin improvement.
This is a personal decision and one we respect. The active ingredient is derived from salmon, even though it is highly purified DNA with the protein removed. For patients with strict vegetarian, vegan, or religious dietary practices where any animal-origin product is unacceptable, we recommend PRP (your own blood) as the natural alternative. Dr. Vasu discusses this openly during consultation.
Mention any fish or seafood allergy clearly at consultation. The purification process removes the protein that typically causes allergic reactions, and serious reactions are very rare in published research. But Dr. Vasu takes a more cautious approach in this case, may suggest a test session, and discusses alternatives if PDRN is not the right fit for you.
Common side effects are mild and short-lived: redness, slight swelling, tenderness, and pinpoint marks where the needles entered, all of which fade within 24 to 48 hours. Slight itchiness or warmth as the area heals is normal. Serious side effects are rare due to the purification of the salmon DNA used.
Whether the changes are early and you are weighing your options, or advanced and you are ready for a lasting result, a facelift is one of the most rewarding procedures Dr. Vasu performs. A 15 to 20-minute consultation, in person at Apollo Hospitals or virtual, is the simplest first step. No pressure to proceed. Just honest, expert advice.