Youth Injection

The youth injection is a skin-renewing injection with salmon DNA and hyaluronic acid, given with very fine needles to support skin hydration and vitality. Although often called a "youth vaccine", it does not provide immunity; it aims to help dull, dry skin with visible fine lines look brighter and more elastic. It is planned after a medical assessment for adults who want better skin quality on the face, neck, décolletage or hands.

What is the youth injection, and what does it contain?

The youth injection is the popular name for skin-renewing injections that combine polynucleotides derived from salmon DNA with hyaluronic acid.

Hyaluronic acid is a molecule found naturally in the skin with a high capacity to hold water. Polynucleotides are thought to support the skin's repair processes and the cells that produce collagen. Some products also contain vitamins, minerals or amino acids; the formulation varies by brand, and your doctor will explain which product will be used during the consultation. For more on the active ingredient, see our salmon DNA page.

The Turkish name "gençlik aşısı" literally means "youth vaccine", but this is only everyday usage: the treatment does not provide immunity and only acts on the skin where it is injected.

What is a micro youth injection?

"Micro youth injection" is a name used for giving the youth injection as many tiny droplets into the superficial layer of the skin with very fine needles.

It is not a separate product. Because clinics may use the term in different ways, it is worth asking before the treatment which product will be used, with which technique and at what depth. The micro-injection technique helps spread the product evenly over a wider area; the doctor chooses the technique and the amount according to the thickness of your skin and the area treated.

What does the youth injection do, and which areas can be treated?

The youth injection aims to improve the skin's hydration, elasticity and radiance; it does not erase wrinkles completely or replace lost volume.

It may be considered for:

• Dull, dry and tired-looking skin
• Fine lines and mild loss of elasticity
• Skin texture damaged by the sun and environmental factors
• Support for acne scar treatment, where the doctor considers it suitable

The most commonly treated areas are the face, the eye area, neck, décolletage and backs of the hands. If there are deep wrinkles, marked sagging or volume loss, fillers, botulinum toxin or skin tightening methods may be more suitable; the youth injection can be combined with them in the same plan.

How is the youth injection done, and how many sessions are needed?

The youth injection is given with very fine needles into cleansed skin, with a numbing cream if needed; a session takes about 30 minutes.

No incisions are required. You may feel slight pricking during the injections, and most people go back to work the same day.

A course of 3–4 sessions a few weeks apart is usually planned, and occasional maintenance sessions may be suggested later to keep the effect. The effect is said to last up to a year, but this depends on age, skin quality, sun exposure and smoking. The number of sessions and the intervals are set by the doctor and vary from person to person.

Exosomes or the youth injection: what is the difference?

Both target skin quality, but the youth injection contains polynucleotides and hyaluronic acid, whereas exosome treatments use vesicles released by cells.

• Youth injection: contains polynucleotides derived from salmon DNA and hyaluronic acid, injected into the skin with fine needles.
• Exosomes (MCT Exosome): an emerging regenerative treatment using nano-sized vesicles that carry signals between cells.
• Profhilo: contains highly concentrated hyaluronic acid, injected into a small number of points and spreading within the skin.
• Mesotherapy: delivers ingredients such as vitamins, amino acids and hyaluronic acid into the skin through many superficial injections.

Which one is more suitable depends on what your skin needs. These treatments often complement each other rather than being alternatives.

What should you do after a youth injection?

It is advisable to skip make-up on the first day, to avoid saunas, sunbeds and intense exercise for a few days, and to protect your skin from the sun.

• Do not apply make-up or massage the area for the first 24 hours.
• Avoid saunas, hammams, sunbeds and intense exercise for the first few days.
• Use the sunscreen your doctor recommends every day.
• Drink plenty of water; avoiding alcohol and smoking also benefits skin quality.

At our clinic in Etiler the treatment is performed by a doctor after a skin assessment, and aftercare advice is explained according to your skin.

Does the youth injection have side effects?

Yes; the most common are redness, mild swelling, small bumps and bruising at the injection points, which usually settle within a few days.

Bruising can be more frequent in people taking blood thinners. Rarely, an allergic reaction, infection or long-lasting nodules can develop. Having the treatment done by a doctor under sterile conditions reduces these risks but does not remove them entirely.

Who should not have the youth injection, and when should you see a doctor?

The youth injection is not given during pregnancy and breastfeeding, to people allergic to fish or to the product's ingredients, or when there is an active infection in the treatment area.

• Treatment is postponed until cold sores (herpes) or inflamed acne have cleared.
• People with an autoimmune disease or a bleeding disorder, and those taking blood thinners, should discuss it with the doctor separately.
• Treatment is postponed during active cancer treatment.
• It is not given to anyone under 18.

If you notice increasing pain, spreading redness or swelling, fever, discharge or persistent firmness, contact your doctor without delay.

Frequently asked questions

What is the youth injection?

It is a skin-renewing injection containing salmon DNA polynucleotides and hyaluronic acid, given into the skin with fine needles. Despite the name "youth vaccine", it does not provide immunity; it aims to support the skin's hydration and vitality.

Is there a difference between the micro youth injection and the youth injection?

The micro youth injection is not a separate product but a way of giving the product through many small, superficial injections. Ask your doctor before the treatment which product and technique will be used.

How many youth injection sessions are needed?

Usually 3–4 sessions a few weeks apart are planned, sometimes followed by occasional maintenance sessions. The number of sessions depends on your skin and varies from person to person.

How long does the youth injection last?

The effect develops gradually and is said to last up to a year. How long it lasts depends on age, skin quality, sun exposure and smoking, and varies from person to person.

What are the side effects of the youth injection?

The most common are redness, mild swelling, small bumps and bruising, which usually settle within a few days. Rarely, an allergic reaction, infection or nodules can develop.

Are exosomes or the youth injection better?

There is no single right answer. Both target skin quality, but their ingredients and the strength of the evidence differ; the choice is made with your doctor after a skin examination.

This content is for information only and does not replace a medical consultation. To find out whether the youth injection suits your skin, get in touch with us.

Treatment time

About 30 Minutes

Number of sessions

Usually 3–4 Sessions